EP3566754B1 - Front skibinding - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The invention relates to an automatic front end for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, which automatic front end comprises a first holding means and a second holding means for holding a ski boot in the toe area of the ski boot. The automatic front end has a first holding configuration in which the two holding means are in a holding position, in which the two holding means are at a first distance from one another, with the two holding means being able to interact with the ski boot in the holding position in such a way that the ski boot pivoted about an axis aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski on the automatic front end. Furthermore, the front-mounted machine has an entry configuration in which the two holding means are in an entry position, in which the two holding means are at a second distance from one another, the second distance being greater than the first distance and the ski boot in the step-in position both holding means is released from the two holding means. The front machine can be adjusted from the entry configuration to the first holding configuration and back.

State of the art

In terms of their function, ski bindings can be divided into piste bindings, which are only used for downhill skiing and skiing on ski lifts, and touring bindings, which are also used for walking on skis, in particular for climbing using climbing skins attached to the skis. While the former only have to ensure reliable fixation of the ski boot on the ski in a so-called downhill position, the latter must also be able to be brought from the downhill position into an uphill position for climbing, in which the ski boot can be pivoted about an axis aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski in the heel area of the ski can be lifted to allow articulation between the ski boot and the ski for walking.

Touring ski bindings, in turn, can be divided into two types. One type includes a ski boot carrier that can be pivoted relative to the ski and on which the ski boot is held by binding jaws. A representative member of this type of touring ski bindings is, for example, in EP 0 754 079 B1 (Fritschi AG ) described. The second type of touring ski bindings, on the other hand, does not include such a ski boot carrier. In this type, the ski boot is pivoted in its toe area on the sole in a front unit that is fixed to the ski. In this case, the automatic heel unit is also firmly attached to the ski at a distance from the automatic front unit that is adapted to the length of the sole of the ski boot and locks the boot in the heel area in the downhill position. In the ascent position, however, the heel of the boot is released from the automatic heel unit, so that the heel of the ski boot can be lifted off the ski and so that the ski boot can be pivoted about the bearing on the automatic front unit. Ski boots suitable for this type of binding typically have two lateral recesses in the toe area for pivotable mounting in the automatic front end. In addition, such ski boots typically have a stiff or only slightly flexible sole. In the heel area of this sole, there are typically rearwardly open recesses into which holding means of the automatic heel unit can engage.

For the description of such binding systems, a (fictitious) ski is often used as a reference system, it being assumed that the binding is mounted on this ski. This habit is adopted in the present text. In this reference system, the term "ski longitudinal direction" means along the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the ski. Similarly, for an elongated object, "ski-parallel" means aligned along the longitudinal axis of the ski. For a flat object, on the other hand, the term "parallel to the ski" means aligned parallel to the sliding surface of the ski. Furthermore, the term "ski transverse direction" means a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, which, however, does not have to be oriented exactly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Their orientation can also deviate slightly from a right angle. The term "ski center" in turn means a center of the ski viewed horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski, while the term "ski-fixed" means not movable relative to the ski. It should also be noted that terms that do not contain the word "ski" also refer to the reference system of the (fictitious) ski. The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom" and "side" refer to "front", "back", "top", "bottom" and "side" of the ski. Likewise, terms such as "horizontal" and "vertical" also refer to the ski, with "horizontal" meaning lying in a plane parallel to the ski and "vertical" meaning perpendicular to this plane.

A touring binding of the second type introduced above is in the EP 0 199 098 A2 (Bartel ) and is sold under the Dynafit brand. The automatic front end of this touring ski binding comprises two angle levers, which are arranged opposite one another in the transverse direction of the ski and are each mounted pivotably about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The two angle levers each have an upwardly directed arm and a laterally directed arm, which are arranged at right angles to one another. The upwardly directed arms each comprise a truncated cone or hemispherical pin pointing towards the middle of the ski, which can engage in lateral depressions provided for this purpose in the toe area of a ski boot and thus serves as a holding means for holding a ski boot. The arms of the angle levers, which are aligned sideways, point towards the center of the ski, like the pins, but are operatively connected to one another via a spring device. Since the two angle levers are mutually spring-loaded by the spring device on the sideways-oriented arms, they can by overcoming a Dead center position, in which the two sideways arms are aligned in rectilinear linear extension of each other, snap down and up. When the sideways arms are snapped down, the upwards arms are pivoted together. On the other hand, when the sideways arms are snapped upwards, the upwards arms are swung apart. Correspondingly, the pins for holding a ski boot are closer together in the first case and further apart in the second case. In the first case, a ski boot can be held or pivoted between the two angle levers by means of the pins. This configuration of the front machine is therefore a holding configuration in which the two pins are in a holding position. In the second case, on the other hand, the holding means are sufficiently far apart for the ski boot to be released. Accordingly, this configuration of the front-end machine is an entry-level configuration in which the two pins are in an entry-level position.

Since at in the EP 0 199 098 A2 described front machines, the two angle levers are mutually spring-loaded via the sideways-oriented arms by the spring device, they can, as already mentioned, by overcoming a dead center position in which the two sideways-pointing arms are aligned in a straight linear extension to each other, snap down and up . The upwardly directed arms are pivoted together when the sideways directed arms are snapped down and pivoted apart when the upwardly directed arms are pivoted together. Thus, in the holding configuration of the front machine, when a ski boot is held in the front machine, a slight upward force on the ski boot or a slight downward force on the front machine is sufficient for the angle lever to pivot past the dead center position and the front machine moved from the holding configuration to the entry configuration and the ski boot is released by the front machine. Accordingly, accidental false releases can occur when skiing due to impacts and impacts, in which case the ski boot is unintentionally released from the automatic front unit. Therefore, there is for the skier when using a front machine according to EP 0 199 098 A2 an increased risk of accidents.

Another automatic touring device belonging to the second type of touring ski binding is in the EP 2 574 379 A2 (Fritschi AG ) described. This automatic front end comprises two levers pointing upwards, which are arranged opposite one another in the transverse direction of the ski and are each mounted pivotably about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Arranged in the region of the upper ends of these levers are truncated cone-shaped pins which can engage in recesses provided for this purpose in the toe region of a ski boot and thus serve as holding means for holding the ski boot. In the holding configuration of this front machine, the pins with the levers for holding the ski boot are pivoted towards one another into a holding position. In the entry-level configuration of the front-mounted machine, on the other hand, the two pins with the levers are pivoted apart into an entry-level position. In the holding position, the pivoting movement of the lever is blocked. This also blocks the pins from pivoting apart from the holding position into the entry position. For this, in the holding configuration of the automatic front end, the pins with the levers in the holding position can be displaced horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski within a range against a spring force. As soon as the pins with the levers have been shifted far enough laterally, the lever lying in the direction of movement is released, so that the corresponding lever can tilt away to the side together with the corresponding pin. This enables a safety trip.

The front machine according to the EP 2 574 379 A2 prevents unintentional false triggering, which in the front automatic according to the EP 0 199 098 A2 in the event of an upward force on the ski boot or a downward force on the automatic front end. Thus, the front machine increases according to the EP 2 574 379 A2 safety for the skier. For the front machine according to the EP 2 574 379 A2 however very complex. On the one hand, this means that the automatic front end is comparatively expensive to produce. On the other hand, this means that the front automatic has a comparatively high weight due to the many components.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to create a front-mounted automatic device that belongs to the technical field mentioned at the outset, which is light in weight, can be produced inexpensively and offers the skier increased safety.

The solution to the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the two holding means are each a pin with a free end, the two pins being arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski and with their free ends pointing towards the middle of the ski, the front automatic device having a first holding lever and a second holding lever, the two Holding levers are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski, with the first holding means being arranged in an upper area of the first holding lever on the first holding lever and the second holding means being arranged in an upper area of the second holding lever on the second holding lever, with the two holding means for adjusting their Entry position are mounted in their holding position and back along an adjustment path relative to each other displaceable, with a subsequent to the holding position of the two holding means adjoining area of the adjustment path is aligned substantially horizontally. Substantially horizontal preferably means that at each point of the adjustment path within the area adjoining the holding position of the two holding means, a tangent applied to the adjustment path at the respective point assumes an angle of maximum 45° to a plane parallel to the ski or that the at the respective point tangent applied to the adjustment path assumes an angle in the range from a minimum of 45° to a maximum of 90° to a vertically aligned line.

The two holding means are thus mounted in a substantially horizontally displaceable manner in the region of their holding position for the adjustment from their entry position to their holding position and back. Accordingly, compared to in the EP 0 199 098 A2 described front machine moves away the two holding means only by a larger upward force on the ski boot or a larger downward force on the front machine from their holding position, so that the Ski boot is released. Correspondingly, the frequency of unintentional false triggering is reduced in the front automatic device according to the invention, which reduces the risk of accidents. At the same time, the front-end machine according to the invention can be designed to be less complex and therefore easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The smaller the angle between the tangent applied to the adjustment path at the respective point within the area of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means and a plane parallel to the ski, or the closer the angle between the Tangent and the vertically aligned line is at 90°, the more the frequency of unintentional false trips is reduced.

For this reason, particularly preferably, at each point of the adjustment path within the area adjoining the holding position of the two holding means, the tangent applied to the adjustment path at the respective point makes an angle of no more than 20° to a plane parallel to the ski or takes the angle at the respective point to the The tangent applied to the adjustment path forms an angle in the range from a minimum of 70° to a maximum of 90° to a vertically aligned line. Very particularly preferably, therefore, at each point of the adjustment path within the area adjoining the holding position of the two holding means, the tangent applied to the adjustment path at the respective point makes an angle of no more than 10° to a plane parallel to the ski or takes the angle at the respective point to the adjustment path The tangent applied makes an angle in the range from a minimum of 80° to a maximum of 90° to a vertically aligned line. Most preferably, however, the area of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means is aligned horizontally or most preferably the tangent applied to the respective point on the adjustment path lies in a plane parallel to the ski at each point of the adjustment path within the area adjoining the holding position of the two holding means .

The area of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means preferably has a length of at least 30%, particularly preferably at least 55%, very particularly preferably at least 80% and most preferably 100% of a length of the adjustment path. The greater this percentage of the portion of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means in the adjustment path, the smaller the probability of false triggering due to an upward force acting on the ski boot or a downward force acting on the automatic front end. The length of the adjustment path preferably refers to the length of the adjustment path measured on the movement path of the holding means when the holding means are adjusted from their holding position to their entry position.

The two holding means are preferably mounted in such a way that the two holding means are only displaced relative to one another in the region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means. If the two holding means are also pivotably mounted, the two holding means are preferably mounted in such a way that they are pivoted relative to one another only outside the region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means.

In a first preferred variant, the two holding means are mounted in such a way that when they are adjusted from their entry position to their holding position and back, they are only displaced relative to one another. This has the advantage that simple, stable mounting of the holding means is made possible. In a second preferred variant, however, the holding means are mounted in such a way that when they are adjusted from their entry position to their holding position and back, they are displaced relative to one another and pivoted relative to one another. This second variant has the advantage that positioning of the holding means in the entry position and in the holding position can be optimized for the respective purposes. The two holding means are particularly preferably mounted in the second variant in such a way that they are only displaced relative to one another in the region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means and accordingly only pivoted relative to one another outside this region of the adjustment path. Both in the first and in the second preferred variant, the holding means are mounted in a displaceable manner. At least in the second variant, the two holding means are also pivotally mounted. In the first variant, too, the two holding means can additionally also be pivotably mounted. In this case, however, the two holding means are not pivoted when adjusting between their holding position and their entry position, but only when adjusting between their holding position and another position or between their entry position and another position or only when adjusting between further positions.

As an alternative to these variants, there is also the possibility that the two holding means are mounted in such a way that the two holding means are displaced and pivoted relative to one another in the region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means.

The front machine preferably comprises a base element and/or a housing. The base element can be designed in one piece or in several pieces. The housing can also be designed in one piece or in several pieces. If the automatic front end comprises only a base element and no housing, the base element is preferably set up for fastening the automatic front end on a ski. If the automatic front end comprises only a housing and no base element, the housing is preferably set up for fastening the automatic front end on a ski. If, on the other hand, the automatic front end comprises both a base element and a housing, the base element, the housing or both the base element and the housing are preferably set up for fastening the automatic front end on a ski. As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the automatic front unit comprises neither a base element nor a housing.

The two holding means are each a pin with a free end, the two pins being arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski and with their free ends pointing towards the middle of the ski. This has the advantage that the ski boot can be held on the automatic front unit so that it can pivot about an axis horizontally aligned in the transverse direction of the ski, in that the pins engage laterally in recesses in the toe area of the ski boot.

The front automatic device has a first holding lever and a second holding lever, with the two holding levers being arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski, with the first holding means being arranged in an upper area of the first holding lever on the first holding lever and the second holding means being in an upper area of the second Holding lever is arranged on the second holding lever. This has the advantage that the front automatic can be made compact and light, since comparatively little space and material is required for the holding lever.

The two holding levers are preferably arranged in the first holding configuration of the front-mounted automatic device in an essentially vertically aligned manner and are aligned pointing upwards. This has the advantage that the holding levers can be arranged in a space-saving manner, which enables a compact design of the front-mounted automatic device. In a variant of this, the two holding levers in the first holding configuration of the automatic front mechanism are aligned essentially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, pointing backwards or pointing forwards. As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the two holding levers are aligned differently in the first holding configuration of the front-mounted automatic device.

Irrespective of whether the two holding levers in the first holding configuration of the front-mounted automatic device are arranged essentially vertically and pointing upwards or not, the two holding means are preferably each a pin with a free end, the two pins on both sides of the middle of the ski lying opposite one another and are arranged with their free ends pointing towards the center of the ski on a side of the respective holding lever facing towards the center of the ski. This has the advantage that a ski boot in the first holding configuration can be held on the automatic front device in a simple manner such that it can be pivoted about the axis aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. In a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility that the holding means are designed differently and, for example, as already mentioned, are opposite openings on both sides of the middle of the ski and are open towards the middle of the ski, into which pins arranged laterally on the ski boot can engage to hold the ski boot in the toe area of the ski boot .

The two holding means are preferably mounted so as to be displaceable relative to one another for adjusting from their entry position to their holding position and back along the adjustment path, in that the first holding means is mounted displaceably and the second holding means is mounted displaceably. This has the advantage that for adjusting the front automatic Both the first holding means and the second holding means can be moved from the entry configuration to the first holding configuration and back, and that it is thus easier for the skier to get into the front machine because it is sufficient to place the ski boot relative to the front machine, after which the both holding means for holding the ski boot can be moved into their holding position.

In order to enable the first holding means to be slidably mounted and the second holding means to be slidably mounted, the first holding means and the second holding means can each be slidably mounted on the same third element of the front-end machine, or the first holding means and the second holding means can each be mounted on one be stored different further element of the front machine. In this case, the third element or one of the two further elements can be, for example, the possibly existing housing of the front-end machine or the possibly existing base element of the front-end machine. However, the third element or one of the two further elements can also be other elements of the front-end machine.

Irrespective of what the first holding means and the second holding means are slidably mounted on, the first holding means and the second holding means are preferably mounted slidably in the transverse direction of the ski, with the region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means being aligned essentially horizontally, or with preferably for each point within this range of the adjustment path, the tangent applied to the respective point occupies an angle of no more than 45°, particularly preferably no more than 20°, very particularly preferably no more than 10° to a plane parallel to the ski, and the tangent applied to the respective point Tangent is most preferably aligned horizontally.

As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the first holding means is not both slidably mounted and the second holding means is slidably mounted.

Advantageously, the front automatic device comprises a first carriage and a second carriage, the first holding means being arranged on the first carriage and the second holding means being arranged on the second carriage, the first carriage being slidably mounted and the second carriage being slidably mounted, whereby the two holding means for adjusting from their entry position to their holding position and back along the adjustment path are mounted so as to be displaceable relative to one another, in that the first holding means is mounted displaceably by the first carriage and the second holding means is mounted displaceably by the second slide. This has the advantage that the two holding means are slidably mounted in a simple and stable manner.

The first carriage and the second carriage can each be slidably mounted on the same third element of the front machine or the first carriage and the second carriage can each be mounted on a different further element of the front machine. In this case, the third element or one of the two further elements can be, for example, the possibly existing housing of the front-end machine or the possibly existing base element of the front-end machine. However, this third element or one of the two further elements can also be other elements of the front-end machine.

Irrespective of where the first carriage and the second carriage are movably mounted, the first carriage and the second carriage are preferably movably mounted in the transverse direction of the ski. As a result, the first holding means and the second holding means are preferably also mounted so as to be displaceable in the transverse direction of the ski, with the area of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means being aligned essentially horizontally, or with preferably one on the The tangent applied to the respective point occupies an angle of at most 45°, particularly preferably at most 20°, very particularly preferably at most 10° to a plane parallel to the ski, and the tangent applied to the respective point is most preferably aligned horizontally. Thus, the first carriage and the second carriage are preferably also essentially horizontal in the transverse direction of the ski and thus preferably in a direction with a maximum inclination of 45° in a displacement range of the carriages, which corresponds to the range of the adjustment path of the holding means adjoining the holding position of the two holding means °, particularly preferably a maximum of 20°, very particularly preferably 10° and most preferably displaceably mounted in a horizontally oriented plane.

If the automatic front end has two holding levers, with the two holding levers being arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski, with one of the two holding means being arranged on each of the two holding levers in an upper region of the respective holding lever, a first of the two holding levers is preferably on the first carriage arranged and arranged a second of the two retaining levers on the second carriage. The first holding lever and the first carriage can be formed together in one piece or as separate pieces. Likewise, the second retaining lever and the second carriage may be formed together in one piece or as separate pieces. Irrespective of whether the holding levers are formed in one piece with the corresponding carriage or as separate pieces, the arrangement of the holding levers on the carriages has the advantage that stable mounting of the holding means is made possible.

If the first holding lever and the first carriage are formed together in one piece and the second holding lever and the second carriage are formed together in one piece, it is irrelevant whether the pieces are formed in one piece or in several pieces. Irrespective of this, the piece of the first holding lever and the first carriage and the piece of the second holding lever and the second carriage are each preferably of rigid design. In this case, rigid preferably means that the respective piece bends elastically by at most a limit value when an external force is applied, without the piece breaking. To determine this limit value, two points in the respective piece are preferably used as a basis, with the first point in the carriage being in the area where the carriage is mounted and the second point being in the holding lever at the point where the holding means belonging to the holding lever is arranged. The distance between the two points is assumed to be the resting distance when no external force is acting on the piece. Further, one of the two points in space is fixed while the displacement distance of the position of the other point in space without external force is determined with the position of that other point in space when external force is applied to the piece. For each possible pair of points and each possible action of force in the respective piece, the displacement distance is preferably at most 1%, particularly preferably at most 0.1% and very particularly preferably at most 0.01% of the resting distance. Thus, this is preferred Definition of rigid is not a purely material-dependent constant, but also depends on the shape and construction of the piece in question.

If the first holding lever and the first slide are designed as separate pieces and the second holding lever and the second slide are designed as separate pieces, then in a preferred variant the first holding lever can be pivoted about a first axis on the first slide and the second holding lever can be pivoted about a second axis pivoted on the second carriage. This has the advantage that, for example, the automatic front mechanism can be designed in such a way that a ski boot held in the automatic front mechanism is optimally released from the automatic front mechanism if the skier falls, thereby enabling a safety release. For this purpose, the automatic front end preferably comprises lever blocking means, which are in a lever blocking position in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end and by means of which at least one pivoting movement of the holding levers with the holding means away from the center of the ski around the respective axis relative to the respective carriage is blocked in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end wherein the lever blocking means can be adjusted into a lever release position in which the pivoting movement of the holding levers with the holding means about the respective axis relative to the respective carriage away from the center of the ski is released. Thus, when the lever blocking means are in the lever release position, one or both of the holding levers with the respective holding means can be pivoted about the respective axis relative to the respective carriage away from the center of the ski, with which the corresponding one of the two holding means not only moves away from its holding position, but is also pivoted out of a path of movement of the ski boot leading away from the automatic front device in order to optimally release the ski boot from the automatic front device in the event of a fall.

If the front automatic device enables such a safety release, the lever blocking means can preferably be adjusted from the lever blocking position to the lever release position by a load that exceeds a predetermined limit value and acts on at least one of the two holding means. The automatic front end therefore preferably comprises a prestressed elastic element, the prestressing of which prestresses the two holding means in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end with a holding force towards their holding position. By through this elastic element, the two holding means are prestressed towards their holding position in the first holding configuration of the front machine, the two holding means can be pushed away from their holding position against the prestressing of the elastic element when the skier falls. Only when, in the event of such a fall, the load or force acting on at least one of the two holding means is sufficiently great are the two holding means pushed apart from their holding position against the prestressing of the elastic element. As a result, the two holding means are pushed apart by moving the first holding lever with the first carriage and the second holding lever with the second carriage. If the load exceeds the predetermined limit value, the two holding means are pushed apart by a certain distance by moving the two holding levers and the first carriage and the second carriage. The two holding means, the two holding levers and the first carriage and the second carriage thus exceed a position in which the lever blocking means are moved into the lever release position, as a result of which the two holding levers are released and can be pivoted away with the respective holding means about the respective axis.

As a result of the pivoting away of one or the two holding means with the respective holding lever, which is made possible in this way, the front automatic device can be adjusted into a release configuration. This trigger configuration differs from the first hold configuration and the entry configuration of the front machine. In this case, the automatic front-end machine has the trigger configuration mentioned, as well as the first holding configuration and the entry configuration. By pivoting away one or the two holding means with the respective holding lever, the automatic front end can also be adjusted into a configuration that is identical to the entry-level configuration. In this case, the front machine does not have a trigger configuration, but rather the first holding configuration and the entry configuration. Irrespective of whether the front-end machine has a release configuration as explained or not, the front-end machine can also have other configurations such as a second hold configuration in addition to the entry configuration, the first holding configuration and any release configuration.

In order to enable a safety release as described above, it is irrelevant whether the first axis and the second axis are aligned vertically, in the longitudinal direction of the ski or in some other orientation. However, it is particularly advantageous if the first axis and the second axis are each aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski, because this enables a compact design of the automatic front end.

Irrespective of whether the automatic front mechanism enables a safety release as described above or not, the two holding levers in the first holding configuration of the automatic front mechanism can be arranged essentially vertically and pointing upwards, or can also be aligned in another direction, such as in the longitudinal direction of the ski. If the first axis and the second axis are aligned vertically, the two holding levers are preferably aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end. If, on the other hand, the first axis and the second axis are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski, then the two holding levers in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end are preferably arranged in an essentially vertically aligned manner and aligned pointing upwards.

The automatic front end preferably comprises a slider which is in operative connection with the first carriage and the second carriage and which can be moved by moving the first carriage and/or the second carriage when the two holding means are moved away from their holding position by the first Holding means is moved with the first carriage or the second holding means with the second carriage. The slide is thus operatively connected to the first carriage and the second carriage in such a way that when the two holding means are moved away from their holding position, the slide is moved by the first holding means being connected to the first carriage and/or the second holding means being connected to the second slide is moved. It is irrelevant for the movement of the slide whether only the first holding means is moved with the first carriage, whether only the second holding means is moved with the second carriage, or whether both the first holding means with the first carriage and the second holding means with the second slide is moved. Preferably, the movement of the slide is a shifting.

The slide has the advantage that the adjustment of the two holding means away from their holding position can be controlled in a simple manner. For example, the slide can be pretensioned by an elastic element, as a result of which the two holding means are pretensioned towards their holding position or can be moved away from their holding position only against the pretension of the elastic element.

The first carriage and the second carriage can preferably be displaced by a movement of the slide. This has the advantage that the two holding means can be designed to be adjustable between their holding position and their entry position in a simple manner and that the movement of the two holding means can thus be controlled by means of the slide. As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the first carriage and the second carriage cannot be displaced by a movement of the slide.

Preferably, the first carriage has a first form of guidance and the second carriage has a second form of guidance, the slide having a third form of guidance and a fourth form of guidance, the first form of guidance interacting with the third form of guidance and the second form of guidance interacting with the fourth form of guidance. This has the advantage that an optimal operative connection is achieved between the slider and the first carriage and the slider and the second carriage. In order to achieve this advantage, it is irrelevant whether the third form of management and the fourth form of management are separated from one another or merge seamlessly into one another.

As an alternative to this, there is also the possibility that the slider interacts with the first carriage via a first swivel joint and with the second carriage via a second swivel joint. The first and the second pivot joint can each be a lever element, for example, which is mounted pivotably about a first pivot axis on the slide and pivotable about a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis on the first or second carriage.

The slide is advantageously mounted so that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and the first carriage and the second carriage are mounted so that they can be displaced essentially horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. So that's the first sled and the second Carriages are preferably mounted such that they can be displaced in a direction with an inclination of at most 45°, particularly preferably at most 20°, very particularly preferably at most 10° and most preferably in a horizontally oriented plane. This has the advantage that the slider and the two carriages can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the slider is mounted so that it can be displaced in a different direction, for example in the transverse direction of the ski. In the same way, the first carriage and the second carriage can also be mounted so that they can be displaced essentially horizontally in a direction other than in the transverse direction of the ski.

Preferably, by moving the slide in a first direction in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the first carriage and the second carriage can be moved relative to one another and the first holding means and the second holding means can thereby be moved towards one another towards their holding position. The slide is therefore preferably operatively connected to the first carriage and the second carriage in such a way that a movement of the slide in the first direction in the longitudinal direction of the ski moves the first carriage and the second carriage relative to one another, and as a result the first holding means and the second holding means move towards one another , towards its holding position. This has the advantage that the two holding means can be moved into their holding position in a simple manner. As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the two holding means cannot be moved into their holding position by moving the slide, but in some other way.

If the first carriage has a first form of guidance, the second carriage has a second form of guidance, and the slide has a third form of guidance and a fourth form of guidance, with the first form of guidance cooperating with the third form of guidance and the second form of guidance cooperating with the fourth form of guidance, so stands the slide preferably being operatively connected to the first carriage through the interaction of the first guide shape with the third guide shape and operatively connected to the second carriage through the interaction of the second guide shape with the fourth guide shape. If the slider is shifted, the first guide shape is preferably shifted relative to the third guide shape and/or the second guide shape relative to the fourth guide shape.

Preferably, the slide is operatively connected to the first carriage and the second carriage in such a way that a movement of the first carriage and the second carriage relative to one another, during which the two holding means are moved apart from their holding position, causes the slide to move in one of the first directions opposite, second direction is moved. This has the advantage that the two carriages can be prestressed relative to one another and thus the two holding means towards one another towards their holding position by a force acting on the slide, which can be generated for example by a prestressed elastic element. This has the advantage that, for example, a previously explained safety trip can be made possible in a simple manner.

As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the slide is not operatively connected to the first carriage and the second carriage in such a way that a movement of the first carriage and the second carriage relative to one another causes the two holding means to move apart from their holding position be moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

As an alternative to the variants mentioned above, there is also the possibility that the automatic front end does not comprise a first carriage and a second carriage, with the first holding means being arranged on the first carriage and the second holding means being arranged on the second carriage, with the first carriage being movably mounted and the second carriage is slidably mounted, whereby the two holding means are slidably mounted relative to one another for adjusting from their entry position to their holding position and back along the adjustment path, in that the first holding means is slidably mounted by the first carriage and the second holding means is slidably mounted by the second carriage is stored.

Advantageously, the front-end machine has a prestressed elastic element, the prestressing of which tensions the two holding means in the first holding configuration of the front-end machine with a holding force towards their holding position. The elastic element is preferably a spring, particularly preferably a spiral spring. In variants to this, however, there is also the possibility that the front automatic device does not include an elastic element or that the elastic element is designed in a different way. For example, the elastic element can also be formed by a block made of an elastic material.

The elastic element is preferably aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In a preferred variant of this, the elastic element is arranged, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ski, in front of a straight line which is oriented in the transverse direction of the ski and which runs through the first holding means and through the second holding means. This has the advantage that the elastic element can be arranged in front of the ski boot that is possibly held in the automatic front unit. Since there is more free space there, a larger elastic element can be used, so that a greater holding force can be achieved with which the two holding means are pretensioned in the first holding configuration of the front-mounted machine towards their holding position. In a further preferred variant, the elastic element is arranged behind the straight line, which is oriented in the transverse direction of the ski and runs through the first holding means and through the second holding means, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This has the advantage that the automatic front can be designed to be optically more compact, since the elastic element can be arranged underneath the ski boot that is possibly held in the automatic front, so that the automatic front has less volume in front of the ski boot.

As an alternative to this, there is also the possibility that the elastic element is aligned differently.

The prestressing of the elastic element is preferably adjustable. This has the advantage that the strength of the holding force can be adjusted. As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the prestressing of the elastic element is predefined and therefore cannot be adjusted. Such an alternative has the advantage that the front machine can be constructed more simply.

The automatic front end preferably has an adjustable opening lever for adjusting the automatic front end from the first holding configuration to the entry configuration. This has the advantage that the operation of the front machine is made easier. Preferably, the automatic front end can be adjusted from the first holding configuration to the entry configuration by the adjustable opening lever. The is particularly preferred Front automatic adjustable by the adjustable opening lever from the first holding configuration to the entry configuration and back.

As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the front automatic device does not have such an opening lever.

Advantageously, the automatic front end comprises a blocking element that can be adjusted between a blocking position and a release position and has a second holding configuration in which the two holding means are in the holding position and in which the blocking element is in the blocking position, with the blocking element in the blocking position allowing the adjustment of the Front machines in the entry configuration and the possibly existing trigger configuration prevented. This has the advantage that when the front mechanism is used in a touring ski binding and is used in its second holding configuration in the ascent position of the touring ski binding, accidental detachment of the ski boot from the front mechanism can be prevented. The blocking element is preferably in the release position in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end. This has the advantage that when the automatic front end is used in a touring ski binding and is used in its first holding configuration in the downhill position of the touring ski binding, a safety release can be made possible in the event of the skier falling.

If the automatic front end has an adjustable opening lever, the automatic front end can preferably be adjusted from the second holding configuration to the entry configuration by the adjustable opening lever. In addition, the front automatic device can preferably be adjusted from the first holding configuration into the second holding configuration and back by means of the adjustable opening lever. This has the advantage that the operation of the front machine is made easier.

As an alternative to this, there is also the possibility that the front automatic device does not include such a blocking element and accordingly does not have such a second holding configuration.

Preferably, the front machine comprises a step spur for actuation by a ski boot to be used in the front machine, with actuation of the step spur

Front machine can be adjusted from its entry position to its first holding configuration or to its second holding configuration. This has the advantage that it makes it easier for the skier to get into the automatic front device, in that when the automatic front device is in the entry configuration, the ski boot can be correctly positioned relative to the two holding means for entry, after which the ski boot actuates the spur can be adjusted to adjust the front machine in the first holding configuration or in the second holding configuration and to keep the ski boot in the front machine.

As an alternative to this, however, there is also the possibility that the front automatic device does not include such a step spur.

The automatic front end preferably comprises a ski boot release actuating element, which has an activated position in which the ski boot release actuating element is in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end and in which the ski boot release actuating element can be actuated, in particular by pivoting the ski boot held in the automatic front end, about the two holding means at least temporarily to move away from their holding position and away from each other and thereby release a possibly held in the front machine ski boot. This has the advantage that the safety for the skier is increased because if the skier falls forward, the ski boot is released from the automatic front end.

If the automatic front end also comprises a blocking element that can be adjusted between a blocking position and a release position and has a second holding configuration in which the two holding means are in the holding position and in which the blocking element is in the blocking position, the blocking element in the blocking position allowing the adjustment of the Front machines prevented in the entry configuration and any existing trigger configuration, so the blocking element and the ski boot release actuating element can be formed together as one piece or as two separate pieces. When the blocking member and ski boot release actuator are formed together as one piece, the ski boot release actuator preferably has a deactivated position in which, when the front-end machine is in the second holding configuration, actuation of the ski boot release actuator to move the two Retaining means is blocked away from each other by the blocking element by the blocking element being in the blocking position. In this case, the ski boot release actuating element is particularly preferably mounted pivotably about a pivot axis and can be adjusted between its activated position and its deactivated position by a pivoting movement about the pivot axis. However, the ski boot release actuating element can also be mounted in a different way, for example in a displaceable manner, and can be adjusted between its activated position and its deactivated position.

Advantageously, in the first holding configuration of the automatic front device, when the ski boot release actuating element is in its activated position, the opening lever can be actuated by actuating the ski boot release actuating element, in particular by pivoting the ski boot held in the automatic front device, in order to move the automatic front device at least temporarily away from its first holding configuration and to move the two holding means at least temporarily away from their holding position and away from each other, thereby releasing a ski boot that may be held in the automatic front unit. This has the advantage that the front machine can be easily constructed.

A ski binding preferably comprises an automatic front end according to the invention.

A ski preferably includes such a ski binding with an automatic front end according to the invention.

Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention result from the following detailed description and the entirety of the patent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1a, b, c

je eine Schrägansicht eines erfindungsgemässen Frontautomaten, wobei der Frontautomat in einer Einstiegskonfiguration, in einer ersten Haltekonfiguration bzw. in einer zweiten Haltekonfiguration gezeigt ist,

Fig. 2

eine Explosionsdarstellung des Frontautomaten in einer Schrägansicht,

Fig. 3a, b, c

je eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines vertikal ausgerichteten und in Skilängsrichtung durch den Frontautomaten verlaufenden Querschnitts, wobei der Frontautomat in der Einstiegskonfiguration, in der ersten Haltekonfiguration bzw. in der zweiten Haltekonfiguration gezeigt ist,

Fig. 4a, b

je eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines vertikal ausgerichteten und in Skiquerrichtung durch den Frontautomaten verlaufenden Querschnitts, wobei der Frontautomat in der Einstiegskonfiguration bzw. in der ersten Haltekonfiguration gezeigt ist, und

Fig. 5a, b, c

je eine vereinfachte, schematische Querschnittsdarstellung eines vertikal ausgerichteten und in Skiquerrichtung durch einen weiteren erfindungs-gemässen Frontautomaten verlaufenden Querschnitts, wobei der Frontautomat in der ersten Haltekonfiguration, in der Einstiegskonfiguration bzw. in einer Auslösekonfiguration gezeigt ist.

The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

Figures 1a,b,c

an oblique view of a front-end machine according to the invention, the front-end machine being shown in an entry configuration, in a first holding configuration or in a second holding configuration,

2

an exploded view of the front machine in an oblique view,

Figures 3a,b,c

one cross-sectional representation of a vertically oriented cross section running through the automatic front end in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the automatic front end being shown in the step-in configuration, in the first holding configuration and in the second holding configuration,

Fig. 4a, b

a cross-sectional view of a vertically oriented cross section running through the automatic front end in the transverse direction of the ski, the automatic front end being shown in the step-in configuration and in the first holding configuration, and

Figures 5a,b,c

a simplified, schematic cross-sectional view of a vertically oriented cross-section running in the transverse direction of the ski through another inventive front-end machine, the front-end machine being shown in the first holding configuration, in the entry configuration or in a release configuration.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Ways to carry out the invention

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c each show an oblique view of a front-end machine 1 according to the invention. The front-end machine 1 is at the top left in the figures, while the back is at the bottom right in the figures. Furthermore, in the case of the front-end machine 1, the top and bottom in the figures are also at the top and bottom.

In Figure 1a the front machine 1 is shown in an entry-level configuration. In Figure 1b on the other hand, the front machine 1 is shown in a first holding configuration, while the front machine 1 is in FIG Figure 1c shown in a second holding configuration.

The front machine 1 comprises a housing 2, which can be fastened to a ski, not shown here, by means of screws in order to fasten the front machine 1 to the ski. Furthermore, the automatic front end 1 has a first holding lever 3.1 and a second holding lever 3.2, which are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the middle of the ski. These two holding levers 3.1, 3.2 are arranged in the entry configuration, in the first holding configuration, as well as in the second holding configuration of the front-end machine 1 in a substantially vertically aligned manner and are aligned pointing upwards. A first holding means 4.1 for holding a ski boot (not shown here) is arranged in an upper area of the first holding lever 3.1, while a second holding means 4.2 for holding the ski boot (not shown here) is arranged in an upper area of the second holding lever 3.2. Both holding means 4.1, 4.2 are each a truncated cone-shaped pin pointing towards the center of the ski, which for holding the ski boot can engage in depressions provided for this purpose and arranged laterally in the toe area of a ski boot.

The first retaining lever 3.1 is formed in one piece with a first carriage 5.1, the first carriage 5.1 being mounted in the housing 2 so that it can be displaced horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. Similarly, the second holding lever 3.2 is also designed in one piece with a second carriage 5.2, with the second carriage 5.2 also being mounted in the housing 2 so that it can be displaced horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. The two pieces are made of cast aluminum and are rigid. In this case, rigid means that the piece in question bends elastically by at most a limit value when an external force is applied, without the piece breaking. To determine this limit value, two points in the respective piece are assumed, the first point being in the carriage 5.1, 5.2 in the area of the carriage 5.1, 5.2, in which the carriage 5.1, 5.2 is slidably mounted in the housing 2, and the the second point in the holding lever 3.1, 3.2 is at the point where the holding means 4.1, 4.2 belonging to the holding lever 3.1, 3.2 are arranged. The distance between the two points is assumed to be the resting distance when no external force is acting on the piece. Further, one of the two points in space is fixed while the displacement distance of the position of the other point in space with no external force applied to the piece is determined with the position of that other point in space with external force applied to the piece. For each possible pair of points and each possible force in the respective piece, the displacement distance is 0.01% or less. In variants, this percentage is 0.1% or less, or 1% or less.

The front machine 1 further includes an opening lever 6 for adjusting the front machine 1 from the first holding configuration to the entry configuration and back, and for adjusting the front machine 1 from the first holding configuration to the second holding configuration and back. The opening lever 6 consists of a first lever element 7.1 and a second lever element 7.2. The first lever element 7.1 is mounted on the housing 2 so that it can pivot about a first pivot axis 8.1 and has its free end pointing forwards and upwards. The second lever element 7.2 is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis 8.2, which is located in the area of the free end of the first lever element 7.1. Furthermore, the automatic front end 1 comprises a step spur 9 for adjusting the automatic front end 1 from the entry configuration to the holding configuration, the step spur 9 also being pivotably mounted about the first pivot axis 8.1. The free end of the spur 9 extends backwards to below the two holding means 4.1, 4.2.

As already mentioned, the front machine 1 is in the Figure 1a shown in the entry configuration. The two slides 5.1, 5.2 are shifted away from each other in the transverse direction of the ski. Correspondingly, the two holding arms 3.1, 3.2 with the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 are also moved away from one another. The two holding means 4.1, 4.2 are thus at a second distance from one another. This is an entry position of the two holding means 4.1, 4.2. In this entry position, the ski boot is released from the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 and can be moved away from the holding means 4.1, 4.2 and thus also from the automatic front end 1. In the same way, in the entry configuration of the front machine 1, a ski boot can also be moved towards the front machine 1 and with its toe area between the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 in order to get into the front machine 1.

As in Figure 1a visible, in the entry-level configuration of the automatic front-end machine 1, the kick spur 9 is pivoted slightly upwards with its rearward-pointing free end. In addition, the opening lever 6 is pivoted downwards with its forward-pointing free end. The latter means that the first lever element 7.1 with its forward-pointing free end and thus with the second pivot axis 8.2 down to the ski is pivoted out, while the second lever element 7.1 is also pivoted with its forward-pointing free end down towards the ski.

To switch the front-end machine 1 from the entry configuration shown in Figure 7a to the Figure 1b To adjust the first holding configuration shown, the opening lever 6 can be pulled slightly upwards with its free end or the spur 9 can be pressed downwards with its free end pointing backwards. The latter particularly facilitates entry into the front-end machine 1, since in the front-end machine 1 in the entry configuration, a ski boot can be moved with its toe area between the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 until it is correctly positioned in relation to the holding means 4.1, 4.2, after which the ski boot moves slightly further can be moved down, whereby the spur 9 is pressed down and the front machine 1 is adjusted to its first holding configuration.

As in Figure 1b As can be seen, the free end of the opening lever 6 is pivoted slightly upwards in the first holding configuration of the front-end machine 1 . In addition, the spur 9 is pivoted downwards with its rearwardly pointing free end and has an upwardly facing surface which is aligned flush with the surrounding upwardly facing surface of the housing 2 . Furthermore, the two carriages 5.1, 5.2 are pushed towards one another, which means that the two holding levers 3.1, 3.2 with the holding means 4.1, 4.2 are also moved towards one another. The two holding means 4.1, 4.2 are located at a first distance from one another, which is smaller than the second distance. This is a holding position of the two holding means 4.1, 4.2. In this holding position, the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 can engage in recesses arranged laterally in the toe area of the ski boot and thereby hold the ski boot on the front automatic device 1 such that it can be pivoted about an axis aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski.

Due to the two carriages 5.1, 5.2, the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 are mounted so that they can be displaced relative to one another for adjustment from their entry position to their holding position and back along an adjustment path, with a region of the adjustment path adjoining the holding position of the two holding means being aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. In the present embodiment, this area of the Adjustment path over the entire adjustment path of the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 from the holding position to the entry position. In other embodiments, on the other hand, the area has a length of, for example, 30%, 55% or 80% of a length of the adjustment path.

To remove the front machine 1 from the in Figure 1b To adjust shown first holding configuration back to the entry configuration, the opening lever 6 can be pressed with its forward-pointing end down to the ski. This can be done manually or by pivoting the heel area of a ski boot held in the automatic front device 1 forwards and upwards so that the upper toe area of the ski boot is pivoted forwards and downwards and thereby presses the opening lever 6 downwards. In order to enable such an adjustment by the ski boot, the second lever element 7.2 of the opening lever 6 has a ski boot release actuating element 10 in its upper rear region. This ski boot release actuating element 10 is in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end 1 in an activated position in which it can be actuated by pivoting the ski boot held in the automatic front end 1 in order to move the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 at least temporarily away from their holding position and away from each other and thereby to release a ski boot that may be held in the automatic front unit 1 when the ski boot is pivoted with its heel area forward and thus the upper toe area of the ski boot is pivoted forward and downward.

As in Figure 1c As can be seen, in the second holding configuration of the automatic front end 1, the free end of the opening lever 6 is pivoted further upwards than in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end 1. The first lever element 7.1 is hardly noticeably pivoted further upwards than in the first holding configuration and the holding means 4.1, 4.2 are in their holding position as in the first holding configuration. However, the free end of the second lever element 7.2, which points forward, is pivoted significantly further upwards about the second pivot axis 8.2 than in the first holding configuration. As a result, on the one hand, the ski boot release actuating element 10 is pivoted out of the movement path of the ski boot held in the automatic front end 1 and thus into a deactivated position. On the other hand, this is a Blocking element 11, which is arranged on the second lever element 7.2 of the opening lever 6 in the rear lower area of the second lever element 7.2, is pivoted under the second pivot axis 8.2, where it is supported downwards. The blocking element 11 is thus in a blocking position in which it prevents the first lever element 7.1 of the opening lever 6 from being pivoted downwards and the automatic front-end machine 1 from being unintentionally adjusted into the entry configuration. In comparison, the blocking element 11 is pivoted in the first holding configuration of the automatic front end 1 about the second pivot axis 8.2 backwards and upwards into a release position.

figure 2 shows an oblique view of an exploded view of the front-end machine 1. In turn, the front-end machine 1 is at the top left in the figure, while the back is at the bottom right in the figure.

In the exploded view it can be seen that the automatic front end 1 also includes a slide 12 and an elastic element 13 in the form of a spiral spring. Both the slide 12 and the elastic element 13 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski and are arranged in the housing 2 in the assembled state of the front-mounted automatic device 1 . In this case, the elastic element 13 is arranged in front of a line which is aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski and runs through the two holding means 4.1, 4.2, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The elastic element 13 is supported against the housing 2 at the rear and against the slide 12 at the front. In the assembled state of the automatic front end 1, the elastic element 13 is prestressed and pushes the slide 12 forward. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the prestressing of the elastic element 13 is predetermined by the shape of the housing 2 and the slide 12 . In variants to this, however, the prestressing of the elastic element 13 can be adjusted. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a screw or a combination of a screw and a nut, as is known from the technical field of ski bindings.

The slider 12 extends below the elastic element 13 to the rear under the two carriages 5.1, 5.2. The slider 12 has a third guide form 14.3 below the first carriage 5.1 and a fourth guide form 14.4 below the second carriage 5.2. Both the third management form 14.3 and the fourth Guide form 14.4 are both formed by grooves running diagonally laterally forward from the middle of the ski. Furthermore, the first carriage 5.1 has a first guide shape 14.1 on its underside, while the second carriage 5.2 has a second guide shape 14.2 on its underside. The first form of guidance 14.1 is designed to complement the third form of guidance 14.3, while the second form of guidance 14.2 is designed to complement the fourth form of guidance 14.4. In the assembled state of the front-end machine 1, the first guide form 14.1 interacts with the third guide form 14.3, while the second guide form 14.2 interacts with the fourth guide form 14.4. The slide 12 is thus operatively connected to the first slide 5.1 through the interaction of the first guide form 14.1 with the third guide form 14.3 and through the interaction of the second guide form 14.2 with the fourth guide form 14.4 to the second carriage 5.2. Thus, when the slide 12 is displaced, the first guide shape 14.1 is displaced relative to the third guide shape 14.3 and the second guide shape 14.2 is displaced relative to the fourth guide shape 14.4. Therefore, by moving the slider 12 in a first direction in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the first carriage 5.1 and the second carriage 5.2 are moved relative to one another, whereby the first holding means 4.1 and the second holding means 4.2 are also moved towards one another, towards their holding position. However, the slide 12 is also operatively connected to the first carriage 5.1 and the second carriage 5.2 in such a way that a movement of the first carriage 5.1 and the second carriage 5.2 relative to one another causes the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 to move apart from their holding position are moved, the slider 12 is moved in a direction opposite to the first, second direction. At the same time, moving the slider 12 in the second direction, opposite the first direction, moves the first carriage 5.1 and the second carriage 5.2 relative to one another, as a result of which the first holding means 4.1 and the second holding means 4.2 are moved away from each other and away from their holding position.

the Figures 3a, 3b and 3c each show a cross-sectional view of a vertically oriented cross section running through the automatic front end 1 in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In Figure 3a the front machine 1 is shown in the entry-level configuration, while the front automatic is 1 in Figure 3b in the first holding configuration and in the Figure 3c shown in the second holding configuration.

In Figure 3a it can be seen that in the entry-level configuration of the automatic front end 1, the first lever element 7.1 of the opening lever 6 is pivoted at the front from top to bottom over the front area of the slider 12 and thus moves the slider 12 backwards against the pretension generated by the elastic element 13 depressed position. As a result, the two carriages 5.1, 5.2 are also held in a correspondingly moved apart position, whereby the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 are held in their entry position.

If the opening lever 6 is now pulled upwards, the slide 12 is released and moved forwards, whereby the front-end machine 1 is adjusted into its first holding configuration. For this purpose, the opening lever 6 can be pulled up by hand or the spur 9 can be pressed down with its rearward-pointing free end. In the latter case, an area of the spur 9, which is located in front of the first pivot axis 8.1, presses from below upwards against the first lever element 7.1 of the opening lever 6, as a result of which the opening lever 6 is pivoted upwards.

As already mentioned, by moving the opening lever 6 upwards, the slider 12 is moved forwards. This movement of the slider 12 is caused on the one hand by the prestressed elastic element 13, which pushes the slider 12 forward. On the other hand, this movement of the slider 12 is also brought about by coupling the opening lever 6 to the slider 12 . For this purpose, the first lever element 7.1, as in the exploded view of figure 2 As can be seen, in the area below the first pivot axis 8.1, there are two cams which engage in corresponding recesses in the slide 12 when the front-mounted machine 1 is in the assembled state. The movement of the slide 12 is thus coupled to a pivoting movement of the first lever element 7.1. If the opening lever 6 is pulled up manually when adjusting the automatic front end 1 from the entry configuration to the first holding configuration and the first lever element 7.1 is pivoted upwards about the first pivot axis 8.1, the slide 12 is pulled forward. But it will be the same also the first lever element 7.1 and thus the opening lever 6 is moved upwards by the slide 12 when the slide 12 is pushed forward due to the prestressing of the elastic element 13. Due to this cam connection, the slider 12 is also pushed backwards against the pretension of the elastic element 13 when the opening lever 6 and the first lever element 7.1 are pivoted downwards in order to adjust the front-end machine 1 from the first holding configuration to the entry configuration. The automatic front end 1 remains in the entry-level configuration because the first lever element 7.1 is pivoted at the front from top to bottom over the slide 12 pressed backwards and because of the shape of the front end of the slide 12, which is pressed against a corresponding shape on the first lever element 7.1 , is held in a detent position.

In the Figures 4a and 4b a cross-sectional view of a vertically oriented cross-section running in the transverse direction of the ski through the automatic front end 1 is shown. where is in Figure 4a the front machine 1 in the entry-level configuration and in Figure 4b shown in the first holding configuration. Thus, the two holding means 4.1, 4.2 in the Figure 4a shown in the entry position while in the Figure 4b are shown in the holding position.

In the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c a simplified, schematic cross-sectional representation of a vertically oriented cross-section running in the transverse direction of the ski through a further automatic front end 101 according to the invention is shown in each case. The in the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c Front machine 101 shown is essentially identical to that in FIGS Figures 1a to 4b shown front machine 1 constructed. In contrast to in the Figures 1a to 4b front machines 1 shown are, however, in the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c front machines 101 shown, the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 are designed as separate pieces from the carriages 105.1, 105.2. The first holding lever 103.1 is mounted on the first carriage 105.1 so that it can pivot about a first axis 115.1, while the second holding lever 103.2 is mounted on the second carriage 105.2 so that it can pivot about a second axis 115.2.

In the Figure 5a the front machine 101 is shown in the first holding configuration. The two holding means 104.1, 104.2 are in their holding position. In Figure 5a is It can be seen that a lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 is arranged on each of the holding levers 103.1, 103.2, which is supported on the housing 102 of the front-end machine 1. The lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 are thus in a lever blocking position in which they block a pivoting movement of the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 with their holding means 104.1, 104.2 away from the center of the ski about the respective axis 115.1, 115.2 relative to the respective slide 105.1, 105.2.

In the Figure 5b the front machine 101 is shown in the entry configuration and the two holding means 104.1, 104.2 are in their entry position. Here, too, the lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 are supported against the housing 102 and are in the lever blocking position, in which they permit a pivoting movement of the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 with their holding means 104.1, 104.2 away from the center of the ski about the respective axis 115.1, 115.2 relative to the respective Block slides 105.1, 105.2.

In Figure 5c the front automatic device 101 is shown in a release configuration in which the lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 are in a lever release position in which a pivoting movement of the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 about their axes 115.1, 115.2 is released and in which the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 with the holding means 104.1 104.2 are also pivoted away from the center of the ski about the axes 115.1, 115.2.

To move from the first holding configuration (see Figure 5a ) into the trigger configuration (see Figure 5b ) to be adjusted, a sufficiently strong load on the holding means 104.1, 104.2, by which the holding means 104.1, 104.2 are pressed apart, is sufficient. Such a load can occur, for example, when the skier falls. The two carriages 105.1, 105.2 are first moved away from the center of the ski against the prestressing of the elastic element. As soon as the carriages 105.1, 105.2 have been moved far enough, the lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 are released from the housing 102 of the automatic front end 101, whereby the lever blocking means 116.1, 116.2 are moved into their lever release position and the holding levers 103.1, 103.2 with their holding means 104.1, 104.2 are moved from the Ski center can be pivoted away, with which the front machine 101 is adjusted in its release configuration. This allows the ski boot to be released in a safety release. Accordingly, the allows in the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c Shown front machine 101 a safety release.

The invention is not limited to the two front machines 1, 101 described above. The invention is defined by the claims.

In summary, it can be stated that a front-mounted automatic device is created which has little weight, can be produced inexpensively and offers the skier increased safety.

Claims (14)

1. Automatic front unit (1, 101) for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a first holding means (4.1, 104.1) and a second holding means (4.2, 104.2) for holding a ski boot in the toe region of the ski boot, wherein each of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.2, 104.2) is a pin with a free end, wherein the two pins are arranged opposite one another on either side of the centre of the ski and with their free ends pointing towards the centre of the ski, wherein the automatic front unit has a first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) and a second holding lever (3.2, 103.2), wherein the two holding levers (3.1, 3.2, 103.1, 103.2) are arranged opposite one another on either side of the centre of the ski, wherein the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) is arranged on the first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) in an upper region of the first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) is arranged on the second holding lever (3.2, 103.2) in an upper region of the second holding lever (3.2, 103.2), wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101)

   a) has a first holding configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a holding position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a first distance from one another, wherein, in the holding position, the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) can cooperate with the ski boot such that the ski boot is held on the automatic front unit (1, 101) so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski, and

   b) has a step-in configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a step-in position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a second distance from one another, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein, in the step-in position of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), the ski boot is released from the two holding means,

   wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101) is adjustable from the step-in configuration into the first holding configuration and back again, characterized in that the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), in order to be adjusted from their step-in position into their holding position and back again, are mounted so as to be movable in translation relative to one another along an adjustment path, wherein a region of the adjustment path that adjoins the holding position of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) is oriented substantially horizontally.
2. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), in order to be adjusted from their step-in position into their holding position and back again, are mounted so as to be movable in translation relative to one another along the adjustment path by the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) being mounted so as to be movable in translation and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) being mounted so as to be movable in translation.
3. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and a second carriage (5.2, 105.2), wherein the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) is arranged on the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) is arranged on the second carriage (5.2, 105.2), wherein the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) is mounted so as to be movable in translation and the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) is mounted so as to be movable in translation, with the result that the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), in order to be adjusted from their step-in position into their holding position and back again, are mounted so as to be movable in translation relative to one another along the adjustment path by the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) being mounted so as to be movable in translation by the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) being mounted so as to be movable in translation by the second carriage (5.2, 105.2).
4. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a slide (12) which is operatively connected to the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and to the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) and which is movable by movement of the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and/or of the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) in translation when the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are adjusted away from their holding position, by the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) being moved in translation with the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and/or the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) being moved in translation with the second carriage (5.2, 105.2).
5. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) has a first guiding form (14.1), in that the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) has a second guiding form (14.2), and in that the slide (12) has a third guiding form (14.3) and a fourth guiding form (14.4), wherein the first guiding form (14.1) cooperates with the third guiding form (14.3) and the second guiding form (14.2) cooperates with the fourth guiding form (14.4).
6. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the slide (12) is mounted so as to be movable in translation in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and in that the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) are mounted so as to be movable in translation substantially horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski.
7. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, as a result of the slide (12) being moved in translation in a first direction in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the first carriage (5.1, 105.1) and the second carriage (5.2, 105.2) are movable relative to one another and as a result, the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) are movable towards one another, towards their holding position.
8. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) has a pretensioned elastic element (13), the pretension of which preloads the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) towards their holding position with a holding force in the first holding configuration of the automatic front unit (1, 101).
9. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the elastic element (13) is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
10. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) has an adjustable opening lever (6) for adjusting the automatic front unit (1, 101) from the first holding position into the step-in configuration.
11. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a blocking element (11) that is adjustable between a blocking position and a releasing position, and has a second holding configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in the holding position and in which the blocking element (11) is in the blocking position, wherein the blocking element (11), in the blocking position, prevents the adjustment of the automatic front unit (1, 101) into the step-in configuration.
12. Automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a ski-boot releasing actuation element (10) which has an activated position in which the ski-boot releasing actuation element (10) is in the first holding configuration of the automatic front unit (1, 101) and in which the ski-boot releasing actuation element (10) is actuable, in particular by pivoting the ski boot held in the automatic front unit (1, 101), in order to at least temporarily move the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) away from their holding position and away from one another and as a result to release a ski boot that may be held in the automatic front unit (1, 101).
13. Ski binding having an automatic front unit (1, 101) according to one of Claims 1 to 12.
14. Ski having a ski binding according to Claim 13.

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