EP3498346A1 - Heel unit for ski binding - Google Patents

Abstract

Retaining device (1) for attaching a boot (3) to a gliding apparatus (2), comprising: - a frame (11) intended to be secured to the gliding apparatus; 12) retaining a heel of the shoe, the jaw being movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a triggered position; - a trigger mechanism (14), housed in the frame and cooperating with the jaw so as to allow the tilting of the jaw from its engaged position to its triggered position when the jaw is biased beyond a determined threshold force, in a triggering direction (D), the triggering mechanism comprising: 143) for modifying the determined threshold force, and • a visual indicator (144) visible from an upper face (111) of the frame, - an actuating lever (13) adapted to cooperate with the jaw so as to tilt the chew re from its engaged position to its triggered position, the actuating lever comprising an opening (131) delimited by an anterior face (1311), a rear face (1312) and two lateral faces (1313, 1314), the opening being disposed opposite the visual indicator, when the operating lever is in a configuration for which the jaw is in its tripped position.The operating lever comprises one or more ribs (132) each connecting two faces of the opening, the rib or ribs being dimensioned and arranged to divide the opening into a plurality of windows (133) all having a maximum width (W133) of less than 0.85 centimeters.

Description

The present invention relates to a rear retaining device, or heel, a fastening of a shoe on a gliding machine.

Usually, each ski is provided with a binding comprising a front stop and a heel. This type of attachment, said triggerable, allows, firstly, the maintenance of the shoe attached to the gliding device during the practice of skiing and, secondly, the release of the shoe when the user is exercising, via his shoe, an excessive effort on an element of the binding. Conventionally, the sole of the shoe is engaged at the front end with a jaw of the front stop and at the rear end with a jaw of the heel.

In order to limit the risk of injury to the user during a fall, elements of the binding incorporate trigger mechanisms to separate the shoe from the binding. The heels are generally designed to release the shoe when excessive vertical force is applied by the shoe on the jaw of the heel. This is called vertical triggering of the binding, this trigger producing the separation of the boot from the binding. The front stops are generally designed to release the shoe when excessive transverse force is applied by the shoe on the jaw of the stop. This is called lateral triggering of the fixation, this trigger also producing the separation of the boot from the binding. In some constructions, lateral release is provided by a trigger mechanism housed in the heel. These triggering mechanisms often include adjustment means for adjusting the triggering force threshold of the fastener. In addition, to be able to adjust these trip thresholds, the adjustment means include a visual indicator allowing the user to check which trigger force is set.

According to some fastening constructions, the heel comprises a frame, intended to be secured to a ski, the frame carrying a jaw, an actuating lever and a vertical trigger mechanism. The vertical trigger mechanism interacts with the jaw so as to allow in particular the tilting of the jaw from its engaged position to its triggered position when the jaw is biased beyond a determined threshold force, in a triggering direction. The trigger mechanism is housed in a rear portion of the frame, behind the jaw. The visual indicator of the adjustment means of this mechanism is positioned in an upper part of the mechanism so as to be visible from an upper face of the frame. The actuating lever acts on the jaw, in particular to tilt it from an engaged position to a triggered position. When the heel is in its triggered configuration, the actuating lever is positioned to cover a large part of the visual indicator, thus hiding its reading. Also, to be able to see the visual indicator in this latter configuration, an opening is formed in the actuating lever in some models of heel. The area of this opening is large enough to completely clear the reading surface of the visual indicator.

The size of this opening greatly facilitates the reading of the visual indicator. However, because of its size, a user can pass a finger through and may pinch it when handling the operating lever. Indeed, when the heel switch from its configuration engaged to its triggered configuration, the trigger mechanism will act, with some energy, on the lever, via the jaw, to press against the frame of the heel. Consequently, by inserting a finger through the opening during this configuration change, it is possible that his finger gets stuck in the opening and / or between the lever and the frame, resulting in a pinch. This risk is even more marked for fixations for children, who have smaller fingers. Moreover, this type of attachment must meet normative requirements, in particular to prevent these risks of pinching.

One solution to overcome this problem is to add a transparent cover, thus closing the opening in the lever. However, this solution is expensive since it requires the addition of a part. On the other hand, it is unreliable because the cache may scratch or get dirty which can interfere with the reading of the visual indicator. In addition, snow can be inserted between the cover and the visual indicator which can disrupt the operation of the attachment and the reading of the indicator.

The object of the invention is to provide a rear retaining device for attaching a boot to an improved gliding machine.

One purpose is in particular to prevent the risk of finger pinch when handling the actuating lever of the jaw of a heel.

Another purpose is to facilitate the reading of the visual indicator of the vertical release mechanism of a heel through the actuating lever of his jaw.

Another goal is to provide a reliable and economical heel construction.

• un châssis destiné à être solidarisé avec l'engin de glisse;
• une mâchoire de retenue d'un talon de la chaussure, la mâchoire étant mobile par rapport au châssis entre une position enclenchée et une position déclenchée ;
• un mécanisme de déclenchement, logé dans le châssis et coopérant avec la mâchoire de sorte à permettre le basculement de la mâchoire de sa position enclenchée vers sa position déclenchée lorsque la mâchoire est sollicitée au-delà d'un effort seuil déterminé, selon une direction de déclenchement, le mécanisme de déclenchement comprenant des moyens de réglage permettant de modifier l'effort seuil déterminé, les moyens de réglage intégrant un indicateur visuel visible depuis une face supérieure du châssis ;
• un levier d'actionnement apte à coopérer avec la mâchoire de sorte à faire basculer la mâchoire de sa position enclenchée vers sa position déclenchée, le levier d'actionnement comprenant une ouverture délimitée par une face antérieure, une face postérieure et deux faces latérales, l'ouverture étant disposée en vis-à-vis de l'indicateur de réglage, lorsque le levier d'actionnement est dans une configuration pour laquelle la mâchoire est dans sa position déclenchée.

The invention proposes a device for retaining a binding of a boot on a gliding apparatus, comprising:

• a frame intended to be secured to the gliding apparatus;
• a jaw retaining a heel of the shoe, the jaw being movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a triggered position;
• a trigger mechanism, housed in the frame and cooperating with the jaw so as to allow the tilting of the jaw from its engaged position to its triggered position when the jaw is biased beyond a determined threshold force, in a direction of tripping, the trigger mechanism comprising adjustment means for modifying the determined threshold force, the adjustment means incorporating a visual indicator visible from an upper face of the frame;
• an actuating lever adapted to cooperate with the jaw so as to tilt the jaw from its engaged position to its triggered position, the actuating lever comprising an opening defined by an anterior face, a rear face and two lateral faces, opening being disposed opposite the adjustment indicator, when the operating lever is in a configuration for which the jaw is in its tripped position.

The rear retainer is characterized by the fact that the actuating lever comprises one or more ribs each connecting two faces of the opening, the rib or ribs being dimensioned and arranged so as to divide the opening into several windows. all having a maximum width of less than 0.85 centimeters.

With this construction, the windows are dimensioned so that no finger, especially those of children, can pass through the opening on the actuating lever. This avoids a risk of jamming at this opening of the lever. On the other hand, the number of windows and their size makes it possible not to disturb too much the reading of the visual indicator. Finally, the solution is simple and economical since the rib or ribs can be formed directly by the lever, the lever and the ribs then forming a unitary piece, monobloc.

• le levier d'actionnement comprend une unique nervure reliant la face antérieure et la face postérieure de l'ouverture,
• la largeur de l'unique nervure est inférieure à la largeur de la partie visible d'un curseur de l'indicateur visuel,
• la distance minimale entre la face antérieure et la face postérieure de l'ouverture est supérieure à 1,2 centimètre,
• le levier d'actionnement est une pièce distincte de la mâchoire apte à interagir avec la mâchoire,
• le levier d'actionnement et la mâchoire forment une pièce unitaire,
• la mâchoire est montée rotative sur le châssis,
• l'ensemble de fenêtres présente une surface découverte supérieure à 70% de la surface de lecture de l'indicateur visuel.

According to advantageous but non-mandatory aspects of the invention, such a rear restraint may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination:

• the actuating lever comprises a single rib connecting the front face and the rear face of the opening,
• the width of the single rib is less than the width of the visible part of a cursor of the visual indicator,
• the minimum distance between the anterior face and the posterior face of the opening is greater than 1.2 centimeters,
• the actuating lever is a separate part of the jaw capable of interacting with the jaw,
• the actuating lever and the jaw form a unitary piece,
• the jaw is rotatably mounted on the chassis,
• the set of windows has an exposed area greater than 70% of the reading area of the visual indicator.

The invention also relates to a binding of a boot for a gliding apparatus, comprising a front retainer and a rear retainer as described above.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective avant partielle d'un ski muni d'un dispositif de retenue arrière d'une fixation selon l'invention, la fixation étant dans une configuration déclenchée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective arrière partielle d'un ski muni d'un dispositif de retenue arrière d'une fixation selon l'invention, la fixation étant dans une configuration enclenchée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du ski équipé de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective avant du levier du dispositif de retenue arrière d'une fixation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus du levier de la figure 5.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating, according to non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be realized, and in which :

• the figure 1 is a partial front perspective view of a ski provided with a rear retaining device of an attachment according to the invention, the attachment being in a triggered configuration;
• the figure 2 is a partial rear perspective view of a ski provided with a rear retaining device of a binding according to the invention, the fastener being in an engaged configuration;
• the figure 3 is a top view of the ski equipped with the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a front perspective view of the lever of the rear retaining device of a fastener according to the invention;
• the figure 6 is a top view of the lever of the figure 5 .

The figure 1 is a perspective view before a gliding apparatus 2, in this case a ski, provided with a rear retaining device 1 of a binding according to the invention. The fastening secures or detaches a shoe 3 with the ski 2. It comprises, in a manner known per se, a front retainer, said stop, not shown in the figures, and a rear retaining device 1, said heel.

In the rest of the description, terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "longitudinal", "transversal", "superior", "lower", "up", "down", "before" will be used. , " back ". These terms must in fact be interpreted in a relative manner in relation to the normal position that the retainer occupies on a ski, and the normal direction of advancement of the ski. For example, "longitudinal" refers to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

A mark will also be used whose forward / backward direction corresponds to the X axis, the transverse or right / left direction corresponds to the Y axis and the vertical direction or up / down direction corresponds to the Z axis.

Similarly, the term "engagement", the fastening of the shoe with the attachment and "trigger", the separation of the shoe with the binding. On the other hand, the "vertical trigger" corresponds to the triggering of the attachment by a vertical force of the shoe on the binding. In the example shown, the vertical release is performed at the heel with a trigger mechanism.

The ski 2 comprises a lower surface 21, called sliding surface, intended to be in contact with the snow, and an upper surface 22, opposite to the sliding surface. The elements of the binding are assembled on the ski, on the side of its upper surface.

In this example, the rear retainer 1, i.e., the heel, comprises a frame 11, a jaw 12, an actuating lever 13, a vertical triggering mechanism 14 and an interface 15.

The interface 15 is fixed directly on the upper surface 22 of the ski.

The frame 11 is slidably mounted along the longitudinal axis X of the ski, thanks to a slide-type connection.

The jaw 12 is rotatably mounted on the frame 11 about a first axis Y12 transverse to the frame in a plane parallel to the ski sliding surface 21, when the heel is assembled to the ski. Other kinematics of the jaw can be envisaged. This may be, for example, a combination of translation and rotation.

The vertical triggering mechanism 14 is here housed in the frame 11 and interacts with a part of the jaw 12 to switch it between two stable configurations: an interlocked configuration for which the jaw 12 acts on the sole 31 in order to keep it engaged with the attachment, as shown in figure 2 , and a triggered configuration for which the sole 31 is able to disengage vertically from the jaw 12 which allows the release of the shoe from the binding, as illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .

Alternatively, the frame 11 is divided into two parts, an upper part carrying the jaw and a lower part assembled to the interface or directly to the ski. In this case, the upper part is rotatably mounted on the lower part about a Z axis normal to the sliding surface when the heel is assembled to the ski. The relative rotation between the two parts of the chassis is controlled by a lateral release mechanism. Thus, the heel according to this variant provides a double trigger, vertical and lateral.

The vertical trigger mechanism 14 is a mechanism known per se. Such a mechanism is described in particular in the document EP 0 766 930 . It comprises a piston 141 interacting with an inner part of the jaw 12, a spring 142, able to exert a force on the piston to push it against the jaw, and adjusting means 143 for changing the tension of the spring by adjusting the prestressing of the spring. The spring thus defines the vertical trigger value of the heel and therefore the binding. Conventionally, the adjustment means 143 comprise a screw 1431 bearing against a wall of the frame 11 and a nut 1432 cooperating, on the one hand, with the screw 1431 and, on the other hand, with one end of the spring 142. Advantageously, a portion of the nut 1432 forms a slider 1422. The slider 1422 is positioned under an upper wall of the frame 11, when the vertical release mechanism 14 is housed in the frame 11. Moreover, in the rear part of its upper surface 111, the frame 11 comprises a graduated surface 1441 positioned to cover the stroke of the slider 1422. This graduated surface 1441 comprises a central slot 1423 passing through the upper wall of the frame 11 so as to make the slider 1422 visible from the face upper 111 of the chassis. The graduated surface 1441 also comprises a marking, and more particularly a scale of scale bordering the central slot 1423. Thus, the slider 1422 and the graduated surface 1441 provided with its slit 1423 form a visual indicator 144 making it possible to know the tension of the spring 142 and therefore the setting value of the trigger threshold of the vertical trigger mechanism.

The vertical triggering mechanism 14 cooperates with the jaw 12 so as to allow the tilting of the jaw 12 from its engaged position to its position triggered when the jaw is biased beyond a determined threshold force, in a triggering direction D, as shown in FIG. figure 4 . The tripping direction is a vertical direction of release, substantially in a vertical direction Y. It is thus a direction substantially perpendicular to the gliding surface 21 of the gliding apparatus 2 and in a direction away from the machine of gliding.

The operating lever 13 mainly allows the user to tilt the jaw backwards, from its engaged configuration to its triggered configuration. This lever allows the release of the shoe attachment by a simple action of the skier. Thus, pressing this lever with a stick, his hand or other shoe, the user can cause this change of configuration. In this example, the actuating lever 13 is dissociated from the jaw 12. It interacts with it in a different kinematic. Alternatively, the actuating lever can form with the body a unitary piece or be a separate piece, fixed directly on the body. In these two embodiments, the jaw is called monoblock. The actuating lever 13 also switches in two configurations, an engaged configuration in which the lever is raised, as seen in FIG. figure 2 , and a triggered configuration in which the lever is lowered, thus covering the upper face 111 of the frame and in particular the visual indicator, as seen in FIG. figure 1 .

Generally, the adjustment of the vertical release force is performed when there is no shoe engaged with the binding, that is to say, when the heel is in its triggered configuration. However, as previously seen, in this configuration, the operating lever masks the visual indicator which prevents the control of the adjustment of the attachment. To overcome this problem, the lever comprises an opening 131 passing through the lever. The opening 131 is delimited by an anterior face 1311, located on the side of the jaw, a rear face 1312, opposite to the anterior face, and two side walls, right 1314 and left 1313. The opening 131 is arranged and sized to so as to display the visual indicator 144 when the lever is lowered, in its triggered configuration. The visual indicator is then visible which facilitates the adjustment of the vertical trigger mechanism.

Another problem arises. Due to the size of the visual indicator, it is necessary to have a relatively large aperture 131 in order to see the visual indicator clearly. Also, the size of the opening 131 is such that it allows the passage of at least one finger of the user which has the consequence of the risk of jamming / pinching mentioned above. The invention aims to overcome this problem with a simple and economical embodiment.

The actuating lever comprises one or more ribs 132 connecting, each, two faces 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314 of the opening 131, the rib or ribs 132 being dimensioned and arranged so as to divide the opening 131 into several windows. 133 having, all, a maximum width W133 of less than 0.85 centimeters. This value corresponds substantially to the average diameter of a child's finger. As a result, reducing the dimensioning of these passages in this way, it reduces the risk of introduction of fingers through these windows, and thus avoids jamming of them, without penalizing the reading of the visual indicator 144.

To obtain this subdivision of the opening 131 in small windows 133, several solutions are possible. The opening 131 is thus partially closed by one or more ribs 132. This may be a grid formed by a plurality of ribs, several ribs arranged in parallel, or a single rib. Advantageously, the set of windows 133 has an exposed surface S133 greater than 70% of the reading surface S1441 of the graduated surface 1441 of the visual indicator 144. This brings a reading comfort of the visual indicator by hiding little that -this.

According to the embodiment described, the actuating lever 13 comprises a single rib 132 connecting the front face 1311 and the rear face 1312 of the opening 131. This rib 132 is centered with respect to the width of the opening 131, thus creating two identical windows, symmetrically arranged, on either side of the central rib 132. According to one embodiment, the width W132 of the single rib 132 is smaller than the width W1423 of the visible part of a 1442 cursor of the visual indicator 144. In the case where the cursor 1442 is visible only in the central portion of the graduated surface 1441, this construction allows the direct reading of the visual indicator. In the example described, the visible portion of the cursor 1442 of the visual indicator 144 corresponds to the width W1423 of the central slot 1423 described above. In this example, the rib is less than three millimeters, which makes it possible not to hinder the reading of the visual indicator.

To have a good vision of the visual indicator, the length of the opening 131, that is to say, the minimum distance L131 between the front face 1311 and the rear face 1312 of the opening is greater than 1, 2 centimeters. This makes it possible to see fully the marking of the graduated surface 1441. Hence a better reading comfort for the user.

Other visual indicator constructs 144 can be envisioned. For example, the portion of the visible cursor can be offset from the center of the graduated surface.

The invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is possible to combine these embodiments.

The invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments but extends to all the embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Nomenclature

1. 1- Rear restraint
   • 11- Chassis
     111- Upper face
   • 12- Jaw
   • 13- Actuating lever
     • 131- Opening
       • 1311- anterior side
       • 1312- posterior side
       • 1313- left side
       • 1314- right side
     • 132- Rib 133- Window
   • 14- Vertical trigger mechanism
     • 141- Piston
     • 142- Spring
     • 143- Means of adjustment
       • 1431- Screw
       • 1432- Nut
     • 144- Visual indicator
       • 1441- Graduated surface
       • 1442- Slider
       • 1443- Slit
2. 2- Sliding machine
   • 21- Sliding surface
   • 22- Upper surface
3. 3- Shoe
   31- Sole

Claims (9)

Retaining device (1) for attaching a boot (3) to a gliding apparatus (2), comprising: a chassis (11) intended to be secured to the gliding machine; - A jaw (12) for retaining a heel of the shoe, the jaw being movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a triggered position; a trigger mechanism (14), housed in the frame and cooperating with the jaw so as to allow the jaw to tilt from its engaged position to its triggered position when the jaw is biased beyond a determined threshold force, in a triggering direction (D), the triggering mechanism comprising: Adjustment means (143) making it possible to modify the determined threshold force, and A visual indicator (144) visible from an upper face (111) of the chassis; - an actuating lever (13) adapted to cooperate with the jaw so as to tilt the jaw from its engaged position to its tripped position, the actuating lever comprising an opening (131) delimited by an anterior face (1311) , a rear face (1312) and two side faces (1313, 1314), the opening being arranged vis-à-vis the visual indicator, when the actuating lever is in a configuration for which the jaw is in its triggered position, characterized in that
the actuating lever comprises one or more ribs (132) each connecting two faces of the opening, the rib or ribs being dimensioned and arranged so as to divide the opening into a plurality of windows (133) all having a maximum width (W133) less than 0.85 centimeters. Rear retaining device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating lever comprises a single rib connecting the front face (1311) and the rear face (1312) of the opening. Retaining device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the width (W132) of the single rib is less than the width of the visible portion of a slider (1442) of the visual indicator. Rear retaining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum distance (L131) between the anterior face (1311) and the rear face (1312) of the opening is greater than 1.2 cm. . Rear retainer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating lever is a separate part of the jaw capable of interacting with the jaw. Rear retainer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating lever and the jaw form a unitary piece. Rear retaining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jaw is rotatably mounted on the frame. Rear restraint (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set of windows have an exposed surface (S133) greater than 70% of the reading surface (S144) of the visual indicator. Attachment of a shoe for a gliding apparatus, comprising a front retainer and a rear retainer according to any one of the preceding claims.

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