EP2666525B1 - Heel binding unit with climbing wedge and ski-brake assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heel unit for a touring binding, comprising a binding body which is adapted to hold a heel portion of a touring shoe in a downhill position and release the heel portion of the toe in a touring position so that the toe shoe can lift off the heel unit, a climbing aid, which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein in the tour position the climbing aid in its active position supports a heel portion of the toe shoe at a predetermined height above a sliding board plane, and a brake assembly having a braking element which is coupled between a braking position for deceleration of an associated Gliding boards and a driving position without deceleration of the sliding board is movable.

Touring bindings, in particular touring ski bindings but also bindings for splitboards or the like, have been known in the prior art for a long time and comprise a front unit on which a matching touring boot or a frame holding the toe is pivotally supported about a transverse axis transverse to the sliding board longitudinal axis, and comprises a heel unit, in particular a heel unit of the type mentioned, with which a heel portion of the touring boot can be held in the downhill position and released in the tour position. When climbing the mountain, the tour binding is placed in the tour position, with a flat increase the climbing aid can remain in the passive position, so that the touring boot can lower relatively far to the sliding board level, while at a steeper slope, the climbing aid in the active position can be adjusted so that it is located between Gleitbrettebene and heel portion of the touring boot and support the touring boot at a predetermined height above the Gleitbrettebene can. The known heel unit further comprises a brake assembly, which is required for the downhill position to prevent slipping down of the free sliding board in case of a fall and a decoupling of the shoe from the sliding board (release of the binding). The basic operating principle of such a brake assembly corresponds to that of a ski brake known from alpine binding.

The brake assembly is held in the downhill position by the held close to the Gleitbrettebene touring shoe in the driving position, so that it does not develop a braking effect. Since stands in the tour position of the touring boot of the Gleitbrettebene at each step, the brake assembly must be locked in the driving position in the tour position. In the conventional heel unit, the brake assembly for this purpose comprises an additional locking element, which moves with the braking element and which is engaged in a determination of the binding body from the downhill to the tour position of the binding body and is held in a position corresponding to the driving position. In this way, the brake element is locked in the driving position.

The known locking system on the one hand has the disadvantage that an additional locking element is required, which produces an engagement between the two actually spaced apart elements brake assembly and binding body. On the other hand, this locking principle is limited to use with a specific adjustment mechanism of the binding body, in which the adjustment of the heel unit between touring position and downhill position by rotation of the binding body relative to the sliding board takes place about a vertical axis of rotation. Such a bond is offered by Dynafit under the name TLT (speed). Exact description of the assembly of the braking device is presented on the Internet at www.wildsnow.com.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a heel unit of the type mentioned, which with a structurally simple mechanism, the locking of the brake assembly in the Touring position and which can be easily adapted for use with different types of binding bodies.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a heel unit according to claim 1.

According to an important feature of the present invention, the locking of the brake assembly is thus carried out in the driving position not by a special movement of the binding body or the use of a cooperating with the rotational movement of the binding body locking element, but by engagement between the climbing aid and the brake assembly. Since the brake assembly is usually located below the sole of the touring boot and naturally also at least parts of the climbing aid are in this area or are set up for movement in this area, resulting from the inventive principle a constructive simplification and optionally a weight reduction. In particular, can be largely dispensed with additional components to overcome a distance between the brake assembly and binding body.

Basically, the climbing aid is attached to a suitable body to be attached to the gliding board, and is movable between passive position out of the influence of the touring shoe and active position to support the heel portion of the touring boot. According to the invention, the provision of a climbing aid, which is movably mounted between active and passive position on the binding body, so that climbing aid and binding body can share common fastening means, for example a common base, is provided.

In particular, it is thought that the climbing aid can be mounted on the binding body so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially parallel to the sliding board plane. The climbing aid can then be folded, for example, forward about an axis transverse to Gleitboardlängsachse pivot axis forward to an active position to support the touring boot and backwards into a passive position outside the influence of the touring boot. Such a movement of the climbing aid can be largely independent of an optionally provided movement of the binding body between tour position and downhill position or the like.

The climbing aid may be adjustable between a first passive position in which it is located outside the influence of the touring boot and the brake assembly releases for movement into the braking position, a second passive position in which the climbing aid is also located outside the influence of the touring boot, however is engaged with the brake assembly to hold the brake member in the drive position, and an active position in which the climbing aid is the heel portion of the touring boot at the predetermined height above the Gleitbrettebene supported and beyond also engaged with the brake assembly, to keep the brake element in the driving position. This embodiment allows the locking of the brake assembly in driving position not only in the active position of the climbing aid, but also in the second passive position in which the heel portion of the touring boot can be lowered below the predetermined height of the climbing aid (mode for flat terrain).

Although the embodiment described above allows a higher flexibility of the heel unit with respect to the amount of support of the touring boot in the tour position, but requires some additional design effort to provide the second passive position, for example, the provision of a locking element, which is connected to the climbing aid and in the second passive position locks the brake assembly in the driving position, without the tread portion of the climbing aid is disposed below the heel portion of the touring boot. A structurally simpler in comparison and thus in particular to be produced with lighter weight embodiment is provided in that the climbing aid is brought in its active position with the brake assembly is engaged to hold the brake element in the driving position, and in its passive position out of engagement is released with the brake assembly to release the brake member for movement in the braking position. This variant is useful when the predetermined height of the climbing aid is relatively low and therefore suitable for flat terrain, as in this construction in the tour position of the heel unit the climbing aid is preferably always placed in its active position to the brake assembly in the Lock driving position. In order nevertheless to enable a possibility of adjustment of the heel unit for different terrain inclinations, the embodiment described may preferably comprise at least one further climbing aid, which is adjustable between active and passive position and the touring boot in the active position in a different from the height of the first mentioned climbing aid Height can support. Furthermore, the climbing aid of this embodiment could be adjustable per se in terms of their height.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the brake assembly is biased by an elastic element in the braking position and that the brake assembly comprises an actuating element which is coupled with the brake element for transmitting movement and is adapted to be held in the downhill position by a binding body To be held down touring shoe to hold the brake assembly against the force of the elastic device in the driving position, wherein the climbing aid is engageable with the actuating element in engagement to block a movement of the actuating element in the braking position. In this embodiment, the actuating element advantageous dual function as an actuating element for the operation by the touring boot on the one hand and as a blocking element for engagement with the climbing aid for blocking the brake assembly in the driving position on the other hand, so that the design effort can be reduced and the number of components can be reduced.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the actuating element and the climbing aid may be pivotally mounted about mutually parallel axes, in particular about pivot axes extending transversely to the sliding board longitudinal axis. As a result, pivot bearings can be used for the movable support of climbing aid and actuating element, which work wear-resistant and essentially independent of external influences such as moisture, snow and ice.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the climbing aid in its movement from the passive position to the active position comes into contact with the actuating element of the brake assembly placed in braking position and that the climbing aid entrains the brake assembly with continued movement to the active position and moved to the driving position. The climbing aid can thus be used not only for locking the brake assembly in the driving position, but also for moving the brake assembly from the braking position to the driving position, in particular when adjusting the heel unit from the downhill to the tour position. The operation of the heel unit is thus simplified.

A particularly simple way of locking the brake assembly in the driving position by engagement between climbing aid and actuator is seen in the fact that tilt the actuator placed in the drive position and Asked in the active position climbing aid with each other or lock together to a provision of the brake assembly in the braking position to block. A tilting can in particular without special additional intervention means or Coupling means or the like carried out only by a suitable choice of the movement paths of the movements of the actuating element and the climbing aid. A locking can alternatively or additionally be done by providing at least one projection and / or at least one recess on one of the two elements of actuator and climbing aid.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the climbing aid is a first climbing aid which is adapted to support in its active position a heel portion of a touring boot at a predetermined first height above the sliding board plane, and in that the heel unit comprises a second climbing aid, which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein the second climbing aid in its active position supports a heel portion of the toe shoe in a second height different from the first height above the sliding board plane. In this way, the height of the support of the touring boot in the tour position can be adapted to a slope of the terrain. In particular, the first climbing aid for relatively flat terrain may provide support at a first height, and the second climbing aid may provide support for a steeper terrain at a second altitude which is greater than the first altitude. Equally, if necessary, a third climbing aid or further climbing aids with different support heights could be provided and / or the heel unit could comprise at least one climbing aid whose predetermined height is adjustable.

In a heel unit equipped with at least two climbing aids, preferably the second climbing aid is supported in its active position on the first climbing aid, so that it can provide a second height which is greater than the first height without the second climbing aid of the second Height should reach to a lower lying support point, for example, a base of the heel unit. The second climbing aid can thus be manufactured with low height.

In principle, the binding body and the brake assembly can be fastened separately from one another on a gliding board, which, in particular in connection with the simple locking of the brake assembly according to the invention by the climbing aid, also makes it possible to use conventional brake arrangements (for example a braking arrangement of a conventional alpine binding). However, in order to ensure an accurate relative position between the binding body and the brake assembly and save mounting effort, it is preferred that the heel unit has a base adapted for attachment to a gliding board, with the binding body and brake assembly mounted on the common base.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a heel unit having a binding body having coupling means adapted to hold a heel portion of a toe in a downhill position of the heel unit and to release the heel portion of the toe in a toe position of the heel unit such that the toe of the heel unit can lift off, wherein the binding body is biased in the downhill position by a first spring means in the forward direction to the touring shoe out. The object of the invention according to this further aspect is to provide a suitable entry mechanism, which on the one hand during the transition from the tour position to departure safe coupling of the heel unit on the touring boot allows and on the other hand provides a trigger mechanism in the downhill position under the action of a predetermined fall trigger force exceeding force on the touring boot solves the coupling between heel unit and touring boot.

To solve this problem, a heel unit of the above type is proposed according to the further aspect of the invention, in which the Binding body has a Eintrittssbetätigungsabschnitt, which is arranged above the coupling means and which forms a contact surface for the heel portion of the touring shoe to exert force from the toe shoe in the rearward direction on the binding body, wherein the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt is movably mounted on the binding body.

By arranging an entry-level operation section above the coupling means, it can be actuated by a heel portion of a touring shoe when the touring shoe descends to the ski for entry into the downhill position from above. In this case, the heel portion of the touring boot comes into contact with the contact surface of the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts and by exerting a corresponding pressure force through the touring boot, the binding body can be moved over the contact surface in the backward direction against the force of the first spring means, and indeed until the touring boot in one for the Engagement with the coupling means is lowered appropriate height above the ski. Thereafter, the binding body may advance again by the force of the first spring means and the coupling means may engage the heel portion of the touring boot to establish the downhill position. Due to the movable arrangement of the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts the binding body is also achieved the advantage that in the event of a fall trigger the binding, d. H. when a force acting on the heel unit by the toe shoe exceeds a predetermined camber release force, the push-to-operate portion may dodge so as not to block movement of the toe shoe from the coupling means to a released condition. Thus, in the tripping motion of the touring boot, the tripping behavior is determined by the coupling means and is not affected by a collision between the toe boot and the squat engagement section in an unforeseen manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the boarding operation section be movable between an entry position, in which it is arranged above the coupling means and with respect to a sliding board longitudinal axis at the same position or in front of the coupling means, and a release position, in which it is arranged in the rearward direction behind the coupling means. In a fall triggering of the heel unit, the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt can thus move in the reverse direction, so that it is located behind the coupling means and does not block movement of the touring boot in the released state. The movement of the boarding operation section from the boarding position to the release position can be controlled by a movement coupling between the boarding operation section and the triggering mechanism, so that the triggering mechanism moves the boarding operation section to the release position in case of a fall initiation. Preferably, however, is provided in a particularly simple variant of the invention that the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitt is arranged in the down position of the heel unit above a heel portion of the touring shoe, so that a moving in the fall trigger uphill touring boot entrains the Einstangsetätigungsabschnitt and forcibly moved into the release position.

Preferably, the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt is biased by a second spring means to the entry position. Thus, it can be achieved that the heel unit in a state in which the touring boot is not coupled to the heel unit, reliably placed in a einstiegsbereite position in which the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitt in the correct position (entry position), in particular above the coupling means is arranged , When lowering the touring boot on the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitt then the Einstangsetetigungsabschnitt can move the binding body against the force of the first spring means to the rear to couple the touring boot. In a fall trigger, the heel portion of the toe shoe may lift the boarding operation section against the force of the second spring means, so that the boarding operation section can dodge the touring boot. The force of the second spring means is preferably comparatively small compared to the fall triggering force of the coupling means, so that the triggering force is not influenced by the force necessary for displacing the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitts little or substantially.

In one embodiment of the invention, the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt is biased by a second spring means to the entry position and towards the release position in each case in a stable position and passes through a movement between the entry position and release position a dead center. By such a second spring means a simplified and safer operation can be ensured, since an unintentional adjustment of the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts or an inadvertent stay of Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts can be avoided in an intermediate position between the release position and entry position.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention of the further aspect, the heel unit is characterized by a climbing aid, which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein in the tour position of the binding the climbing aid in its active position the heel portion of the touring boot at a predetermined height is supported above a sliding board level, wherein the boarding operation section is coupled with the climbing aid to transmit movement, so that a movement of the climbing aid moves into the active position the boarding operation section in the release position. In this embodiment, the advantage is achieved that when setting the climbing aid in the active position, in which the heel unit is set in a tour position, at the same time the boarding operation section is moved to the release position, so that the touring boot can settle on the climbing aid and not with collided with the boarding operation section. A separate handle for moving the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts from the pivoting range of the touring boot, ie for adjusting in the release position, is not necessary.

In a particularly preferred variant of the last-mentioned embodiment, the second spring means, which biases the boarding operation section into the entry position, on the one hand be coupled to the boarding operation section and, on the other hand, be coupled with the climbing aid. The second spring means then takes on advantageous dual function for biasing the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts one hand, and the motion coupling between climbing aid and Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitt other hand. In a further development of this inventive concept, the second spring means may also be designed such that it biases the climbing aid in two stable positions, namely in the active position and in the passive position, so that upon movement of the climbing aid between active position and passive position dead center is traversed with respect to the second spring means.

The heel unit of the present invention may be advantageously used with a per se known towing ski binding system when the binding body has two coupling protrusions projecting forward in the downhill direction towards a gliding board longitudinal axis and adapted to engage mating recesses on a heel portion of a touring boot.

The present invention is also applicable to so-called frame bindings in which the toe shoe is not pivotally mounted on a binding directly at its front portion, but is held on a binding plate which is pivotally mounted on the touring binding and engageable with the heel unit , In the context of the present disclosure, the term "heel section" of the touring boot is understood to mean the rear part of a shoe or the rear part of a frame or a binding plate in the case of a frame binding. As with frame bindings the binding plate firmly with the actual shoe body is connected, in the context of the present disclosure, such a binding plate can be considered as part of the touring boot.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Ferseneinheit gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer Abfahrtsstellung zusammen mit einem Tourenskischuh, wobei der Tourenskischuh von der Ferseneinheit gelöst ist,

Figur 2

eine Ansicht der Ferseneinheit in der Abfahrtsstellung entsprechend Figur 1, jedoch in einem Zustand, in welchem der Tourenskischuh an der Ferseneinheit gehalten ist,

Figur 3

eine Darstellung der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer ersten Tourenstellung,

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer zweiten Tourenstellung,

Figur 6

eine Schnittdarstellung der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels gemäß einer Schnittlinie VI-VI in Fig. 3, jedoch für eine Tourenstellung entsprechend Fig. 4,

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht einer Ferseneinheit gemäß eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung in Abfahrtstellung,

Figur 8

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit gemäß Figur 7 in einem Auslösezustand,

Figur 9

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit gemäß Figur 7 mit einer ersten Steighilfe in aktiver Position, und

Figur 10

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit gemäß Figur 7 mit einer zweiten Steighilfe in aktiver Position.

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

FIG. 1

a side view of a heel unit according to a first embodiment of the invention in a downhill position together with a touring ski boot, the touring ski boot is detached from the heel unit,

FIG. 2

a view of the heel unit in the down position accordingly FIG. 1 but in a state in which the touring ski boot is held on the heel unit,

FIG. 3

a representation of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a front view,

FIG. 4

a side view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a first tour position,

FIG. 5

a side view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a second tour position,

FIG. 6

a sectional view of the heel unit of the first embodiment according to a section line VI-VI in Fig. 3 , however, for a tour position accordingly Fig. 4 .

FIG. 7

a side view of a heel unit according to a second embodiment of the invention in down position,

FIG. 8

a side view of the heel unit according to FIG. 7 in a trigger state,

FIG. 9

a side view of the heel unit according to FIG. 7 with a first climbing aid in active position, and

FIG. 10

a side view of the heel unit according to FIG. 7 with a second climbing aid in active position.

A heel unit 10 of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a base 14 to be attached to a gliding board, in particular a touring ski 12, a binding body 16 adapted to hold a heel portion 18 of a touring ski boot 20 in a downhill position of the heel unit 10, a brake assembly 22, which brakes the ski 12 in the downhill position when the shoe 20 is decoupled from the heel unit 10, and a first climbing aid 24, which can be positioned in the touring position of the heel unit 10 below the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 to the heel portion 18 in a support predetermined height.

The base 14 has not shown in the drawings fastening means for attachment to the ski 12, for example mounting holes for fixing by means of screws. The attachment means define a sliding board plane E which corresponds to a surface of the ski 12 and is referred to as a horizontal plane in the context of the present disclosure. A X direction of the coordinate system of the heel unit 10 runs parallel to the sliding board plane E in the direction of a sliding board longitudinal axis L (direction of travel). A Y direction also runs parallel to the sliding board plane E, but points in the lateral direction, ie perpendicular to the X direction. In the vertical direction upwards and thus perpendicular to the X direction and to the Y direction, a Z direction of the coordinate system of the heel unit 10 runs.

The binding body 16 is supported on the base 14 and includes two X-directional coupling pins 26l, 26r which are adapted to engage a mating coupling recess 28 on a back side of the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 to engage in the FIG. 2 shown downhill position to couple the heel 18 firmly on the binding body 16.

Preferably, the coupling pins 26l, 26r are movably supported on the binding body 16 to provide a triggering mechanism which, in the event of a force exerted by a predetermined release force between the shoe 20 and heel unit 10, causes the coupling between the shoe 20 and the binding body 16 to be canceled. The trigger mechanism operates in the embodiment of the model of one of the DE 10 2011 082 612 A1 of known type and comprises a about a running in the Y direction pivot axis 30 pivotally mounted guide member 32 having a left guide slot 34l and a right guide slot 34r, through which the left coupling pin 26l and the right coupling pin 26r pass. The coupling pins 26l, 26r are pivotally mounted to bearing portions 36 on the binding body 16 so that forward ends 38 of the coupling pins 26l, 26r can move in a direction orthogonal to the X direction on a V-shaped track, with the forward ends 38 at an upward movement (in Z-direction up) from each other. The left and the right guide slot 34l, 34r are correspondingly V-shaped ( FIG. 3 ) so that they force the coupling pins 26l, 26r to the corresponding V-shaped trajectory. At the same time slide in this V-shaped movement radial projections 40l, 40r of the coupling pins 26l, 26r on guide surfaces 42l, 42r of the guide member 32, such that upon movement of the coupling pins 26l, 26r obliquely outwardly and upwardly the guide member 32 in the reverse direction is moved, that is pivoted about the pivot axis 30 in the reverse direction. This rearward movement of the guide member 32 is against the resistance of a tension spring 44, so that the movement of the coupling pins 26l, 26r outwards and upwards against an elastic restoring force.

The front ends 38 of the coupling pins 26l, 26r are in the down position in engagement in associated locking recesses (not shown) in the coupling recess 28 of the touring ski boot 20. Upon application of a predetermined release force transgressing force on the shoe 20 in the Z direction of the shoe lifts 20 the coupling pins 26l, 26r against the resistance of the tension spring 44 at. In accordance with the guide slots 34l, 34r, the distance between the coupling pins 261, 26r increases, as a result of which they emerge from the latching recesses on the coupling recess 28 of the shoe 20. Since the coupling recess 28 is open to the sole 46 of the shoe 20, the coupling pins 26l, 26r can then slide down out of the coupling recess 28 after exiting the locking recesses, and as a result the shoe 20 is released from the binding body 16. Furthermore, also triggers an unillustrated front unit of the touring binding, the ski is completely separated from the shoe 20.

Attention is also drawn to a Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt 48, which is arranged on the first climbing aid 24 and can transfer force on the guide member 32 via the first climbing aid 24 and which has an inclined surface on which the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 in a downward movement to get into the Binding can slide to thereby move the binding body against the force of a yet to be described spring element 106 in the reverse direction until the coupling pins 26l, 26r in the in FIG. 2 shown position in the locking recesses of the coupling recess 28 occur.

Alternatively, the binding body 16 and the triggering mechanism used can also be modeled on that of the EP 199 098 A2 be constructed type or use another suitable coupling principle or tripping principle.

The heel unit 10 of the embodiment of the invention may further comprise an Mz-triggering mechanism, which releases the heel portion 18 of the touring ski boot 20 in a lateral direction when a force acting transversely to the sliding board longitudinal axis L (torque about the Z-axis). For this purpose, the binding body 16 can be held rotatably with respect to the base 14 on a bearing arrangement 90 about an axis extending in the Z-direction. The bearing assembly 90 may include a journal 92 which is inserted into an associated recess 94 of the binding body 16 (see. FIG. 6 ).

The pivotal mounting of the binding body 16 on the bearing journal 92 is preferably biased into a normal position, in which the coupling pins 26l, 26r point in the X direction to the front. For biasing the binding body 16 in the normal position, a known Mz-triggering mechanism may be provided which, for example, in the EP 0 199 098 A2 is described. The in the EP 0 199 098 A2 described details for rotatably supporting a binding body with coupling pins on a vertically extending pin and acting between these elements spring assembly to be fully incorporated by reference in the present disclosure. Thus, on the outer surface of the bearing pin 92, a cam surface 96 may be provided, on which slides at a relative rotation between the binding body 16 and bearing pin 92, a cam follower 98 which is guided on the binding body 16 and by the force of an Mz-release spring 100 in contact with the cam surface 96 is biased. The Mz release spring 100 can be supported on the one hand on a Vorspannungseinstellelement 102, which is mounted in an adjustable, but during normal operation fixed position on the binding body 16, and on the other hand can be supported on the cam follower 98. The Vorspannungseinstellelement 102 may be a screw, so that by adjusting the screw, the distance between the two support points of the Mz-release spring 100 and thus the bias of Mz release spring 100 is adjustable.

The contour of the cam surface 96 is selected so that the binding body 16 is biased to the normal position, in which the coupling pins 26l, 26r point in the X direction to the front. Further, the cam surface 96 is formed so that upon rotation of the binding body 16, the cam follower 98 is urged toward compression of the Mz release spring 100 so as to counteract the pivotal movement of the binding body 16 from the downhill position. If this force exceeds a predetermined Mz release force, for example if a heel portion of the touring ski boot 20 is pressed in the lateral direction (Y direction) in the event of a fall or a twisting of the ski, the force of the Mz release spring 100 is overcome and the binding body 16 is overcome turns away with the coupling pins 26l, 26r to the side, so that the engagement of the touring ski boot is released.

The bearing assembly 90, with which the binding body 16 is mounted on the base 14, additionally comprises a suspension bearing, which allows a suspension movement of the binding body 16 and thus the coupling pins 26l, 26r in the X direction. In the illustrated variant of the bearing pin 92 is provided on a carriage 104 which is slidably supported in the X direction on the base 14 and by the action of a spring element 106 in the forward direction (towards the ski boot 20) is biased.

The guide of the carriage 104 may be realized by a rail guide. The movement of the carriage 104 in the X-direction forward is preferably limited by a stop 107, which is held stationary in relation to the base 14 in normal operation during departure. At this stop 107, the carriage 104 abut when acting on the binding body 16 no force in the X direction (eg decoupled ski touring boot 20). In the exemplary embodiment, the spring element 106 in a recess 108 of the carriage 104 opened towards the sliding board plane E is supported with its front end against a front boundary wall of the recess 108, while the rear end of the spring element 106 bears against a spring bearing 110 which is held stationary relative to the base 14 and preferably also forms the stop 107.

Further, the spring bearing 110 may be adjustable in position relative to the base 14 to adjust the unloaded position of the carriage 104 along the X direction. For this purpose, the spring bearing 110 may be provided as a threaded nut, which is penetrated by a thread extending in the X direction screw 112 in threaded engagement. The threaded screw 112 may be mounted at its end remote from the spring bearing 110 at a bearing portion 114 of the base 14 so that the screw 112 can rotate about its longitudinal axis, but can not move in the X direction. To adjust the threaded screw 112, this may have a screw head 116 with a tool engaging portion. The spring element 106 is preferably designed as a helical spring, such that the threaded bearing 112 passing through the threaded bearing 112 can penetrate without interference into the interior of the helical spring.

The above described, displaceable in the X direction bearing of the binding body 16 under action of the spring element 106 assumes during a downhill in the downhill position the task of a dynamic compensation of a Skidurchbiegung when driving through bumps, so that during departure of the binding body 16 always in safe engagement and can be held in close contact with the heel portion 18 of the touring boot 20.

The brake assembly 22 includes an actuator 50 which is adapted for actuation by the sole 46 of the touring ski boot 20 and is movably attached to the base 14. The actuating element 50 can be coupled in a conventional manner with a brake element 52, which in the in FIG. 1 shown braking position is lowered below the ski 12 to brake to engage with the ground, and the in FIG. 2 shown driving position above a tread 54 of the ski 12 is arranged to allow sliding of the ski 12. Preferably, a total of two brake elements 52 are on laterally opposite sides of the ski 12, which move in unison with each other.

Preferably, the (at least one) brake element 52 is configured rod-shaped so that it is adapted at its one end for engagement with the ground, at its opposite end is pivotally coupled to the actuator 50 and in an intermediate portion about a preferably in Y. Direction extending pivot axis 56 is pivotally mounted on the carriage 104.

The brake assembly 22 is biased by a brake spring 58 in the direction of the braking position. The brake spring 57 preferably acts between the carriage 104 and the actuator 50. In the exemplary embodiment, the brake spring 57 is formed as a torsion spring whose axis of rotation 59 extends in the Y direction and is arranged on the carriage 104, wherein a leg 58 of the brake spring 57 from the rotation axis 59th leads to the actuator 50 and is supported there, while a second leg (not shown) of the brake spring 57 is supported on the carriage 104.

The first climbing aid 24 may be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 60 extending in the Y direction, so that it can be folded back and forth. The pivot axis 60 is preferably arranged on the binding body 16. In an in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated passive position of the climbing aid 24, which is suitable for the downhill position of the heel unit 10, the climbing aid 24 is arranged outside the pivoting range of the touring ski boot 20, so that the Heel section 18 without hindrance by the climbing aid 24 can lower so far that the coupling pins 26l, 26r with the coupling recess 28 engage. The first climbing aid 24 can be folded in a tour position of the heel unit 10 forward in an active position, which in FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown. The climbing aid 24 is then below the heel portion 18 of the touring ski boot 20 and provides a support surface 62 (tread portion) at a predetermined height H ₁ above the sliding board plane E on which the sole 46 of the shoe 20 can settle. In the embodiment, the height H ₁ corresponds approximately to the height of the coupling pins 26l, 26r. The height H ₁ may alternatively be higher than the height of the coupling pins 26l, 26r.

In its active position, the climbing aid 24 of the embodiment engages the brake assembly 22 to lock the brake assembly 22 in the drive position. For this purpose, the climbing aid 24 may have an engagement portion 64, which engages with an associated counter-engagement portion 66 of the actuating element 50 of the brake assembly 22. In particular, it can be seen in the drawings that the climbing aid 24 has a projection 68 on its engagement portion 64 which is adapted to slide in the active position of the climbing aid 24 behind or below a rear edge portion 70 of the actuating element 50. The climbing aid 24 can thus be clamped or tilted in its active position behind the actuating element 50, so that a pivoting movement of the actuating element 50 is blocked upwards and to the rear.

A tilting between the first climbing aid 24 and the actuating element 50 is further supported by the fact that the pivot axis 60 of the climbing aid 24 is arranged above the pivot axis 56 of the brake element 52 carrying the actuating element 50 and is furthermore offset in the rearward direction. The substantially circular movement path of the actuating element 50 thus intersects the circular trajectory of the engagement section 64 at a relatively large angle the climbing aid 24, so that in the locked position according to FIG. 4 the direction of the compressive force F, which is initiated by the actuator 50 due to the tension of the brake spring 57 in the climbing aid 24, no component in the direction of rotation of the climbing aid 24 to the passive position out, but at most to the pivot axis 60 of the climbing aid 24 points.

The heel unit 10 further comprises a second climbing aid 72, which in an active position ( FIG. 5 ) can support the touring ski boot 20 at a second height H ₂ above the sliding board plane E, which is different from the height H _{1 of} the first climbing aid 24. Preferably, the second climbing aid 72 is pivotally mounted on the binding body, in particular on a pivot axis extending in the Y direction 74. In the present embodiment, both climbing aids 24, 72 may be held on the guide member 32.

The climbing aid 72 of the described embodiment can in the reverse direction in a passive position ( FIG. 4 ) and can be moved forward into an active position ( FIG. 5 ). In the active position, the second climbing aid 72 may settle on the first climbing aid 24, in particular on the shoe support surface 62 of the first climbing aid 24. In this way, a measured in the active position in the Z direction expansion of the second climbing aid 72 may be significantly smaller than the height H ₂ , in particular only the height difference H ₂ -H ₁ correspond. Preferably, the pivot axis 74 of the second climbing aid 72 is disposed above the pivot axis 60 of the first climbing aid 24. The second climbing aid 72 has at its in the active position upwardly facing side on a second shoe support surface 76 on which the sole 46 of the touring ski boot 20 can settle.

On its side which comes into contact with the first climbing aid 24 in the active position, the second climbing aid 72 can furthermore have a latching element 78, for example a latching projection, which has a latching projection complementary counter-latching element (not shown) on the top of the first climbing aid 24 can engage in order to lock the second climbing aid 72 in the active position and, for example, at the sole 46 adhering snow or moisture lifting the second climbing aid 72 of the first climbing aid 24 at Lifting the shoe 20 to prevent.

Hereinafter, an operation of the heel unit of the embodiment will be described in more detail.

In a downhill position according to FIG. 2 For example, the heel portion 18 of the touring ski boot 20 is held on the coupling pins 26l, 26r, and the sole 46 depresses the operating member 50 against the force of the brake spring 57, so that the brake member 52 is held in the driving position. In this condition the binding is ready for a normal descent. In the event of a fall, the movably held coupling pins 26l, 26r release the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 upward against the force of the tension spring 44, whereupon the brake assembly 22 is displaced by the force of the brake spring 57 into the braking position ( FIG. 1 ). The then possibly also on the front unit of the shoe 20 dissolved ski 12 is braked and can not independently slide down the mountain.

To adjust the heel unit 10 in the tour position, the binding body 16 is manually adjusted so that the coupling pins 26l, 26r release the heel portion 18 of the touring ski boot 20. For this purpose, the binding body 16 used in the exemplary embodiment can be actuated for this purpose, for example by means of a ski pole, in order to displace the binding body in the reverse direction against the force of the spring element 106, so that the coupling pins 26l, 26r are moved back sufficiently far, so that the heel section 18 is disengaged from the binding body 16 can be solved.

The heel portion 18 is then pivoted so far upward that the first climbing aid 24 from its passive position forward in the direction of active position can be moved. In this way, a driving surface 80 of the climbing aid 24 meets the displaced in its upper position actuator 50 of the brake assembly 22. Upon further pivotal movement of the climbing aid 24 to the active position then takes the first climbing aid 24 with the actuator 50, wherein the driving surface 80 of the climbing aid 24 slides off at the rear edge portion 70 of the actuating element 50. The driving surface 80 is in the engaging portion 64 of the climbing aid 24, in particular the projection 68, on, so that when reaching the active position of the rear edge portion 70 engages in the engagement portion 64, in particular the projection 68 of the climbing aid 24 behind or under the rear edge portion 70 slips. As a result, the brake assembly 22 has arrived in its driving position and the first climbing aid 24 has reached its active position and brake assembly 22 and first climbing aid 24 are locked together.

In this position, the heel unit 10 can be used for an increase in flat terrain, wherein the first climbing aid 24 supports the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 at a relatively low height H ₁ . For use on a steeper slope, the second climbing aid 72 can also be folded forward to support the shoe 20 at the higher altitude H ₂ .

To reset the heel unit 10 in the downhill position, if necessary, the second climbing aid 72 is folded back into the passive position and then a downward pressure force is exerted on the actuating element 50. A slight play of the brake assembly 22 in the drive position allows the actuator 50 to still move slightly downward against the force of the brake spring 57, enough to disengage the engagement between the engagement portion 64 of the climb aid 24 and the mating engagement portion 66 of the actuator 50 so that the climbing aid 24 can be folded back into the passive position. The pressure force on the actuating element 50 can then be released, so that the Brake assembly 22 is moved back into the braking position.

It should be added that in the present embodiment, the binding body 16 may have a relatively simple and stable construction, since no special adjustment mechanism is required to arrange the coupling pins 26l, 26r in the tour position outside the pivoting range of the touring ski boot 20. Instead, the first climbing aid 24 is always moved to its active position in the tour position and ensures that the sole 46 of the shoe 20 is always supported above, but at the most at the level of the coupling pins 26l, 26r.

The following is with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. It will be discussed in more detail here only on the differences from the first embodiment. With regard to the other structure and the function of the elements not described below, reference is expressly made to the description of the first embodiment.

A heel unit 10 of the second embodiment includes a binding body 16 which is biased forward in the X direction by the force of a first spring means (not shown). At the binding body 16, here in particular at the guide element 32, an entry operation section 148 is mounted, which is movable relative to the binding body 16 between an entry position (FIG. FIG. 7 ) and a release order ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The engagement operation section 148 may be pivotally supported on a pivot axis 220 extending in the Y direction so as to be located in the entry position above coupling means 126l, r (in particular front ends of coupling pins 126l, r) and in relation to the X direction the same position or in front of the coupling means 126l, r is arranged. In contrast, in the release position, the engagement operating section is preferably swiveled back in the X direction ( FIG. 9 ), so that it is located behind the coupling means 126l, r with respect to the X-axis, in particular as far behind is arranged at a vertically upward movement of the heel portion of the toe shoe out of engagement with the Kopplungsmitteinl 126l, r out of the heel portion of the touring boot does not collide with the Einginetetigungsigungsabschnitt 148 front ends of the coupling pins 126l, r.

The pivoting movement of the boarding operation section 148 towards the boarding position is limited by a stop so that the boarding operation section 148 does not pivot further down upon exertion of a compressive force from the heel section of the ski boot but instead the heel section of the toe boot displaces the engagement section 148 together with the binding body 16 in the reverse direction such that the heel portion of the toe shoe may slide over the coupling means 126l, r until it is disposed in an engageable position in front of the coupling means 1261, r, as described in more detail with respect to the first embodiment.

Preferably, the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt 148 is biased by a spring element 222 in the entry position. On one hand, the spring element 222 can be supported on a first spring bearing 224 on a position spaced apart from the pivot axis 220 on the entry actuation section 148 and on the other hand can be supported on another component of the heel unit 10. Since the spring element 222 does not act directly on the pivot axis 220 of the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitts 148 but on the spring bearing 224 exerts a force in a direction that deviates from the circular path of the spring bearing 224 about the pivot axis 220, the direction of action of the spring element 222 on the spring bearing 224 set be that the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitt 148 is adjustable between two stable positions, the stable positions of the entry position and the release position correspond. In the adjustment of the Einstiegsbetätigungsabschnitts 148 between entry position and release position passes through the boarding operation section 148 then a dead center, in which the direction of action of the spring element 222 from the spring bearing 224 extends straight through the pivot axis 220.

In a preferred variant of the invention, which in FIGS. 7 to 10 is illustrated on the basis of the second embodiment, the second spring element 222 may on the one hand on the Eintrittssbetätigungsabschnitt 148 are supported (in particular as described above) and on the other hand can be supported on a climbing aid 226. In this way, a motion-transmitting coupling between the climbing aid 226 and the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt 148 takes place. In particular, a second spring bearing 228, in which the spring element 222 is supported on the climbing aid 226, can be seen in the figures. The second spring bearing 228 is preferably arranged at a distance from a pivot axis 230 of the climbing aid 226, so that it moves in an arc of the climbing aid 230 in an arc around the pivot axis 230 at an adjustment. This movement is transmitted via the spring element 222 to the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt 148, so that in an adjustment of the climbing aid 226 from the passive position ( FIG. 7 ) into the active position ( FIG. 9 ) an adjustment of the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitts 148 from the entry position ( FIG. 7 ) into the release position ( FIG. 9 ) is effected.

As shown in the figures, preferably the second spring element 222 and the position of the second spring bearing 228 with respect to the pivot axis 230 may be selected so that the climbing aid 226 is biased by the spring element 222 into two stable positions, the stable positions respectively the active position and the passive position of the climbing aid 226 correspond. During the movement between the active position and the passive position, a dead center position is then run through in which a course direction of the force exerted by the second spring element 222 on the climbing aid 226 via the second spring bearing 226 extends straight through the pivot axis 230 of the climbing aid 226.

The heel unit 10 of the second exemplary embodiment may also include a second climbing aid 232, which is adjustable between a passive position (FIG. FIG. 9 ) and an active position ( FIG. 10 ), wherein the second climbing aid 232 is supported in the active position on the first climbing aid 226. On the way from the passive position to the active position, the second climbing aid 232 can pass the entry operating section 148 placed in the release position without coming into contact therewith, in the illustrated embodiment preferably the second climbing aid 232 on its way to the active position entrains the Eingangssbetätigungsabschnitt 148 and this moves against the force of the second spring means 222 in the direction of boarding position. In the active position of the second climbing aid 232, the access operation section 148 is then arranged below the shoe support surface of the second climbing aid 232 (FIG. FIG. 10 ). In order to prevent the second climbing aid 232 from being pivoted back into the passive position by the force of the second spring means 222, the second climbing aid 232 can be seated on the first climbing aid 226 in a latching manner which is modeled on the first exemplary embodiment (latching element 78). can be designed.

Claims (15)

1. Heel unit (10) for a touring binding, comprising:

   a binding body (16) which is suitable for holding a heel portion (18) of a touring boot (20) in a downhill position of the heel unit (10) and releasing the heel portion (18) of the touring boot in a touring position of the heel unit (10) such that the touring boot (20) can be lifted from the heel unit (10),

   a climbing aid (24), which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, in the touring position of the binding the climbing aid (24) supporting, in the active position thereof, a heel portion (18) of the touring boot (20) at a prespecified height above a plane (E) of the sliding board, and

   a brake arrangement (22) comprising a brake element (52), which is movable between a braking position for braking an associated sliding board and a travel position without braking the sliding board,

   characterised in that,
   the climbing aid (24) is attached to the binding body (16) so as to be movable between the active position and the passive position, and
   in that, in the touring position of the binding, the climbing aid (24), in the active position thereof, is brought into engagement with the brake arrangement (22) in order to keep the brake element (52) in the travel position.
2. Heel unit (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the climbing aid (24) is mounted on the binding body (16) so as to be able to pivot about an axis extending substantially in parallel with the plane (E) of the sliding board.
3. Heel unit (10) according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterised in that the climbing aid (24), in the active position thereof, is brought into engagement with the brake arrangement (22) in order to keep the brake element (52) in the travel position, and, in the passive position thereof, is disengaged from the brake arrangement (22) in order to allow the brake element (52) to move into the braking position.
4. Heel unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the brake arrangement (22) is biased into the braking position by a resilient element (57) and in that the brake arrangement (22) comprises an actuation element (50) which is coupled to the brake element (52) so as to transmit movement and is designed to be held down, in the downhill position, by a touring boot (20) held on the binding body (16) in order to keep the brake arrangement (22) in the travel position against the force of the resilient device (57), it being possible to bring the climbing aid (24) into engagement with the actuation element (50) in order to block movement of the actuation element (50) into the braking position.
5. Heel unit (10) according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the actuation element (50) and the climbing aid (24) are pivotally mounted about axes that are parallel to one another.
6. Heel unit (10) according to either claim 4 or claim 5,
   characterised in that the climbing aid (24) comes into contact with the actuation element (50) of the brake arrangement (22) placed in the braking position when it moves from the passive position into the active position and in that the climbing aid (24), when it continues to be moved towards the active position, entrains the brake arrangement (22) and moves it into the travel position.
7. Heel unit (10) according to any of claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that the actuation element (50) placed into the travel position and the climbing aid (24) placed into the active position wedge together or lock onto one another in order to block the brake arrangement (22) from returning into the braking position.
8. Heel unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the climbing aid (24) is a first climbing aid (24) which is designed, in the active position thereof, to support a heel portion (18) of a touring boot (20) at a prespecified first height above the plane (E) of the sliding board,
   in that the heel unit (10) comprises a second climbing aid which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, the second climbing aid (72), in the active position thereof, supporting a heel portion (18) of the touring boot (20) at a second height above the plane (E) of the sliding board that is different from the first height.
9. Heel unit (10) according to claim 8,
   characterised in that the second climbing aid (72),
   in the active position thereof, is supported by the first climbing aid (24).
10. Heel unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by a base (14) which is designed for fastening to a sliding board, the binding body (16) and the brake arrangement (22) being attached to the base (14).
11. Heel unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the binding body (16) comprises two coupling projections (26l, 26r) which protrude forwards in the direction of a sliding board longitudinal axis (L) in the downhill position and are designed to engage in corresponding recesses on a heel portion (18) of the touring boot (20).
12. Heel unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding body (16) comprises coupling means (1261, r) which are designed to hold a heel portion of a touring boot in the downhill position of the heel unit and to release the heel portion of the touring boot in the touring position of the heel unit such that the touring boot can lift from the heel unit,
    wherein, in the downhill position, the binding body (16) is biased in the forward direction towards the touring boot by a first spring means,
    wherein the binding body (16) comprises a first insertion actuation portion (148) which is arranged above the coupling means (126l, r) and which forms a bearing surface for the heel portion of the touring boot in order to apply force to the binding body (16) from the touring boot in the backward direction,
    wherein the insertion actuation portion (148) is movably attached to the binding body (16).
13. Heel unit (10) according to claim 12,
    characterised in that the insertion actuation portion (148) is movable between an insertion position, in which it is arranged above the coupling means (126l, r) and in the same position or in front of the coupling means (126l, r) relative to a sliding board longitudinal axis (L), and a release position, in which it is arranged behind the coupling means (126l, r) in the backward direction.
14. Heel unit (10) according to claim 13,
    characterised in that the insertion actuation portion (148) is biased towards the insertion position by a second spring means (222).
15. Heel unit (10) according to either claim 13 or claim 14, characterised by a climbing aid (226), which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, in the touring position of the binding the climbing aid (226), in the active position thereof, supporting the heel portion of the touring boot at a prespecified height above a plane (E) of the sliding board,
    the insertion actuation portion (148) being coupled to the climbing aid (226) so as to transmit movement such that movement of the climbing aid (226) into the active position moves the insertion actuation portion (148) into the release position.

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