EP2626117B1 - Front unit for a slide board binding, tour binding and ski-jump binding - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a front board unit for a gliding board comprising two engaging elements having engaging portions adapted to engage opposite side portions of a gliding board shoe, the engaging elements being pivotally supported on the front unit, and a tensioning device which is an elastic Generates force for biasing the engagement portions in the direction of engagement, wherein the tensioning means comprises a slidably held clamping element. In addition, the invention is directed to a touring binding as well as to a ski-jumping binding, which are equipped with such a front unit.

A front unit of a board binding generally has the task of holding a front portion of a sliding board shoe on the sliding board, wherein the board binding generally further comprises a heel unit, which is responsible for fixing a heel portion of the shoe. At Abfahrtsindungen the lateral engagement elements in the form of a left and right holding jaws are formed, which overlap a tip of the sliding board shoe and record between them and which are spread apart by overcoming a spring force from each other, so that they release the shoe in the event of a fall (triggering the bond) , In ski-binding, touring bindings or cross-country bindings, the gliding board binding must be adapted to release a heel portion of the gliding board shoe so that it can lift off the gliding board, while the gliding board shoe is pivotally supported at a front portion on the front unit about a pivot axis transverse to the gliding board longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the engagement elements of ski-binding and touring bindings, for example, storage means which engage in complementary bearing means at opposite lateral front portions of the gliding board shoe to form a pivot bearing. These bearing means are generally formed by projections which engage in corresponding recesses. Also in these bindings the engaging portions are biased in the engaged position with the sliding board shoe, on the one hand to promote a secure engagement of the bearing means and on the other hand to ensure a fall triggering of the bond.

Clamping device known front units use spiral springs to generate the necessary clamping force. Such springs have the advantage that they are hardly subject to wear, are inexpensive to produce and show a well-defined force behavior. However, since coil springs have a linear motion characteristic and thus act on a slidably held clamping element, a motion conversion between the pivotal movements of the engaging elements and the displacement movement of the clamping element is required. This is generally done by sliding a pivotable lever (for example, the engagement element) on a linearly displaceable guided displacement element. Relatively high frictional forces inevitably occur in the area of the abutment contact between these elements, which on the one hand accelerates the wear of the bond and on the other hand influences the triggering behavior in a manner which is difficult to define. In addition, a linear guide of the displacement element is required, which is associated with relatively high construction costs and inevitably goes hand in hand with further friction losses. In order to reduce the wear and the frictional forces it is thus always necessary with conventional bindings to encapsulate the moving parts with an additional housing and to protect them against the penetration of snow, ice and moisture.

A front unit according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR 2 218 912 A1 , of the FR 2 089 540 A5 or the US 4,067,594 A known.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a front panel for a Gleitbrettbindung, which is easy to handle, has a simple structure, works with less wear and friction losses between the engaging elements and the clamping element reduced.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a front board unit for a gliding board comprising two engaging elements having engaging portions adapted to engage opposite lateral portions of a gliding board shoe, the engaging elements being pivotally supported on the front unit, and a tensioning device an elastic force for biasing the engagement portions in the engagement direction, wherein the tensioning means comprises a slidably held clamping element, wherein the conversion between the pivotal movements of the engagement elements and the displacement movement of the clamping element is effected by a lever mechanism comprising: two according to the engagement elements pivoting lever, a in accordance with the clamping element displaced sliding portion and a hinge member having a first and a second pivot point at which it pivotally m is connected to the levers, and which has a third pivot point located between the first and the second pivot point, at which it is pivotally connected to the displacement portion.

It should be noted at this point that in the context of the present disclosure under a sliding board all types of skis, snowboards or splitboards (longitudinally divisible snowboards) and other board-like means for coupling to a shoe and to travel on snow and ice are to be understood. Indications within the present disclosure such as "up", "down", "sideways", "forward", "backward" or the like are related to a normal use state of the front unit in which the front unit is properly mounted on a sliding board and a user with sliding board shoe ready for driving has entered the Gleitbrettbindung, the sliding board rests on a horizontal plane.

According to the invention thus takes place the conversion between the pivoting movement the engagement elements and the displacement movement of the tensioning element by a lever mechanism, the pivotal movement of two levers and the displacement movement of the tensioning element by a joint element into each other, which has three arranged in a row pivot points for coupling the lever or the displacement section.

The effect of the particular arrangement of the pivot points on the joint element is that the resulting lever mechanism always converts a pivotal movement of the levers into a substantially linear movement of the displacement section and, conversely, a substantially linear displacement movement of the displacement section is always translated into a pivotal movement of the levers , In particular, this implementation follows from the above-described arrangement of the pivot points on the hinge member relative to the levers and the slide portion, and no linear guide of the slide portion is necessary. The lever mechanism according to the present invention operates on the basic principle of a Watt-linkage for implementing the pivotal movement of two hinged respectively at fixed anchorage lever in an approximately linear movement.

An important advantage resulting from the use of the lever mechanism according to the invention is that the motion conversion can be realized completely without the use of a linear guide and without the use of elements derived from each other. Instead, the elements of the lever mechanism are pivotally mounted to each other at pivot points. Rotary bearings can be manufactured with excellent power transmission characteristics and only low friction losses. In addition, the bearing surfaces of pivot bearings are generally mutually covered, so that penetration of impurities, snow and moisture is inhibited and thus these bearings have less wear than linear guides, cam mechanisms, cam mechanisms or the like. Preferably, the two levers of the lever mechanism are formed by the engagement elements themselves, ie the engagement elements are directly coupled to the first and second pivot point of the joint member, so that the lever mechanism according to the invention can be manufactured with a small number of parts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the engagement elements are pivotally supported about a vertical axis (Z axis) so that the low height engagement elements can be mounted over the gliding board. The engagement members can then engage the front portion of a gliding board shoe like a pliers from the front.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that each of the two engagement elements is pivotally mounted on a bearing portion on the front unit and extending from the bearing portion to the engagement portion extending first lever arm and extending from the bearing portion to the joint member second lever arm. It is thus possible to position the hinge element in a suitable position in front of the sliding board shoe by constructing the second lever arm with a corresponding length and a corresponding angle to the first lever arm. Engagement elements of this type may in particular have an L-shape and the second lever arms may point towards a longitudinal central axis of the front unit. Such a construction allows the arrangement of the joint element substantially in the region of the longitudinal central axis of the sliding board and in particular also a displacement movement of the displacement section approximately in Gleitbrettlängsrichtung, so that the space available on the sliding board space can be effectively used.

The displacement portion of the lever mechanism may preferably be formed on the tension member, so that the displacement movement of the displacement portion generated by the lever mechanism can be used directly for the movement of the clamping device without further transmission of motion and thus results in a simple construction of the front unit.

The clamping device for biasing the engagement portions may comprise a spring means which is supported on the clamping element, so that the elastic force can be transmitted directly to the displaceably arranged clamping element in particular by a spring element with linear motion characteristic. The spring means can then be supported on the one hand on the clamping element and on the other hand on a sliding board-fixed spring bearing. In this case, the clamping element can pass through a recess of the spring bearing, so that the clamping element can move in the recess and thus can be arranged to save space. Preferably, moreover, the clamping element can also enforce the spring means, so that the claimed space on the sliding board can be further reduced.

According to the invention, the front unit further comprises a user-operable operating member for moving the engaging portions between an engaging position in which the engaging portions hold a sliding board shoe engaged, and an open position in which the engaging portions release the sliding board shoe. With such a manually operated actuating element, which can be operated by the user, for example by hand or with the aid of a ski pole, it is for example possible to move the engaging portions into an open position before entering the binding, ie in particular to remove from each other so far that the sliding board shoe can be positioned between the engaging portions. In addition, such an actuator may be adapted to allow exit from the binding by bringing the engagement portions into the open position by manual operation of the actuator. The transition from the open position into the engaged position, in variants of the invention also by manual Operation of the actuating element, for example, by operation in the opposite direction compared to the operation for adjustment in the opening direction. Preferably, the front unit for facilitated and accelerated use may have an entry mechanism which, upon entering the binding by exerting a compressive force from the sliding board shoe on the front unit, causes a partial or complete automatic adjustment of the front unit from the open position to the engaged position. Overall, the technical effect of the above-mentioned actuating element may be to move the elements of the front unit held under relatively high pretension, in particular the engagement elements and the elements of the lever mechanism, by the actuating element with a suitable force reinforcement or leverage between the engaged position and the open position, so that a comfortable operation of the front unit is made possible.

In a front unit, which is equipped with an above-described, manually operated actuator, can be provided with particular advantage that the actuating element is pivotally coupled to a first actuating pivot axis with a sliding board-fixed portion of the front unit, that the actuating element on a second actuating pivot axis is coupled to an actuator and that the actuator is pivotally connected to a member of the lever mechanism, with one of the engaging elements or with the clamping element on a third actuating pivot axis, wherein upon movement of the actuating element between the engaged position and the open position, the second actuating pivot axis passes a dead position, in which it intersects a connecting line between the first actuating pivot axis and the third actuating pivot axis. By such an arrangement, the elastic force generated by the tensioning means can be utilized not only for the bias of the engaging portions but also for the reliable locking of the operating member, both in the open position as well as in the engaged position. In both positions, the actuating element is held securely by the force of the clamping device, wherein the direction of the force action (towards the open position or towards the engagement position) is reversed at the dead center.

The invention is further directed to a touring binding which comprises a front unit of the type according to the invention described above. In touring bindings, the saving of weight and size of the front unit plays a particularly important role, so that the simple and easy construction of the front unit according to the invention achieves particular advantages with such bindings. Touring bindings are also subject to particularly high mutual loads during ascent and during subsequent descent, so that the low-wear and well-defined due to low friction movement characteristics of the binding according to the invention can be used particularly advantageous here with frequent change between engagement position and open position. It is particularly thought of touring bindings, the engagement portions each having a protruding coupling pin, wherein the coupling pins of the two engagement portions facing each other. Through this per se known coupling principle touring shoes can be coupled to the front unit, which have in their front sole portion on opposite sides respectively corresponding engagement holes.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a ski-jumping binding comprising a front unit of the type described above. In ski jumping sport, the mechanical properties and functional characteristics of the gliding board binding play an outstanding role, which is due to the athletic character as well as the inherent danger of this sport. Decisive for the success of the competition and for the safety of the skijumper are thus the reliability of the gliding board binding as well as the accuracy with which a state of engagement between shoe and binding and a release behavior of the binding in the case a fall are defined.

The above-mentioned advantages of front units according to the invention are therefore particularly evident in a ski-jumping binding with such a front unit. Thus, by the lever mechanism according to the invention, which essentially comprises only pivot bearings and thus operates very low friction and low wear, the engagement force with which the engaging portions hold the shoe, can be defined and adjusted very accurately, so that on the one hand it is ensured that the ski during the Flight phase and even with a landing from high altitude is securely held on the shoe, and on the other hand in case of a fall triggering the binding and uncoupling of the ski from the shoe can be guaranteed.

Ski jump bindings of the abovementioned type can in particular have engagement sections each with a coupling recess for receiving a coupling projection projecting laterally from a front section of a skijack so that the coupling principle known per se can be used for the pivotable mounting of the skijack for the ski binding engagement according to the invention. Upon release of such a front unit, the coupling protrusions are then forced out of the respective coupling recesses by the forces acting on the binding from the shoe, the engagement sections being spread open against the spring force of the tensioning device.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Vordereinheit gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer Eingriffsstellung,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht der in Figur 1 gezeigten Vordereinheit in einer Öffnungsstellung,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf die in Figur 1 gezeigte Vordereinheit in der Eingriffsstellung,

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht der in Figur 1 gezeigten Vordereinheit in der Öffnungsstellung, und

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Vordereinheit gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a front unit according to a first embodiment of the invention in an engaged position,

FIG. 2

a perspective view of in FIG. 1 shown front unit in an open position,

FIG. 3

a top view of the in FIG. 1 shown front unit in the engaged position,

FIG. 4

a top view of the FIG. 1 shown front unit in the open position, and

FIG. 5

a perspective view of a front unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.

A front unit generally designated 10 according to the first embodiment is part of a ski-binding binding, with which a ski boot 12 is held on a Skijerk, not shown. In a manner known per se, the engagement between shoe 12 and front unit 10 can take place by lateral projections 14 L, 14 R, which engage in associated recesses 16 L, 16 R of the front unit 10. The projections 14L, 14R each rotatably engage in the recesses 16L, 16R, both of the rotary bearings having a common axis of rotation directed along a transverse axis Q transverse to a longitudinal axis L of the ski. The shoe 12 is mounted in this way about the transverse axis Q pivotally mounted on the front unit 10.

As is known per se for binding systems for ski jumping, the projections 14L, 14R of the shoe 12 may be spherical in order to engage corresponding ball-shaped recesses 16L, 16R of the front unit 10 (FIG. Figures 2 and 4 ). Preferably, the projections 14L, 14R are formed by opposite ends of a bar 18 which is fixed along the transverse axis Q to a protruding sole portion 20 of the shoe 12, in particular in a groove 22 of the sole portion 20 and inserted by means of screws 24, rivets or The like is attached to the sole portion 20.

The front unit 10 may comprise a base body 26, which by means of suitable fastening means, in particular screws 28, to be fastened to a ski (not shown). The base body 26 defines by the design of its attachment means for mounting on the ski a Skiebene, in relation to which a vertically from the Skiebene upward Z direction, a parallel to the Skiebene in the direction of longitudinal axis L extending X-direction and an orthogonal to X. Direction and extending to the Z direction Y direction are defined.

In the embodiment, the base body 26 has a left bearing portion 30L on which a left engagement lever 32L is pivotally supported, and has a right bearing portion 30R to which a right engagement lever 32R is pivotally supported. On the left engagement lever 32L, a left shoe engagement portion, here formed by the left recess 16L, is provided, while on the right engagement lever 32R, a right shoe engagement portion, here formed by the right recess 16R, is provided. On the bearing portions 30L, 30R, the engaging levers 32L, 32R are pivotally supported so that the recesses 16L, 16R can move toward or away from each other. A pivot axis S _{1 of} the left engagement lever 32 L on the left bearing portion 30 L and a pivot axis S _{2 of} the right engagement lever 32 R on the right bearing portion 30 R preferably have in the Z direction, that is vertically upwards.

The front unit 10 further comprises a tensioning device 34, which generates an elastic force for biasing the recesses 16 L, 16 R in the direction of engagement, ie toward the shoe 12. The elastic force is generated by a spring means 36, preferably a spiral spring, which is supported on the one hand on a fixedly connected to the base body 26 spring bearing 38 and on the other hand on a base body 26 slidably held clamping element 40. The tensioning element comprises Preferably, a rod portion 42 and a fixed or formed at the end of the rod portion 42 head portion 44. The rod portion 42 is preferably through a recess (not shown) of the spring bearing 38 through the spring bearing 38 passes therethrough, so that the clamping element 40 along the axis of Bar section 42 can move.

At an end facing away from the head portion 44, the rod portion 42 preferably carries a spring stop 46 on which the spring means 36 is supported. The spring stop 46 may be more preferably adjustable in position on the rod portion 42, e.g. an internal thread, which is in engagement with an external thread of the rod portion 42, so that by turning the spring stopper 46, a bias of the spring means 36 is adjustable. Furthermore, it can be seen in the figures that the rod portion 42 can pass through the spring means 36 in the axial direction. If the rod section 42 then passes through both the spring means 36 and the spring bearing 38, the spring means 36 can be supported on the spring bearing 38, for example on an inner, annular shoulder of a stepped bore in the spring bearing 38 or held in an annular groove of the spring bearing 38.

The spring means 36 has linear motion characteristics, ie, the tensioning element 40 acted on by the spring means 36 moves back and forth in a substantially linear direction. The conversion between this displacement movement and the pivotal movements of the engagement lever 32 is effected by the use of a lever mechanism which operates on the principle of a Watt-linkage. The lever mechanism includes a hinge member 48 on which the left engagement lever 32L is pivotally supported about a pivot axis S ₄ , the right engagement lever 32R is pivotally supported about a pivot axis S ₅ and the tension member 40, particularly the head portion 44 of the tension member 40, about a pivot axis S _{6 is} pivotally mounted. The pivot axes S ₄ , S ₅ and S ₆ are different from each other, run parallel to each other and are preferably substantially in a common plane. In other words, a pivot bearing 50 (pivot point) on which the left engaging lever 32L is supported on the joint member 48, a pivot bearing 52 (pivot point), on which the clamping element 40 is mounted on the hinge member 48, and a pivot bearing 54 (pivot point) on which the right engagement lever 32R is mounted on the joint element 48, arranged on the joint element 48 in a row next to each other, wherein the pivot bearing 52 for the clamping element 40 between the other two pivot bearings 50, 54, in particular straight in the middle between the pivot bearings 50, 54, is arranged. Preferably, the three pivot axes S ₄ , S ₅ and S ₆ extend in the Z direction.

The hinge member 48 may have two mutually parallel plate portions 56, 58 to sandwich the engagement levers 32L, 32R, such that, in particular, bearing shafts (only one bearing axis 60 of the right engagement lever 32R is shown in the figures) the engagement levers 32L, 32R are stable Both sides of the engagement lever 32 L, 32 R can be stored or held in the plate sections 56, 58. In the exemplary embodiment, the head portion 44 is further forked and includes two mutually parallel plate portions 62, 64, between which the hinge member 48 may be received and may be pivotally mounted at the pivot point 52. The fork-like head portion 44 thus engages around the joint member 48 and, depending on the rotational position of the joint member 48, possibly also partially one of the two engagement lever 32L, 32R (here one end of the left engagement lever 32L at the pivot point 50). Even by the fork-like head portion 44, a stable storage at the second pivot point 52, in particular while avoiding a one-sided storage, are made possible.

The front unit 10 of the illustrated embodiment further includes an actuating mechanism 66 for adjusting the front unit 10 between an open position and an engaged position. The actuating arrangement 66 comprises a manually operable actuating element 68 in the form of a lever, which is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis S ₇ on the base body 26 or a part connected fixedly to the base body 26. In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating element 68 is articulated on the spring bearing 38 and the pivot axis S ₇ preferably extends in the Y direction.

The actuator 68 acts directly or indirectly on movable parts of the front unit 10, so that the recesses 16L, 16R are moved toward or away from each other according to the movement of the actuator 68. In particular, the actuating element 68 is pivotably connected to an actuating member 70 on a pivot axis S ₈ , which in turn is connected about a pivot axis S ₉ to the clamping element 40, here in particular to the head section 44. In this case, the pivot axis S _{8 is} between the pivot axis S ₇ and the pivot axis S ₉ and depending on the position of the actuating element 68 can pass through a dead center, in which the pivot axis S _{8 is} just on a connecting line between the pivot axes S ₇ and S ₉ , ie in particular all three pivot axes S ₇ , S ₈ and S ₉ are arranged in a common plane. The dead center is a labile position, so that outside this dead center position, the pivot axis S ₈ is urged away from the dead center due to the force of the spring means 36. The actuator 68 can thus be moved on both sides of the dead center in two different stable positions and locked there by virtue of the spring means 36.

Hereinafter, a function and operation of the front unit 10 will be explained according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show an engaged position of the front unit 10, in which the recesses 16L, 16R are moved toward each other so far that a ski boot 12 securely held in engagement with the binding 10 can. This condition is the normal operating condition during ski jumping. Figures 2 and 4 on the other hand show an opening state of the front unit 10 in which the recesses 16L, 16R are moved away from each other so far that the ski boot 12 is disengaged from the front unit 10. In this position, the front unit 10 is in particular before getting into the binding or after getting out of the binding.

The adjustment between engagement position and open position can be done by manual operation of the actuator 68 (manual opening and closing of the front unit 10). For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment, the actuating element 68 from the in FIGS. 1 and 3 raised position and pulled towards the shoe 12, whereby the head portion 44 of the clamping member 40 is urged towards the shoe over the movement of the actuator 70. During this movement, the spring means 36 is compressed, so that the operation of the actuating element 68 until the dead center of the pivot axis S ₈ counteracts the force of the spring means 36. The displacement of the tension member 40 displaces the hinge member 48 held thereon and pivots the engagement levers 32L, 32R coupled to the hinge member 48 such that the recesses 16L, 16R move away from each other. After passing through the dead center, the clamping element 40 again moves a little way in the opposite direction, ie away from the shoe 12, this movement of the force acting direction of the spring means 36 corresponds, so that the actuating element 68 is also moved by the force of the spring means 36, until it is stopped by a stop (open position). In the exemplary embodiment, the stop between the actuating element 68 and the actuating member 70 is provided, that is, a pivot angle between the actuating element 68 and actuator 70 is limited by abutment of the two parts on one side. The stop is chosen so that despite the slight return movement of the clamping element 40 after passing through the dead center, the distance between the recesses 16L, 16R of the engagement lever 32L, 32R still is always sufficiently large to release the shoe 12 or to allow insertion of the shoe 12 between the recesses 16L, 16R.

For adjusting the front unit 10 from the open position into the engaged position, the actuating element 68 can be moved in the opposite direction, so that in the exemplary embodiment it is pivoted downwards towards the sliding board (away from the ski boot 12). After passing through the dead center, the spring means 36 acts again in the sense of supporting this pivotal movement and urges the actuator 68 further in the direction of engagement until it is stopped at a suitable stop, here for example on the clamping element 40 (engagement position). By the force of the spring means 36, the actuating element 68 is then pressed securely against this stop and thus the engagement position is locked.

During the abovementioned adjustment of the front unit 10, the power transmission essentially takes place only at pivot bearing sections, ie in particular at the pivot axes S ₁ to S ₉ . Due to the particular movement geometry of the elements, which are arranged on the model of a Watt-linkage, the pivotal movement of the engagement lever 32L, 32R is inevitably converted into a substantially linear displacement movement of the clamping element 40, without the need for a special linear guide or the like would be necessary. In particular, although the clamping element 40 penetrates the spring bearing 38; However, at this point, no guidance or intervention is provided. The rod portion 42 can enforce the spring bearing 38 in particular with great play and during the entire operation virtually without contact. The risk of jamming a linearly movable element in a guide and the occurrence of friction losses can thus be avoided.

By the above-described arrangement according to the embodiment of the invention, the recesses 16L, 16R in the engaged position by the force of the spring means 36 biased against each other to securely hold the shoe 12 in engagement. However, this meant, on the other hand, that when overcoming a predetermined release force exerted by the shoe 12, for example during a fall, on the recesses 16L, 16R, the recesses 16L, 16R yield and can be forced against the force of the spring means 36 from each other. The shoe 12 may then deploy from the front unit 10 to prevent injury to the athlete.

This release operation can be influenced by adjusting the bias of the spring means 36, in particular by adjusting the spring stop 46 on the one hand. However, the contours of the recesses 16L, 16R and the contours of the co-operating projections 14L, 14R of the shoe 12 also have an effect on the triggering characteristics FIG. 2 in that the cup-shaped depressions of the recesses 16L, 16R can have an outlet groove 72 at an edge at the free end of the engagement levers 32L, 32R, ie that the recesses 16L, 16R have a notched edge in the region of these outlet grooves 72, so that the projections 14L, 14R may more or less easily slide out of the recesses 16L, 16R at the exit grooves 72, depending on the depth of the exit grooves 72. By specifying the direction of the exit grooves 72 in relation to the center of the recesses 16L, 16R, a preferred triggering direction can also be specified. In the exemplary embodiment, a release thus preferably takes place parallel to the scissors, which corresponds to a triggering of the Mz, ie a triggering upon rotation of the boot 12 about an axis in the Z-direction.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a front unit 110 is formed as a front unit of touring ski binding. Accordingly, engagement portions 116L, 116R for pivotally holding a touring ski boot may have inwardly projecting pivots 174L, 174R, in particular conical cones tapered tip, which can engage in corresponding side openings 176 at a front portion of a touring ski boot 112. All other elements and functions of the front unit 110 preferably correspond to the respective elements and functions of the one with reference to FIGS FIGS. 1 to 4 described first embodiment of the invention and will therefore not be described again below. In other words, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the above-described configuration of the engaging portions 116L, 116R.

It should be added that in the embodiments described above, in particular the force-transmitting bearings of the front unit on the axes of rotation S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₄ to S ₉ can be realized in principle by all types of pivot bearings known in the art. Preferably, cylindrical bearings are used, which allow rotation about only one axis of rotation. Such bearings can be inexpensively and wear-resistant designed as a pin bearing, in which a provided with a corresponding coating or lubrication on its outer cylinder surface bearing pin is rotatably mounted in a matching bearing bore.

Claims (13)

1. Front unit (10; 110), comprising

   - two engagement elements (32L, 32R), which comprise engagement portions (16L, 16R) which are set up so as to engage opposite lateral portions (14L, 14R) of a sliding board boot (12; 112), the engagement elements (32L, 32R) being held pivotably on the front unit (10; 110),

   - a tensioning means (34), which produces a resilient force for biasing the engagement portions (16L, 16R; 116L, 116R) in the engagement direction, the tensioning means (34) comprising a displaceably held tensioning element (40), wherein

   the conversion between the pivoting movements of the engagement elements (32L, 32R) and the displacement movement of the tensioning element (40) is provided by way of a lever mechanism, which comprises:

   - two levers which pivot in a manner corresponding to the engagement elements (32L, 32R),

   - a displacement portion which is displaced in a manner corresponding to the tensioning element (40), and

   - an articulation element (48), which comprises a first and a second pivot point (50, 54) at which it is pivotably connected to the levers and comprises a third pivot point (52), positioned between the first and the second pivot point (50, 54), at which it is pivotably connected to the displacement portion,

   characterized by an actuation element (68) which is manually operable by the user, for moving the engagement portions (16L, 16R) between an engagement position, in which the engagement portions (16L, 16R; 116L, 116R) hold a sliding board boot (12; 112) in engagement, and an opening position, in which the engagement portions (16L, 16R) release the sliding board boot (12; 112).
2. Front unit (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two levers of the lever mechanism are formed by the engagement elements (32L, 32R).
3. Front unit (10; 110) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the engagement elements (32L, 32R) are held pivotably about a vertical axis.
4. Front unit (10; 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the two engagement elements (32L, 32R) is pivotably mounted on a bearing portion (30L, 30R) on the front unit (10; 110), and comprises a first lever arm extending from the bearing portion (30L, 30R) to the engagement portion (16L, 16R; 116L, 116R) and a second lever arm extending from the bearing portion (30L, 30R) to the articulation element (48).
5. Front unit (10; 110) according to claim 4, characterized in that the second lever arms of the engagement elements (32L, 32R) point towards a central longitudinal axis of the front unit.
6. Front unit (10; 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement portion is formed on the tensioning element (40).
7. Front unit (10; 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a spring means (36) which is braced against the tensioning element (40).
8. Front unit (10; 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a spring means (36) which is braced on the one hand against the tensioning element (40) and on the other hand against a spring bearing (38), which is rigidly fixed to the sliding board, the tensioning element (40) penetrating a clearance of the spring bearing (38), and preferably further also the spring means (36).
9. Front unit (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation element (68) is pivotably coupled to a portion, which is rigidly fixed to a sliding board, of the front unit (10; 110) at a first actuation pivot axis (S₇), in that the actuation element (68) is pivotably coupled to an actuation member (70) at a second actuation pivot axis (S₈), and
   in that the actuation member (70) is pivotably connected to an element (44) of the lever mechanism, to one of the engagement elements or to the tensioning element (40) at a third actuation pivot axis (S₉),
   the second actuation pivot axis (S₈) passing a dead position, in which it intersects a connecting line between the first actuation pivot axis (S₇) and the third actuation pivot axis (S₉), when the actuation element (68) moves between the engagement position and the opening position.
10. Touring binding, comprising a front unit (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. Touring binding according to claim 10, characterized in that the engagement portions (116L, 116R) comprise a projecting coupling journal (174L, 174R) in each case, the coupling journals (174L, 174R) of the two engagement portions (116L, 116R) facing towards one another.
12. Ski-jumping binding, comprising a front unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
13. Ski-jumping binding according to claim 12, characterized in that the engagement portions (16L, 16R) comprise a coupling clearance in each case for receiving a coupling projection (14L, 14R), which projects laterally from a front portion of a ski-jumping boot (12).

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