EP2883582B1 - Electronically releasable binding for a snowboard - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a triggering unit for automatically triggering a binding for a gliding board, in particular a ski or snowboard binding. The triggering device comprises an electronic controller for determining the driving state and for a state-dependent triggering of the binding. The invention further relates to a bond with the triggering device as such, detached from the sliding board, in individual parts and in the assembled state, and mounted on.

Bindings typically initiate against the resistance of a release spring biased in a front or rear support unit of the respective binding. The triggering takes place when a force acting on the holding unit by the shoe exceeds a predetermined value by the release spring and acts in a predetermined by the construction of the respective holding unit direction. In racing, the bindings are set so tightly that they trigger very late, only when extreme forces are exceeded. The risk of injury is correspondingly high. Not least because of the limitation in terms of the direction of force there is a risk of injury but also in relatively soft set binding and thus also in grassroots sport. The problem can, as known from the prior art, be countered by an electronically controlled triggering.

The US Pat. No. 7,815,213 B2 suggests a trip by electric motor. The driving state is detected with force sensors which are distributed in the region of the binding. The sensor signals are fed to an evaluation device which is mounted in a control box before binding on the sliding board. The electric motor is arranged in a further housing of the triggering device between a front and a rear holding unit and mechanically coupled by means of a coupling rod with the rear holding unit. The rear holding unit is arranged axially movable. It is fixed by means of the electric motor and the coupling rod in an axial position in which it holds the shoe. Upon actuation, the electric motor is rotated to release the coupling bar so that the rear holding unit can move rearwardly away from the front holding unit under the influence of the force exerted by the shoe, thereby releasing the shoe.

At one of the US 7,841,614 B2 Known binding an evaluation module and an actuator module are arranged together under a cover before binding or between the holding units of the binding on the sliding board and mechanically coupled via a coupling member with the releasable holding unit. By means of unspecified force sensors, the forces absorbed by the binding are detected and applied as sensor signals to the evaluation module. With regard to the actuator module, it is pointed out that the kinetic energy required for triggering can be generated hydraulically, pneumatically, pyrotechnically, electrically or mechanically. A bond with pneumatic release is for example from the US 2004/0113393 A1 known. The US 4 121 854 A discloses the triggering by means of pyrotechnics.

The WO 2004/078282 A2 relates to a ski with a mechanically and electrically releasable bond. The US2007 / 0090627 A1 concerns a safety binding for a gliding board. The security binding includes a detection module, a decision module and an activation module. The detection module includes at least one sensor with a plurality of pressure gauges in a location where forces from different directions can be measured. The decision module and the Actuation Module are not accessible from the outside under a cover of the heel holder.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the costs associated with electronic tripping and to facilitate maintenance, such as the re-establishment of electronic tripping capability, in an automatically electronically-triggered touchboard binding.

One aspect of the invention relates to a binding for a gliding board which comprises a front holding unit and a rear holding unit for a shoe and a trigger unit for an electronic triggering of at least one of the holding units. The holding units are when driving with the sliding board in each case in a holding engagement with the shoe. Typically, the front support unit is a toe holder and the rear support unit is a heel cup that holds the shoe in the toe and heel areas on the gliding board. The binding may in particular be a ski binding or snowboard binding. The trip unit comprises a housing in which a controller which has an evaluation device for evaluating signals of one or more sensors and generating a trigger signal depending on the result of Evaluation, that is, when the evaluation detects that the sensory detected driving condition is associated with a high probability of injury includes, is arranged. The controller comprises a signaling device coupled to the evaluation, triggered by the trigger signal actuator, which is also arranged in the housing of the trip unit. Part of the binding is further a coupling member which is coupled directly or via one or more coupling intermediate members with one of the holding units, preferably structurally constantly connected and with the actuator forms a coupling interface, the actuator mechanically at least in the case of activation of the actuator with the coupled holding unit connects to loosen the holding engagement of at least one of the holding units when the actuator is triggered. By the triggering by means of the control can be loosened directly the holding engagement of the coupling member coupled to the holding unit or indirectly by moving the coupled holding unit of the holding engagement of the other holding unit. It can also be loosened both holding interventions. As a result, in any case a release of the shoe is facilitated.

The controller may be a purely electronic or an opto-electronic controller. If an electronic control is mentioned, optoelectronic variants should always be included. The sensor or preferably a plurality of sensors, with which the evaluation device is signal-coupled or can be coupled, serves or serves to detect the driving state of the sliding board or a person riding with the sliding board.

The sensor or sensors are preferably also part of the binding and coupled in this case, at least in the assembled state of the binding with the evaluation device. The sensor, the plurality of sensors or a selection of a plurality of sensors from a set of sensors may or may also be arranged elsewhere, for example in or directly on the gliding board, on or in the shoe, the driver's clothing or in or on a helmet and be coupled in such embodiments during assembly of the binding on the sliding board or only for use with the evaluation. An arrangement of all necessary for the determination of the driving condition and / or used for the triggering sensors in or on the binding, however, is simple and convenient in terms of handling and is therefore preferred. Arrangements may also be implemented in which at least one of the sensors is part of the clothing, of a shoe or helmet, for example, to detect an acceleration acting in the region of the head or body center of gravity.

According to the invention, the controller and thus the evaluation device and the actuator are arranged together in a housing of the trip unit. The housing has connecting means for manually and repeatedly attaching and detaching the housing to and from the binding or gliding board. The trip unit is independent of the holding units and also independent of the coupling member attachable to the binding or the gliding board and detachable from the binding or the gliding board. The connecting device and the coupling interface are designed such that such an independent fastening and releasing is possible in a simple manner in a short time.

The trip unit is in preferred embodiments so compact or small that it can be placed between the holding units under the shoe. In such embodiments, it has a length and a width of anything only a few centimeters, preferably at most 15 cm, and a height of preferably at most 2 cm, more preferably at most 1 cm.

In principle, the invention also relates to bindings in which the triggering unit is mounted directly on the sliding board or mounted, separately from the holding units. However, more preferably, the binding comprises a base board mounted or mountable base structure to which the holding units and the trip unit are attached or attachable. The coupling interface of the actuator and the coupling member is adapted to be detached and re-established without having to open the housing of the trip unit. The connection means and cooperating counterpart connection means of the binding or sliding board and the coupling interface of the actuator and the coupling member are adapted for a quick, frequent disconnection and restoration of the connection and the coupling interface, so that daily loosening and restoring causes no problems. The trip unit is in terms of their assembly and disassembly a quick-change unit, although the invention is at least not primarily an exchange of the trip unit against another, but the rapid disassembly and reassembly of the same trip unit.

When disassembly and assembly of the trip unit is mentioned, this includes the loosening and securing the housing of the trip unit and the release and restore the coupling interface. In preferred embodiments, the actuator, the coupling member and the coupling interface are such that with the release of the housing of the trip unit at the same time automatically disengages the coupling interface and at the same time automatically fixing the housing and the coupling interface is at least so far made that it to release and producing the coupling interface no additional handle more needed. Is only a loosening and fixing the housing the speech, it remains unclear whether at the same time with the loosening or fixing the coupling interface automatically dissolved or manufactured or for the release and manufacture of the coupling interface still an additional handle is required.

The provision of essential components of an electronic trip device in the form of a simple and quick and thus routinely assembled and disassembled trip unit, so to speak a quick-change unit, allows to use expensive components of the trigger device for several sliding boards. This is not only advantageous for racers who use different gliding boards for different disciplines or ground conditions, but also for the gliding board rental and ultimately for the normal paragliding operator, who in many cases also has several pairs of gliding boards.

The actuator comprises a drive which can be activated by means of the triggering signal and a driven element which can be moved by means of the drive in a direction of action. The drive may comprise an electric motor or a linearly movable electromagnet or a solenoid with linearly movable armature, wherein the output member may be formed directly by the shaft of the electric motor or the armature of the linear magnet or alternatively may be mechanically coupled thereto via one or more intermediate links. The drive may instead or optionally also include a gas pressure accumulator, a tensioned mechanical spring or an ignitable propellant charge. The latter means, gas pressure accumulator, tensioned spring or ignitable propellant can be activated by means of a short trigger signal in the strictest sense. Electric motor and linear magnet can also be designed so that they are only activated by the trigger signal or, alternatively, controlled by means of the trigger signal in the course of their tripping motion.

The output member may be constantly in coupling engagement with the coupling member in the coupling interface. Instead, however, the coupling interface can also be designed in such a way that the output member only reaches the coupling element when triggered in physical coupling engagement. In the coupling engagement, it forces the coupling member to loosen the holding engagement preferably in the direction of action, so that the output member and coupling member perform a common release movement. The release movement is preferably purely translatory, but in principle may instead be purely rotational or even mixed translational and rotational.

In preferred embodiments, the output member is in coupling engagement with the coupling member in a stop contact in the direction of action. It is preferably a pure stop contact, i. only a loose contact in the direction in which the output member transmits a force on triggering the coupling member. Although in the stop contact, the output member can basically pull the coupling member, but more preferably it pushes the coupling member, i. the coupling element is subjected to pressure during release. The output member acts in preferred embodiments as a plunger or pressure piece. A mere stop contact as a coupling intervention is the suitability of the trip unit as a quick change unit particularly beneficial. In this case, the stop contact in the assembled state of the trip unit also exist prior to triggering, but advantageously this is not required. Rather, the output member and the coupling member before triggering at a certain clearance, contactless, facing each other, whereby the assembly and disassembly of the trip unit is further facilitated. The output member may protrude in the direction of action from the housing of the trip unit. However, it preferably closes flush with the housing on the side facing the coupling member, or stands a little way back behind the housing on this side.

The actuator may be coupled to the front holding unit by means of the coupling member. Preferably, however, it is coupled to the rear holding unit. Also conceivable is a mechanical coupling of the actuator with both the front and the rear holding unit, although such a solution brings complexity. In the case of the double coupling, which is nevertheless possible in principle, the actuator may comprise, for example, two output members which are movable in opposite directions and which, when triggered, release the output signal Drive can be moved in the opposite directions, to move via a respective coupling interface in each case a coupling engagement with a respective coupling member both holding units simultaneously from the holding engagement, preferably away from each other.

The holding unit coupled to the actuator in the coupling engagement, preferably the rear holding unit, can be held in its position for holding engagement with the shoe by means of the actuator via the coupling interface and the coupling member, optionally via one or more further coupling intermediate members, as in part standing upright the technique is proposed. More preferably, however, the coupled holding unit is held by spring force in the position required for the holding engagement with the shoe. Thus, the coupled holding unit by means of a spring, preferably a mechanical spring, stretched in the direction of a stop and thereby held in position. When triggered, the actuator may act in the effective direction against the restoring spring force of this spring on the coupled holding unit to loosen the retaining engagement or preferably move the respective holding unit away from the other holding unit, so that the retaining engagement of at least one of the holding units loosens and a release of the shoe is relieved. In preferred embodiments, the spring force with which the spring holds the relevant holding unit in holding engagement with the shoe, for example, acted upon in the direction of the other holding unit, is reduced by means of the coupling member. The coupling member may act on triggering, for example, on a spring bearing on which the spring is supported by biasing force, and change the position of the spring bearing so that the biasing force of the spring is reduced. The coupling member can form the spring bearing directly. Instead, it can also act directly on the spring bearing or else on a further coupling member and on this on the spring bearing. The further coupling member, if present, can act directly or only via one or more further coupling members on the spring bearing to change its position when triggered preferably in the sense of reducing the biasing force of the spring. The holding unit which is coupled to the triggering unit when triggered in the coupling interface can be movable in a rotary manner against the force of the spring about a vertical axis or, in particular, can be translationally movable in the longitudinal direction of the binding. The spring acts on the holding unit coupled to the release unit, preferably in the direction of the other holding unit.

Such a spring is present in many Gleitbrettbindungen, especially ski bindings, from home, namely in the form of a so-called start-up spring, which biases the rear holding unit in the direction of the front holding unit and thereby in the direction of a stop of the binding or the sliding board. In this way, flexing or bending deformations, which the sliding board experiences when driving between the front and the rear holding unit, ie in the area below the shoe, are compensated. Preferred embodiments, it corresponds to when the rear holding unit is moved away when forced by the actuator against the restoring spring force of such a start-up spring of the front holding unit or wegge enforced to relax the holding engagement, at least for a brief moment. In principle, the front holding unit can be acted upon by a starting spring as described instead of the rear holding unit. In yet a modification, the front and rear holding units can each be acted upon by a starting spring as described.

The one or more sensors for detecting the driving state is or are in preferred embodiments also part of the trip unit and accordingly arranged on or preferably in the housing of the trip unit. When mounting the trip unit not only external sensors must be connected to the evaluation in such embodiments. The susceptibility of the trip device is reduced. Furthermore, the sensor (s) and the evaluation unit, preferably the complete control, can be tested for faults or configured for failure in the disassembled state of the triggering unit detached from the binding and in particular the sliding board. On the other hand, bindings with external sensors with respect to the trip unit should not be ruled out from the outset. In such solutions, one or more external sensors and the evaluation device are advantageously set up for wireless communication, preferably for communication under a standard protocol such as via Bluetooth. If the evaluation device is coupled to a plurality of sensors for detecting the driving state of the sliding board, two, three or more of these sensors, preferably all of these sensors, can form part of the binding and in such embodiments preferably a component of the triggering unit, i. be arranged in or on the housing of the trip unit.

Preferably, the sensor or the plurality of sensors for determining the driving state is in each case an acceleration sensor for recording a translatory or rotational acceleration. In preferred embodiments, the sensor system of the controller comprises sensors for detecting the translational acceleration in each of the three spatial directions and also sensors for detecting the rotational acceleration about each of the three independent spatial axes, the acceleration state and thus the driving condition of the sliding board or the person driving with it completely to be able to determine. If the sensor or the relevant sensors are an integral part of the trip unit, as preferred, the driving state of the gliding board is detected. From the detected driving state, for example the detected accelerations, the evaluation device determines from predefined limit values whether the binding should be triggered or not. The limit values can be stored in a data memory of the triggering device. Such a data memory may in particular also be part of the trip unit.

Although a determination of the driving state in the scope of three independent rotational and three independent translational accelerations is preferred, the evaluation device may be coupled in simple basic embodiments with only a single acceleration sensor, which preferably in such embodiments, a rotational acceleration of the sliding board or thus captured moving person. If only one sensor is present, it preferably detects an acceleration of the sliding board about the vertical axis or about a transverse axis pointing transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the vertical axis of the binding. If the evaluation device is coupled with two or more acceleration sensors, among these sensors are preferably a sensor for detecting a rotational acceleration about the vertical axis and a sensor for detecting a rotational acceleration about the transverse axis. If the evaluation device is coupled with three or more acceleration sensors, among these sensors are preferably a sensor for detecting a rotational acceleration about the vertical axis, a sensor for detecting a rotational acceleration about the transverse axis and a sensor for detecting a rotational acceleration about the longitudinal axis.

A power source for supplying the controller with electrical energy, such as a battery or, preferably, an accumulator, may be located externally on the gliding board, or more preferably the binding, with respect to the trip unit, for example on a base structure of the binding. For the supply of electrical energy, the trip unit in such embodiments preferably has a connection for the inductive transmission of Energy to avoid galvanic contact to the outside. In preferred embodiments, however, an energy source for the supply of the control and optionally other components of the trip unit to be supplied with energy is also part of the trip unit, ie arranged in or on the housing of the trip unit, so that the energy source, preferably an accumulator, together with the trip unit from Sliding board or the binding is loosened and attached to it again. Conveniently, the trip unit has a charging port for recharging an integrated battery. The charging port may be a standard connection for charging using conventional chargers. The charging port is advantageously adapted for inductive charging to avoid galvanic contacts. Although a rechargeable energy source, in particular a source of energy that does not need to be separated from the trip unit for recharging, is preferred, the trip unit may be configured to accept a replaceable battery instead or in addition.

In a further development, the controller comprises a data memory, which is connected to the evaluation device or is part of the evaluation device. The trip unit preferably comprises a data interface for data communication with an external device, for example a computer or the like, so that data can be read into the data memory via the data interface and / or read from the data memory. The data interface may be an interface for wired and / or wireless data communication. Examples include standard interfaces, such as a USB interface or an AUX port. However, the data interface is preferably set up for wireless communication, wherein advantageously also such an interface is implemented as a standard interface, for example as a Bluetooth or WLAN interface, in order to enable standardized data communication with conventional computers and similar devices. In preferred embodiments, the trip unit is configured only for wireless data communication to avoid external galvanic contacts.

The controller may be configured for a personal configuration by means of the external device, for example, to change the triggering criteria for the electronic triggering or to be able to set person-specific for the first time. By changing the configuration, the same trip unit can also be configured for different people. The trip unit may advantageously be a tachograph be developed by during driving, ie determined during driving driving conditions can be read and read. Such information is particularly valuable in the case of electronic and / or conventional triggering of the binding.

In order to increase the stability of the triggering device, the binding in a further development comprises a guiding device for the coupling member. The guiding device is supported on the sliding board or on a base structure of the binding fastened or fastened to the sliding board. Preferably, the guide means is fixed immovably to the gliding board or preferably the base structure of the binding. The guide device guides the coupling member in a direction of action back and forth. By means of the guide device, the coupling member is stabilized relative to the binding or the gliding board. This is particularly advantageous when the coupling member is only loosely connected to the actuator in the coupling engagement, preferably only by stop contact in the direction of action, and therefore the actuator does not contribute or at most to a small extent to stabilize the coupling member. The guide is preferably free of play or play. In particular, it may be a translation guide, but in principle also instead or additionally a rotary guide. The coupling member and the guide device may in particular form a translational joint or a pivot joint with one another.

Preferred embodiments it corresponds, if the binding can be used after an electronic triggering as a conventional security binding, the triggering device for further use must therefore not necessarily be returned to the initial state.

One aspect of the invention is the binding with the trip unit as a whole, ie in the assembled state, wherein the binding can be mounted on a sliding board or provided for assembly. In addition, one aspect of the invention also relates to the binding which is present only in individual components in a state suitable for assembly. The invention relates to the trip unit as such. Yet another aspect of the invention is a binding pair of a first binding with the triggering unit and a further, second binding, wherein the two bonds are arranged for a synchronous triggering and for this purpose wirelessly and as a binding pair autarkically with each other to be able to communicate. The second bond is preferably also a bond with the trip unit.

Advantageous embodiments are also disclosed in the subclaims and in the combinations of the subclaims.

Figur 1

eine Bindung mit elektronischer Auslöseeinrichtung;

Figur 2

eine Auslöseeinheit der Auslöseeinrichtung in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 3

eine mit der Auslöseeinheit gekoppelte Halteeinheit einer modifizierten Bindung;

Figur 4

eine Kopplungseinrichtung zur Kopplung der Auslöseeinheit mit der Halteeinheit der modifizierten Bindung; und

Figur 5

die Kopplungseinrichtung in einer Seitenansicht.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to figures. The features disclosed in the exemplary embodiments advantageously continue to form the objects of the claims, the aspects and also the embodiments explained above individually and in each feature combination. Show it:

FIG. 1

a binding with electronic triggering device;

FIG. 2

a trip unit of the tripping device in a schematic representation;

FIG. 3

a retaining unit of a modified binding coupled to the trip unit;

FIG. 4

a coupling device for coupling the release unit with the retaining unit of the modified binding; and

FIG. 5

the coupling device in a side view.

FIG. 1 shows a binding for a sliding board, for example a ski binding, in the preassembled or assembled state, but detached from the sliding board. The binding comprises a front holding unit 1 and a rear holding unit 2, between which a shoe, in the example a ski boot, can be held in a respective holding engagement on the binding and, accordingly, on the sliding board. The holding units 1 and 2 each comprise a left and a right hold-down for holding down the shoe and at least one release spring, which holds the hold-down of the respective holding unit in holding engagement with the shoe. The holding units 1 and 2 trigger when a sufficiently large force in a known manner against the tripping resistance of the respective release spring. The binding comprises a base structure 3, which may be one or more parts and is adapted for attachment to the sliding board. The holding units 1 and 2 are fixed to the base structure 3. Preferably, at least one of the holding units 1 and 2 is adjustable on the base structure 3 in the longitudinal direction X and arranged fixable in adjustment positions, so that the binding can be adjusted to different shoe sizes.

The binding comprises an additional triggering device for a depending on the driving condition of the sliding board triggering to trigger the binding in driving conditions can, in which the trigger resistance of the respective trigger spring is not achieved because the force acts, for example in an unfavorable direction with respect to the triggering, but still there is an increased risk of injury.

The additional triggering device comprises a triggering unit 5, the components of which are arranged on or preferably protected in a housing 6, also a coupling member 7, a guide device 8 for the coupling member 7, and another coupling member 9, which is connected to the coupling member 7 and the other with the rear holding unit 2 connected is. The coupling members 7 and 9 are connected relative to each other movable in a force-transmitting joint. The further coupling member 9 can in particular be connected to a bearing structure of the rear holding unit 2 that can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction X. Preferably, it is relative to such a bearing structure with respect to the longitudinal direction X or completely immovable, so that the rear holding unit 2 and the coupling member 9 can perform longitudinal movements only together. In modifications, the multi-membered coupling, here by way of example with two coupling members 7 and 9, can be replaced by a single, in a direction of action W-pressure-resistant coupling member.

The trip unit 5 is releasably connected to the base structure 3, so that it can be solved as a unit with simple handles, preferably without tools, in a short time from the base structure 3 and just as easily connected to the base structure 3 again. The trip unit 5 forms a kind of quick change unit. Your housing 6 has for rapid, preferably tool-free assembly and disassembly of the trip unit 5, a connection device which is in the mounted state with a connecting counter-device of the base structure 3 in a fastening engagement. The attachment engagement may be, for example, a snap or latch engagement or plug engagement, or may include a combination of different engagements. The connecting device and the counter connecting device can additionally have a securing device for securing in the fastening engagement. The connecting device can advantageously be arranged on the underside of the housing 6, for example, be formed directly on the housing 6.

The trip unit 5 comprises a in FIG. 1 unrecognizable electronic control, which is housed protected in the housing 6, and an actuator, of which in FIG. 1 an output member 18 can be seen.

FIG. 2 shows the trip unit 5. The arranged in the housing 6 electronic control 10 including actuator 15 and the other arranged in the housing 6 components are shown schematically. According to preferred embodiments are housed in the housing 6 and the necessary for determining the driving condition of the sliding board sensors. It are the sensors 11a to 11f, which serve to determine translational and rotational accelerations of the sliding board. With respect to a Cartesian coordinate system ( Fig. 1 The sensor 11a determines the acceleration in the X-direction, ie the longitudinal acceleration, the sensor 11b the lateral acceleration in the direction Y and the sensor 11c the acceleration parallel to the vertical axis Z. The sensor 11d determines the rotational acceleration about the longitudinal axis X, the sensor 11e the rotational acceleration about the transverse axis Y and the sensor 11f the rotational acceleration about the vertical axis Z. In the housing 6, a further sensor 12 is arranged, which may be in particular a magnetic field sensor to determine the orientation of the sliding board in the earth's magnetic field.

The sensors 11a to 11f and 12 are connected via signal lines to an evaluation device 13 of the controller 10 arranged in the housing 6. The evaluation device 13 receives while driving at short intervals, for example periodically, the output signals or sensor signals S _{i of} the sensors 11a to 11f and determined based on the sensor signals S _i , whether the current driving state requires a triggering of the bond or not. Instead of a line-bound signal transmission, the sensor signals S _{i of} the evaluation device 13 can also be transmitted by wireless signal transmission. The controller 10 comprises a data memory 14, to which the evaluation device 13 has access. In the data memory 14, a map can be stored, for example in the form of predetermined acceleration characteristics, for example maximum values of the acceleration with which the accelerations detected by the sensors 11a to 11f are compared, expediently by forming the difference of the detected direction component of the acceleration with an associated characteristic value in order to decide, depending on the result of the comparison, whether a driving condition requiring electronic triggering is currently present. Personal data, such as gender and weight, may be stored in the data memory in order to tailor the comparison of the detected accelerations with the acceleration characteristics to the respective driver.

It is advantageous if in the data memory 14 or in an optionally existing, not shown further data memory of the controller 10 one or more means of the sensor recorded driving conditions can be stored. In this way, the trip unit 5 can be further developed into a tachograph. The controller 10 may be configured to store the driving conditions determined, for example, in the form of a set of instantaneous acceleration values, which are advantageously determined at high frequency, in the data memory 14 or an optionally available further data memory. The data storage can be limited in this regard but also to driving conditions, which were recognized by the evaluation device 13 as critical. Data storage may also be limited to storing data that characterizes a driving condition that has actually resulted in electronic and / or conventional triggering of the binding. On the other hand, however, the history that has led to the triggering may be of interest and be included in the optional data storage by a corresponding storage regime.

If the evaluation device 13 determines that the current driving state requires electronic activation of the binding, it generates a triggering signal T, which is fed to the actuator 15 and activates or triggers it.

The actuator 15 comprises a drive and said output member 18. As preferred, but only by way of example, is a pyrotechnic actuator 15. The drive comprises a sleeve-shaped guide structure 16 for the output member 18 and an ignitable propellant charge 17 by the trigger signal T , a current or voltage signal, is ignited and when driven, the output member 18 in the guide structure 16 in a direction of action W to maximally against a stop, which is formed in the example of the guide structure 16, propelled. The actuator 15 may be formed in particular as a removable cartridge. After triggering a new cartridge, a new actuator 15 is inserted and connected to the evaluation device 13, preferably by inserting. The actuator 15 may be constructed according to a conventional rifle cartridge, the output member 18 replaces the projectile, but with the difference that the output member 18 is tied up in the direction of action W due to the limitation of the release movement, so to speak represents a tied projectile. The path length traveled by the output member 18 in the direction of action W when triggered, is a few millimeters. The path length is preferably at least 3 mm, more preferably at least 5 mm. On the other hand, the pathlength is preferably at most 20 mm, more preferably at most 15 mm.

The actuator 15 is supported against the direction of action W on the housing 6. The reaction force to be absorbed when triggered is therefore transmitted via the housing 6 into the fastening engagement of the connecting device and received in the fastening engagement.

In the housing 6 of the trip unit 5, a power source 19 is further arranged, which supplies all components within the housing 6 with electrical energy, as far as the respective components require electrical energy. As preferred, but by way of example only, the energy source 19 is rechargeable and may be externally charged via a charging port 20, which is a galvanic or preferably an inductive port.

The controller 10 has the capability of data communication with an external device, preferably a standard computer such as a laptop. Part of the trip unit 5 is therefore a data interface 21, via which data from outside the trip unit 5 in a memory of the controller 10, for example, in the data memory 14, read and / or can be read from the memory in question. The data interface 21 may advantageously be used for wireless data communication, i. for wireless transmission and / or reception. In principle, however, it can also be an interface for galvanic contact instead, which however entails the risk of contamination and damage. Therefore, the trip unit 5 advantageously has no or as few galvanic interfaces as possible to the outside.

If the binding is preferably a ski binding, the binding may in a further development be arranged for communication with an associated second binding in order, for example, in the case of an electronic triggering, to trigger the other, associated binding in a synchronized manner. For this purpose can advantageously also in the housing 6 of the trip unit 5, a transmitter 22 and a receiver 23 for wireless communication with a dedicated trip unit of the other assigned Binding can be arranged. If the evaluation unit 13 generates a triggering signal T, this signal or a signal derived therefrom is transmitted via the transmitter 22 and received by the receiver 23 of the associated other binding or triggering unit, whereupon the associated triggering unit 5 also triggers. The trip unit of the associated other bond may correspond to the trip unit 5. In such preferred embodiments, therefore, it has the same functionality as the tripping unit 5 and is advantageously provided with a corresponding connecting device like this as a quick-change unit. Conveniently, the two trip units are identical or at best differ by assignment to a left ski and a right ski.

As from the synopsis of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be seen, form the actuator 15, more specifically its output member 18, and the coupling member 7 with each other a coupling interface over which acts in the case of triggering the actuator 15 on the coupling member 7 and thereby triggers the binding. The coupling interface is formed as a pure stop contact of the output member 18 and coupling member 7. When triggered, the actuator 15 via its output member 18 with the coupling member 7 in a coupling engagement, which is based only on stop contact in the direction of action W. The stop contact may also be in the idle state, ie, prior to triggering or non-triggering. Instead, the output member 18 and the coupling member 7, facing non-triggering in the direction of action W, but opposite each other by a short distance physically separated. In the case of triggering the output member 18 is driven in the manner of a ram in the direction of action W, which coincides as preferred with the longitudinal direction X, against the coupling member 7 and drives this in the direction of action W to the rear. The release movement of the output member 18 is transmitted via the coupling member 7 and the further coupling member 9 on the rear holding unit 2. The coupling of output member 18 and holding unit 2 formed by means of the coupling members 7 and 9 is, in preferred embodiments, axially pressure-resistant so that it moves away from the front holding unit 1 by a path length corresponding to the path length of the tripping movement of the output member 7. If there is a clear distance between the output member 18 and the coupling member 7 in the rest state, the path length by which the rear holding unit 2 is moved is reduced by the clear distance.

The rear holding unit 2 is pressed as usual in ski bindings by a starting spring in the direction of the front holding unit 1 to a maximum against a stop. The starting spring serves to compensate for bending deformations experienced by the gliding board during travel relative to the shoe. This arrangement can advantageously be used to loosen the holding engagement of the holding units 1 and 2 with electronic triggering. The output member 18 presses when triggered the rear holding unit 2 against the restoring force of the starting spring to the rear, away from the front holding unit 1. A short stroke movement is sufficient to loosen the retaining engagement sufficiently so that the shoe is released from the binding. The forces still required for the release can correspond to the forces typically set for childbinding. The predetermined by the actuator 15 path length of the release movement of the output member 18 is preferably such that adjust such balance of power in complete execution of the release movement.

FIG. 3 shows a binding in a longitudinal section, which is modified with respect to the coupling of trip unit 5 and rear support unit 2. 4, the release spring of the holding unit 2 is designated. The holding unit 2 is guided in the longitudinal direction X of the binding guided back and forth. A spring 30 acts on the holding unit 2 with a spring force acting on the holding unit 2 in the direction of the in FIG. 3 not shown front holding unit acts. The spring 30 thus biases the holding unit 2 in the retaining engagement with the shoe and allows bending deformations of the ski below the shoe. The spring 30 is supported at one end on a first spring bearing 31 and at the other end on a second spring bearing 32 and is clamped between the spring bearings 31 and 32 with a biasing force. The first spring bearing 31 is, apart from the case of a release by means of the trip unit 5, relative to the base structure 3, in the mounted state relative to the ski, axially immovable. The second spring bearing 32 is immovable relative to the holding unit 2.

Unlike the above to tie the FIG. 1 is explained in the case of electronic triggering the holding unit 2 is not moved by an axial movement of the further coupling member 9 against the force of the spring 30 to the rear. Instead, with electronic release, the first spring bearing 31 in the longitudinal direction X of the front holding unit away moved backward, whereby the biasing force of the spring 30 is reduced. Accordingly, the spring force with which the spring 30 presses the holding unit 2 into the retaining engagement with the shoe decreases, so that after the electronic triggering a comparatively small force is sufficient to release the shoe from the holding engagement.

When triggered, the first spring bearing 31 moves due to acting on the spring bearing 31 spring force of the spring 30 in a spring force decreasing direction, in the embodiment to the rear. Until release, the further coupling member 9 holds the spring bearing 31 axially against the spring force of the spring 30 in position. When triggered, the further coupling member 9 is released, so that it can move together with the spring bearing 31 in the spring force decreasing direction. In alternative embodiments, the coupling of coupling member 7 and further coupling member 9 may also be designed so that the coupling member 7 when triggered the further coupling member 9 via a corresponding articulated connection, such as a thrust connection or a lever connection, moves in the appropriate direction to the spring force to reduce the spring 30.

The first spring bearing 31 is formed by a part manufactured separately from the further coupling part 9 and is connected to the further coupling member 9 in a preferably releasable fixing engagement, in which it is axially immovable relative to the further coupling member 9. The further coupling member 9 has a coupling portion 19 in which the spring bearing 31 with the further coupling member 9 is in the fixing engagement.

The FIGS. 4 and 5 show a coupling means 7 and 9 comprising coupling means for coupling of tripping unit 5 and holding unit 2. In FIG. 4 is the coupling device in a plan view of the bottom and in FIG. 5 shown in a side view.

The coupling member 7 is guided by the guide device 8 in the longitudinal direction X movable. When triggered, it acts in the direction of action W on a securing element 25, which the further coupling member 9 against the force of the spring 30 in a Secures securing and thus axially fixed relative to the base structure 3 of the bond. A securing spring 29 holds the securing element 25 in the securing engagement.

The securing element 27 is a lever rotatable about an axis of rotation 26. The axis of rotation 26 is as preferred, but only by way of example, parallel to the vertical axis Z (FIG. FIG. 3 ). The securing element 25 has, starting from the axis of rotation 26, a first lever arm 27 and a second lever arm 28. The coupling member 7 acts on triggering on the first lever arm 27. The locking spring 29 acts on the second lever arm 28. It is as preferred, but only as an example formed as a compression spring, so exerts on the second lever arm 28, a pressure force. The force of the locking spring 29 is sufficiently high to ensure the securing engagement in all driving conditions occurring in practice. On the other hand, the force of the locking spring 29 is overcome in electronic tripping when the actuator 15 ( FIG. 1 ) Presses in the event of triggering in abutting contact against the coupling member 7 and this moves the securing element 25 against the force of the securing spring 29 from the securing engagement.

In the securing engagement, the further coupling member 9 and the securing element 25 are hooked together. The further coupling member 9 has a hook-like extension 9a for the securing engagement, with which it engages behind a pawl of the securing element 25. When triggered, the securing element 25 is rotated so far around the axis of rotation 26, that the opening of the pawl longitudinally to the rear, so that the further coupling member 9 can move axially from the pawl open to the rear.

The spring 30 exerts via the first spring bearing 31 on the further coupling member 9 in the longitudinal direction X of the front holding unit directed away spring force. This spring force also acts in the securing engagement, but is compensated by the securing spring 29. When triggered, however, the spring force of the spring 30 causes the extension of the further coupling member 9 from the then opened securing engagement.

In yet another modification, the securing element 25 forms the coupling member, which forms the coupling interface with the actuator 15. In such a modification, the actuator 15 replaces the above-described coupling member 7. In FIGS FIGS. 4 and 5 is indicated accordingly that the coupling member 7 can be replaced by the actuator 15. In this modification, the actuator 15 acts on triggering directly on the fuse element 25, which thus assumes the function of the coupling element described so far. Instead of the translational guide described for the coupling member 7, the rotary guide or rotary guide occurs about the axis 26. The housings 6 and 8 are preferably shaped adapted to each other, so that the housing 6, the actuator 15 and the housing 8, the region of the locking engagement of the Secured fuse element 25 formed coupling member with the further coupling member 9. In FIG. 4 are a shape according to adapted housing 6 dashed and a dotted shape adapted housing 8 indicated by dotted lines.

The binding can be set back to the ready to drive state after an electronic triggering, even if the triggering device comprises an actuator 15 pyrotechnic type. The bond can thus be used after an electronic triggering as a conventional bond, without replacing the actuator 15 or, in the case of a resettable actuator, this must be returned to the initial state.

Reference numerals:

1

front holding unit

2

rear holding unit

3

base structure

4

-

5

trip unit

6

casing

7

coupling member

8th

guide means

9

coupling member

9a

extension

10

control

11a

sensor

11b

sensor

11c

sensor

11d

sensor

11e

sensor

11f

sensor

12

sensor

13

evaluation

14

data storage

15

actuator

16

management structure

17

propellant

18

driven member

19

coupling portion

20

charging port

21

Data Interface

22

transmitter

23

receiver

25

fuse element

26

axis of rotation

27

lever arm

28

lever arm

29

securing spring

X

Longitudinal axis, longitudinal direction

Y

Transverse axis, transverse direction

Z

vertical axis

W

effective direction

Claims (14)

1. A release unit for automatically releasing a binding for a sliding board, the release unit (5) comprising:

   (a) a housing (6); and

   (b) a controller (10) which comprises: an evaluating device (13) for evaluating a sensor signal (S_i) of a sensor (11a-11f) and generating a triggering signal (T) in accordance with the evaluation result; and an actuator (15) which is coupled via a signal connection to the evaluating device (13) and can be triggered by the triggering signal (T);

   (c) wherein the sensor (11a-11f) serves to detect the travelling state of the sliding board or the travelling state of a person riding on the sliding board, and the evaluating device (13) is or can be coupled via a signal connection to the sensor (11a-11f) in order to receive the sensor signal (S_i),

   (d) wherein the controller (10), the evaluating device (13) and the actuator (15) are arranged in the housing (6), and the housing (6) is embodied as a closed quick-change unit,

   wherein

   (e) the housing (6) comprises a connecting device using which the housing (6) can be connected to or detached from the binding or sliding board without the use of a tool,

   (f) the actuator (15) is supported on the housing (6) and comprises an output member (18) which can be advanced in an acting direction (W) relative to the housing (6) and acts as a ram in the acting direction (W) and which, when the release unit (5) is connected to the sliding board, forms part of a coupling interface for coupling to the binding,

   (g) and the release unit (5) can be fastened to and detached from the binding or sliding board without opening the housing (6).
2. A binding for a sliding board, the binding comprising:

   (a) a release unit according to Claim 1;

   (b) a front retaining unit (1) and a rear retaining unit (2) which are or can be connected to the sliding board in order to each hold a boot on the sliding board in a retaining engagement with the boot; and

   (c) a coupling member (7; 25) which is coupled to one of the retaining units (1, 2) and forms, together with the actuator (15), the coupling interface which mechanically connects the actuator (15) to the coupled retaining unit (2) at least when it is triggered, in order to loosen the retaining engagement of at least one of the retaining units (1, 2) when being triggered.
3. The binding for a sliding board according to Claim 2, wherein the binding comprises a spring (30) which tenses the retaining unit (2), which is coupled to the actuator (15) when the latter is triggered, into the retaining engagement with the boot by applying a spring force, wherein the actuator (15), when triggered, acts on the spring (30) via the coupling member (7; 25) and thus loosens the retaining engagement by reducing the spring force acting on said retaining unit (2) by means of the coupling member (7; 25) when the actuator (15) is triggered or by moving said retaining unit (2) away from the other retaining unit (1) against the spring force of the spring (30).
4. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the spring (30) is a pushing spring and the retaining unit (2), which is coupled to the actuator (15) when the latter is triggered, can be translationally moved away from the other retaining unit (1) against the spring force.
5. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding three claims,
   wherein
   the actuator (15) comprises a drive (16, 17) which can be activated by means of the triggering signal (T), and an output member (18) which can be moved in an acting direction (W) by means of the drive (16, 17),
   and the output member (18) forces the coupling member (7; 25) in the acting direction (W) when the actuator (15) is triggered, in order to loosen the retaining engagement,
   wherein in preferred embodiments, the output member (18) is in an abutting contact in the acting direction (W) with the coupling member (7; 25) at the coupling interface or passes into the abutting contact only once the actuator (15) has been triggered.
6. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding four claims, characterised in that the evaluating device (13) is or can be coupled via a signal connection to multiple sensors (11a-11f) for detecting translational and/or rotational accelerations of the sliding board or translational and/or rotational accelerations of a person riding on the sliding board, in order to receive the sensor signals (Si) of these sensors (11a-11f) and evaluate them in order to generate the triggering signal (T), wherein the sensors (11a-11f) are preferably arranged in or on the housing (6) of the release unit (5).
7. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding five claims, characterised in that: the controller (10) comprises a data memory (14), and the release unit (5) comprises a data interface (21); the evaluating device (13) has access to the data memory (14); and data can be read into the data memory (14) from outside the housing (6) of the release unit (5), or read out of the data memory (14), via the data interface (21).
8. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding six claims, characterised in that the controller (10) is a stored program controller, and parameters which are critical to triggering the actuator (15), such as for example person-specific data, can be inputted to the controller (10).
9. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding seven claims, characterised in that an energy storage (19) for supplying the controller (10) with electrical energy, preferably a rechargeable energy storage, is arranged in or on the housing (6) of the release unit (5), and the release unit (5) preferably comprises a charging interface (20) for charging the energy storage (13).
10. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding eight claims, characterised in that the connecting device comprises a plugging, snapping or latching structure for a releasable plug, latch or snap fastening between the release unit (5) and a base structure (3) of the binding or sliding board.
11. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding nine claims, characterised in that the actuator (15) is formed by a cartridge comprising an ignitable propellant (17), a guiding structure (16) which guides the output member (18) in the acting direction (W), and the output member (18) as a bound projectile, wherein the cartridge is arranged, such that it can be exchanged, in the housing (6) and/or the propellant (17) is arranged, such that it can be exchanged, in the cartridge.
12. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding ten claims, characterised in that the evaluating device (13) is or can be coupled via a signal connection to one or more magnetic field sensors (12) in order to ascertain the alignment of the sliding board in the Earth's magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field sensors (12) is/are preferably arranged in or on the housing (6) of the release unit (5).
13. The binding for a sliding board according to any one of the preceding eleven claims, characterised in that the actuator (15), when triggered, acts on the coupling member (7; 25) in an acting direction (W) in the coupling interface and is supported on the housing (6) counter to the acting direction (W), and a force which is exerted on the coupling member (7; 25) by the actuator (15) when the latter is triggered and which causes the binding to be released is received in the releasable fastening engagement between the connecting device and a complementary connecting device.
14. A pair of bindings consisting of a first binding according to any one of the preceding twelve claims and another, second binding, wherein
    the second binding likewise comprises a controller (10) featuring an actuator (15) which can be triggered,
    the bindings each comprise a transmitter (22) and a receiver (23) via which the controllers (10) of the bindings can communicate wirelessly with each other,
    and the controllers (10) of the bindings are configured such that when the actuator (15) of one binding is triggered, the actuator (15) of the other binding is also triggered and the two bindings in the pair of bindings are thus released synchronously,
    wherein the second binding is preferably also a binding according to any one of the preceding twelve claims.

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