EP3517188B1 - Front unit for a slide board - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a front unit for a touring ski binding, the front unit comprising a left holding section, a right holding section, an actuating element and a locking element, the two holding sections being adjustable by actuating the actuating element between a holding state in which the two holding sections around a gliding board shoe hold a transverse axis running transversely to a longitudinal shoe axis pivotably on the touring binding, and a release state in which the gliding board shoe is released or insertion of the gliding board shoe is allowed, the locking element being adjustable between a locking position in which the actuating movement of the actuating element is permitted, and a locking position in which the actuation movement is blocked or hindered.

In front units of this type, a bearing arrangement is usually provided on the holding sections in order to mount a gliding board shoe on the front unit so as to be rotatable about an axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shoe. A hinge arrangement arranged between the holding sections is designed to adjust the binding between the holding state and the release state. In many cases, the joint arrangement couples to a relatively strong spring arrangement in order to provide a release function and / or a closing function of the front unit. However, such spring arrangements usually have a high weight.

From the FR 2 945 185 a front unit with a relatively low weight is known, in which the bottom section and the two holding sections are designed as elements of a coherent or integral U-shaped bracket, a joint arrangement being dispensed with. For getting in and out and when the binding is released for safety purposes, the holding sections are elastically spread apart with respect to the bottom section. This elastic bending of the bracket is, however, associated with a relatively high force, so that the ease of use is severely limited.

Furthermore, a mounting element for a ski binding is in the technological area of the present application EP 2 659 940 A1 , a touring binding EP 2 392 388 A1 , a front unit of a gliding board binding EP 2 826 528 A1 as well as a ski binding for a skier from the U.S. 2,698,757 A known.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light front unit for a gliding board with increased ease of use and / or to provide a front unit for a gliding board which has a low weight with increased safety.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a front unit with the features of claim 1. A front unit is described, comprising a base element with a bottom section and a first and a second holding section, with the first in a transition from a holding state of the front unit to a release state of the front unit and second holding sections perform a pivoting movement relative to one another; a joint arrangement which has a first joint, a second joint and a third joint arranged between the first and second joint, wherein the first joint is connected to the first holding portion and the second joint is connected to the second holding portion, a distance between the first joint and the second joint changes in the transition from the holding state to the release state.

A joint arrangement with a first joint and a second joint is also described, the distance between which changes when the Front unit changes between hold state and release state. Since the two joints are each connected to the holding sections, the holding sections are moved apart by the joints or moved closer to one another. Depending on the choice of lever ratios or transmission ratios in the joint arrangement, a comfortable adjustment of the front unit is possible in this way. In contrast to cam mechanisms, joints are also low-maintenance and reliable even under difficult external conditions such as moisture and ice. The first holding section is preferably connected to the base section via a first solid-state joint and / or the second holding section is connected to the base section via a second solid-state joint. Solid body joints are not only relatively light but also insensitive to snow and ice deposits, so that the safety and functionality of the front unit can be increased.

In particular, it is contemplated to design the bottom section, the first holding section and the second holding section as sections of an integral bracket of the base element in order to implement a simple structure and to save weight. Thus, the bottom section, the first holding section and the second holding section can be formed from a bent, integral sheet metal element.

The front unit comprises an actuating element which acts on the third joint preferably via a fourth joint, optionally designed as a ball joint. In this case, a user can comfortably influence a movement of the joint arrangement and thus of the front unit via the actuating element.

Furthermore, the front unit comprises a locking element which is pivotably attached to the actuating element and by means of which a transition from the holding state to the release state is prevented when the front unit is in a locking state. This prevents the front unit from opening unintentionally during sporty driving or climbing on in the case of a touring binding.

Advantageously, the front unit further comprises a bearing arrangement which is designed to hold a gliding board shoe on the front unit and which comprises a first bearing element attached to the first holding section and a second bearing element attached to the second holding section, each of the first and second bearing elements is set up to be in contact with a gliding board shoe when the front unit is in a holding state. In particular, the bearing elements are left and right pins which can engage in corresponding left and right bearing openings in the front area of a touring ski boot in order to pivot the touring boot. The bearing arrangement can accordingly be set up to hold a touring ski boot pivotably about a shoe transverse axis running transversely to a shoe longitudinal axis. This makes the front unit particularly suitable for use in a touring binding.

A front unit for a gliding board is also described, which comprises a base element with a bottom section and with a first and a second holding section for holding a gliding board shoe, the first holding section being connected to the bottom section via a first joint and the second holding section being connected to the bottom section a second joint is connected, a main pivot axis of the first joint and a main pivot axis of the second joint being in one Cut pivot axis intersection. In this aspect, the holding sections can be rotated about main pivot axes which do not run parallel to one another. This allows an increase in the design freedom for the design of the front unit and in particular an adaptation of the shape and movement of the holding sections to the shape of a front section of a shoe. In particular, the point of intersection of the pivot axes on the longitudinal axis of the shoe can lie in front of the front unit in the direction of travel, so that the holding sections can reproduce the shape of the shoe that becomes narrower towards the front.

It should be noted that the joints of the front unit described in the preceding paragraph are pivot joints or pivot bearings with bearing surfaces sliding or rolling against one another, e.g. B. hinges or pin bearings, etc., but can also be formed by solid joints or bending sections on which a material section that connects the bottom section to the respective holding section is elastically bent. A main pivot axis of the joint is defined by the pivoting movement between the holding section and the bottom section and does not have to be in the material of the front unit.

Preferably, a front unit, as described in the two preceding paragraphs, comprises a hinge arrangement which engages the first and second holding sections in order to adjust the holding sections between a holding state for holding a gliding board shoe and a release state for releasing the gliding board shoe, at least one main pivot axis of the The joint arrangement also runs through the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the main pivot axes of the two joints of the base section. It has been shown that in such a construction, despite the non-parallel course of the main pivot axes simple, jam-free mechanism for adjusting the front unit can be implemented, which does not require compensating elements. If, in particular, the first joint and the second joint of the base element as well as all joints of the joint arrangement are designed as pure swivel joints with only one degree of freedom of rotation and without degrees of freedom of translation, a gear arrangement with inevitability is realized, i.e. a mechanism with a plurality of joints in which the movement of one joint forces a clearly defined movement of every other joint.

Also described is a front unit for a gliding board, which comprises a base element with a bottom section and with a left holding section and a right holding section for holding a gliding board shoe, the holding sections being formed from an elastically deformable plate material, in particular a sheet metal, the plate planes of which have lateral surface sections a common versatile pyramid form. It was recognized that by orienting the plate surfaces along a common pyramid according to the third aspect of the invention, when the front unit is used and a force or load is input into the front unit through the shoe, torsions in the base element and within the holding sections can be minimized. The required stability of the front unit can thus also be ensured when using lighter constructions or materials (for example relatively thin plates), so that the weight of the front unit can be reduced.

It can be provided, for example, in one of the two previously described front units that the tip of the pyramid lies at the point of intersection of the pivot axes. That way, not just the Joint movements but also the twisting or bending of the base element that occurs under load is part of an inevitable movement mechanism. In particular, the additional effect was observed that in the case of mechanical loading which is input into the front unit from the shoe and acts on the holding sections, a load on the joint arrangement and a torsion of the holding sections can be reduced. The front unit can thus ensure a defined shape and thus a reliable function even when using light materials.

In the front units described, the bottom section and the two holding sections are preferably sections of an integral U-shaped bracket, the holding sections forming the legs of the U-shape and the bottom section connecting the two holding sections to one another. This design is particularly simple and weight-saving and is therefore particularly suitable for touring racing.

According to the invention, a front unit for a touring binding is provided, which comprises a left holding section, a right holding section, an actuating element and a locking element, the two holding sections being adjustable by actuating the actuating element between a holding state in which the two holding sections place a gliding board shoe across hold a shoe longitudinal axis running transverse axis pivotably on the touring binding, and a release state in which the gliding board shoe is released or an insertion of the gliding board shoe is allowed, wherein the locking element is adjustable between a dear locking position, in which the actuating movement of the actuating element is permitted, and a locking position, in which the actuation movement is blocked or hindered is, wherein the locking element is pivotally mounted on the actuating element under bias of an elastic device, in particular a spring, and wherein the locking element passes through a dead center position of the elastic device during its movement between the locking position and dear locking position, in which the elastic restoring force of the elastic device has a local Assumes a maximum, so that the elastic device, depending on its rotational position, always pushes the locking element away from the dead center position and either toward the locking position or toward the dear locking position. In such a binding, the locking element has two stable, spring-preloaded positions, so that the operation of the locking element is facilitated. The elastic device can be formed by a knee joint arrangement which assumes a dead center position when three swivel joints lie on a common line. Alternatively, the elastic device can have a spring-preloaded cam mechanism, in particular a spring-preloaded ball, which rolls or slides on a cam, the cam having a projection or apex that defines the dead center position and points towards the ball.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Vordereinheit als eine Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Freigabestellung;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Vordereinheit aus Fig. 1 in einer Eingriffsstellung;
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittdarstellung der Vordereinheit aus Fig. 1 parallel zu einer Gleitachsenlängsebene in einer Arretierungsstellung;
• Fig. 4 eine Schnittdarstellung der Vordereinheit aus Fig. 1 parallel zu einer Gleitachsenlängsebene in der Eingriffsstellung;
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittdarstellung der Vordereinheit aus Fig. 1 in der Freigabestellung;
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Vordereinheit aus Fig. 1 und
• Fig. 7a und 7b eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 4 und eine Vergrößerung eines Bereichs X daraus.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a front unit as an embodiment of the present invention in a release position;
• Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front unit Fig. 1 in an engaged position;
• Fig. 3 a sectional view of the front unit Fig. 1 parallel to a sliding axis longitudinal plane in a locking position;
• Fig. 4 a sectional view of the front unit Fig. 1 parallel to a sliding axis longitudinal plane in the engaged position;
• Fig. 5 a sectional view of the front unit Fig. 1 in the release position;
• Fig. 6 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front unit Fig. 1 and
• Figures 7a and 7b a view according to Fig. 4 and an enlargement of an area X therefrom.

Figures 1 and 2 show a front unit 2 for a gliding board S, which is preferably symmetrical to a vertical symmetry line L '(indicated in FIG Fig. 1 by dash-dot lines), which contains a longitudinal axis L of the shoe. Because of this symmetry, the following description concentrates in many aspects on one side of the front unit 2, it being possible for the corresponding elements on the other side to be symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry L 'and with the same functions and features. Reference symbols of elements or sections which are essentially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry L 'differ by the suffixes “l” and “r”.

The front unit 2 comprises a base element 4 with a bottom section 6, a first holding section 8l and a second holding section 8r. The base element 4 can have openings 56 for receiving screws for attachment to a gliding board S. The front unit can be mounted on a sliding board in a desired position and in the desired orientation be attached, so that, for example, the school longitudinal axis L coincides with a sliding board longitudinal axis or includes an angle with the sliding board longitudinal axis.

The first holding section 8l and the second holding section 8r preferably protrude upwards from a ski surface SO of the ski S in an assembled state of the front unit 2. The first holding section 8l is connected to the bottom section 6 via a first solid body joint 24l (bending section) and the second holding section 8r is connected to the bottom section 6 via a second solid body joint 24r (bending section). The first solid-state joint 24l and second solid-state joint 24r are preferably designed essentially symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry L '. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment, the first holding section 8l, the second holding section 8r and the bottom section 6 are designed as sections of an integral or one-piece, U-shaped bracket 26, in particular a sheet metal or a plastic molded part.

As in Fig. 6 As shown, the outer and / or inner surfaces of the first holding section 8l, the second holding section 8r and the bottom section 6 can advantageously form partial surfaces of a lateral surface of a versatile pyramid with a pyramid tip P '. The pyramid tip P 'preferably lies in the plane of symmetry L', in particular on the longitudinal axis L. Thus, when the front unit is properly attached to a gliding board, the pyramid tip P 'can lie in front of the front unit in the gliding board longitudinal direction L (direction of travel).

The base element 4 can have at least one kink in the area of the solid joints 24l, 24r. In the exemplary embodiment, there are two kinks in the area of each solid body joint, that is to say four in total Kinks 28-1l, 28-2l, 28-1r, 28-2r are provided through which the bracket receives its U-shape. It can be seen here that the kinks 28-1l, 28-2l, 28-1r, 28-2r run along the edges of a pyramid with pyramid tip P 'already described above.

Via the solid body joints 24l, 24r, the first holding section 8l and the second holding section 8r can execute a pivoting movement relative to one another, which runs essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe and to the plane of symmetry L '. In a variant of the invention, the kinks can be weakened, for example by choosing a thinner or more elastic material in this area. In this way, the kinks are at the same time the main axes of movement of the solid joints 24l, 24r.

More generally, it was recognized within the scope of this invention that shear forces in the front unit 2 and in particular in the first holding section 8l and the second holding section 8r can be minimized if at least one main pivot axis of the solid-state joints 24l, 24r each run through a pivot axis intersection P and thus intersect there . The pivot axis intersection P can coincide with the already described pyramid point P ′ and in particular be arranged in front of the front unit 2. A main pivot axis of a solid body joint is understood to mean axes for which it applies that a pivoting movement of the parts attached to the solid body joint can be approximated at least over sections of the pivoting movement by a rotary movement about this main pivot axis. In the present embodiment, the first solid-state joint 24l has two main pivot axes H1l, H2l, the course of the main pivot axis H1l essentially coinciding with the course of the kink 28-1l and the course of the main pivot axis H2l essentially coincides with the course of the kink 28-2l. The first solid body joint 24l can, however, also have only one main pivot axis.

Between the holding sections 8l and 8r, a joint arrangement 10 is provided which controls the pivoting movement of the holding sections 8l and 8r relative to one another. The joint arrangement comprises a first joint 12l, a second joint 12r and a third joint 14. The first joint 12l holds a first strut 34l ( Figure 2 ) rotatable on the first holding section 8l. The second joint 12r holds a second strut 34r rotatably on the second holding section 8r. The third joint 14 couples the first strut 34l directly (as shown) or indirectly to the second strut 34r, so that the first strut 34l and the second strut 34r are rotatable with respect to one another.

The joints 12l, 12r and 14 are preferably pure swivel joints, that is to say only allow a rotary movement about a single axis of rotation between the respectively coupled elements. Hinges B1, Br, for example, come into consideration, but solid-state joints (flexural joints) can also be used.

It has been found that a torsional load on the holding sections 8l, 8r can be further reduced if at least one main pivot axis of the joint arrangement 10 also extends through the pivot axis intersection P. In particular, the axes of rotation of the joints 12l, 12r and 14 each form the main pivot axes of the joint arrangement 10. The main pivot axis Hl of the first joint 12l, the main pivot axis Hr of the second joint 12r and the main pivot axis Hm of the third joint 14 preferably run through the point P.

Preferably, the struts 34l, 34r are generally plate-shaped and are oriented such that their plate planes also run through the point P.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, in particular the first joint 12l is fastened to the first holding section 8l via a first plate 16l and screws 18 and the second joint 12r is fastened to the second holding section 8r via a second plate 16r and screws 18.

The joint arrangement 10 forms a knee joint arrangement. In particular, the third joint 14 between the first joint 12l and the second joint 12r is preferably arranged in such a way that the third joint 14 can move up and down in the vertical direction, specifically with respect to a horizontal connecting line G, which the first joint 12l with the second joint 12r connects (more precisely, the line G connects the pivot points 12dl, 12dr of the respective joints). If the third joint 14 approaches the connecting line G, the distance between the first joint 12l and the second joint 12r is forced to increase and the holding sections 8l, 8r are spread apart against the elastic restoring force of the base element 4.

The front unit 2 further comprises a bearing arrangement 20 with a first bearing element 22l and a second bearing element 22r. The bearing elements 22l, 22r can be designed as a pin, which can engage in an opening of a gliding board shoe (for example a touring ski boot) in order to hold the gliding board shoe on the front unit 2 so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation Q running transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe and thus to allow walking enable.

An actuating element 30 acts on the third joint 14 via a fourth joint 29 (see FIG Figures 3, 4 ), which is pivotably mounted on a bearing section 32l, 32r about an axis 33 running transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe. The vertical movement of the third joint 14 is therefore coupled to a pivoting movement of the actuating element 30. The fourth joint 29 is preferably a combination of a pivot bearing and a linear guide and has for this purpose, for example, a ball head (at 29) and a cylindrical receptacle (at 14), the ball head in the receptacle both pivotable and along the cylinder axis of the receptacle is movable. As such a combination bearing, the fourth joint 29 enables the pivoting movement of the actuating element to be transferred into a linear upward and downward movement of the third joint 14.

If the actuating element 30 is in the in Figures 2 to 4 position shown, the third joint 14 is below the line G and the holding sections 8l, 8r are brought closer together so that they can hold a gliding board shoe in engagement. This corresponds to an engaged position of the front unit (holding state in the sense of the claims). Depending on the exact distance between the engagement holes of the shoe and any deposits that may be located in the engagement holes of the shoe, the third joint will rest on the base element 4 in the engagement position or be at a certain distance therefrom.

If the actuating element 30 is in the in Figures 1 and 5 If the position shown is pivoted, the third joint 14 is moved upwards and the joints 12l, 12r are pressed apart via the struts 34l, 34r of the joint arrangement 10. Accordingly, the holding sections 8l, 8r are spread apart from one another and the front unit is adjusted into a release position, in FIG which releases the gliding board shoe or enables entry into the front unit (release status in the sense of the claims).

According to the invention, a transition between the engagement position and the release position is accompanied by a dead center passage of the third joint 14 through the connecting line G. At the same time, the two holding sections 8l, 8r are elastically biased towards one another in one direction by the solid-state joints, so that the third joint 14 approaches the dead center position G against the elastic restoring force of the base element 4. Accordingly, both the engagement position and the release position are favored by the elastic restoring force of the base element 4 and form stable settings of the front unit.

The front unit further comprises a locking element 36 for locking or locking the actuating element 30 in the engaged position. The locking element 36 is held pivotably on the actuating element 30, in particular on a pivot axis 38, wherein the pivot axis 38 can be located on an end of the actuating element 30 facing away from the third joint 14 and the fourth joint 29. The locking element 36 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 38 between an in Figure 4 Locking position shown, in which the locking element 36 releases a movement of the actuating element 30, and one in Figure 3 Locking position shown, in which the locking element 36 blocks a movement of the actuating element 30 from the engagement position into the open position of the touring binding. For this purpose, a blocking section 52 of the locking element 36 facing away from the pivot axis 38 can strike a locking section 40 which is provided on a part of the front unit that is fixed to the sliding board, for example on the base element 4.

Since a movement of the actuating element 30 into the release position is blocked in the locking position, unintentional opening of the front unit is avoided. Such a lock is advantageous for an ascent, that is to say in the walking mode of the binding, in order to avoid false releases. The locking element 36 preferably has a manual operating section 54 in the form of a lever for simple manual operation.

The locking section 40 or the blocking section 52 preferably form a cam mechanism which is set up in such a way that when the locking element 36 moves towards the locking position, the locking section 40 and blocking section 52 not only come into contact with one another but slide against one another and the actuating element 30 continues in the direction Engagement position is rotated. In this way, an additional elastic preload in the direction of the engagement position can be applied to the bearing elements 22l, 22r in order to compensate for wear and shoe tolerances.

The pivoting movement of the locking element 36 about the axis of rotation 38 can be under the bias of a spring 42 to improve operating safety and ease of use, so that both the locking position and the locking position of the locking element 36 are stable positions supported by the spring 42 in which the locking element 36 is pressed by the force of the spring 42 against respective rotary stops. In the locked position, this rotary stop is implemented by the stop of the blocking section 52 of the locking element 36 on the locking section 40. In the locking position, the rotary stop is provided between locking element 36 and actuating element 30, in particular by a projection 51 of locking element 36, which strikes against actuating element 30.

When the locking element 36 is rotated between the two states, the locking element 36 passes through a dead center position which is unstable or indifferent with respect to the two directions of rotation, in which the compression of the spring 42 reaches a local maximum. Thus, the spring 42 urges the locking element 36, starting from the dead center position, in the direction of one of the two rotary stops.

Details of a possible implementation variant of the coupling between locking element 36 and actuating element 30 are shown in FIG Figures 7a and 7b shown. The spring 42 is supported with one end on a first spring bearing 44 on the locking element 36 and with the other end on a second spring bearing 46 on the actuating element 30. The positions of the spring bearings 44, 46 are selected in such a way that the first spring bearing 44 is located above an imaginary connecting line between the locking element rotation axis 38 and the second spring bearing 46 when the locking element 36 is in the locking position ( Fig. 4 ), and that the first spring bearing 44, however, is located below this imaginary connecting line when the locking element 36 is pivoted into the locking position ( Fig. 3 ). Between the locking position and the dear locking position then lies the already mentioned dead center position, in which the axis of rotation 38, first spring bearing 44 and second spring bearing 46 all lie on the designated connecting line and thus a distance between the spring bearings 44 and 46 is the smallest and the spring 42 is most compressed .

In the illustrated variant, the spring 42 is a helical spring and is preferably supported by a pin 48 which is inserted axially into the spring 42 and which is held on the locking element 36 in the first spring bearing 44 so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation 50. On his first At the end facing away from the spring bearing 44, the pin 48 is inserted axially displaceably into a suitable opening 52 of a cylindrical or spherical bearing body 54 which belongs to the second spring bearing 46. The bearing body 54 is in turn inserted into a matching cylinder socket-shaped or spherical socket-shaped recess 56 in the actuating element 30, so that the bearing body 54 is rotatably mounted on the actuating element 30 about an axis of rotation 58. As a result, the pin 48 is pivotable on the first spring bearing 44 and pivotably and axially displaceably mounted on the second spring bearing 46 and can thus absorb the change in distance between the spring bearings 44, 46 during the rotational movement of the locking element 36 and hold the spring 42 securely in position.

Claims (1)

1. Front unit (2) for a touring binding,

   wherein the front unit (2) has a left holding portion (81), a right holding portion (8r), an actuating element (30) and a locking element (36),

   wherein the two holding portions (81, 8r) can be adjusted by actuating the actuating element (30) between a holding state in which the two holding portions (81, 8r) hold a slide board shoe on the touring binding so as to be pivotable about a transverse axis (Q) running transversely to a shoe longitudinal axis (L), and a release state in which the slide board shoe is released or the slide board shoe can be inserted,

   wherein the locking element (36) is adjustable between an unlocking position in which the actuation movement of the actuation element (30) is permitted, and a locking position in which the actuation movement is blocked or hindered,

   characterized in that the locking element (36) is mounted pivotably on the actuating element (30) under preload from an elastic device (42), in particular a spring (42), and

   wherein on its movement between the locking position and the unlocking position, the locking element (36) passes through a dead centre position of the elastic device in which the elastic return force of the elastic device (42) assumes a local maximum, so that the elastic device (42) always forces the locking element (36) away from the dead centre position and either towards the locking position or towards the unlocking position depending on the rotary position of said locking element.

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