EP3885010B1 - Heel unit for a ski touring binding with release mechanism and effortless adjustment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heel unit for a touring binding, comprising a base which is intended for mounting on a gliding board, coupling means which are designed to engage with a heel section of a gliding board shoe when the touring binding is in a downhill position in order to attach the gliding board shoe to the to hold the touring binding in place, a release mechanism by which the coupling means are held rotatably relative to the base, so that in the downhill position of the touring binding they can be released from engagement with the gliding board shoe when a force that exceeds a predetermined release force is applied, the release mechanism having a spring means which determines the predetermined triggering force, and an adjustment mechanism, by means of which the touring binding can be rotationally adjusted between the downhill position and a walking position, in which the coupling means are arranged in a position remote from the gliding board shoe, so that they do not engage with the gliding board shoe.

Heel units of this type are known in particular as part of touring ski bindings, in which a touring ski boot is held on a front unit of the binding so that it can pivot about an axis of rotation running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board. In the heel area of the touring ski binding, a heel unit of the type mentioned is arranged, which releases the touring ski boot in a walking position so that it can lift off the boot while walking uphill, and holds it in the downhill position so that the touring ski boot is fixed to the ski.

In order to prevent injuries to the driver in the event of a fall during a downhill run, known touring bindings have a release mechanism which releases the gliding board shoe when a force acts between the gliding board shoe and touring binding that exceeds a predetermined release force, as is the case in particular in the event of a fall .

Release mechanism and adjustment mechanism known heel units, as in the EP 2 865 427 A1 described, are mostly realized in that a binding body carrying the coupling means is attached to the base so that it can move, in particular pivotable about a vertical axis of rotation, and is prestressed by a release spring in such a way that the coupling means are held in the position suitable for engagement with the gliding board shoe. The binding is then released by moving the binding body against the release spring. The heel unit is also adjusted between the downhill position and the walking position by moving the binding body.

To enable a sporty driving style and to avoid false triggering, there is a desire for a sufficiently large triggering force. However, this is accompanied by the problem that the force to be applied by the user to adjust the heel unit between the downhill position and the walking position also increases accordingly, so that the operation of the heel unit is made more difficult. Lever systems or force conversion arrangements can provide a remedy here, but these in turn are associated with increased design complexity or with an increase in the weight of the heel unit.

Against this background, the object of the present invention was to provide a heel unit of a touring binding that allows the use of high release forces and at the same time is easier to operate, in particular with less effort.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a heel unit of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the adjusting mechanism has an actuating arrangement which can be actuated manually by a user between a locking position, in which the adjusting mechanism is locked in the starting position or in the walking position, and a locking position, in which the adjusting mechanism is unlocked and is rotatable from the downhill position to the walking position or from the walking position to the downhill position substantially without actuating force or with an actuating force that is less than the predetermined release force.

An important aspect of the solution according to the invention lies in a decoupling of the triggering mechanism and the adjusting mechanism by providing a corresponding actuating arrangement, so that the adjusting mechanism can be actuated largely independently of the triggering mechanism when the actuating arrangement is in the unlocked position. In this way, a force required to adjust the adjustment mechanism can also be provided largely independently of a triggering force of the triggering mechanism. According to the invention, the force required to adjust the adjustment mechanism can then be set such that it is less than the predetermined triggering force or even essentially zero (ie only has the magnitude of unavoidable frictional forces of a movable mechanism). The force required to actuate the actuating arrangement from the detent position to the detent position or from the detent position to the detent position can also be constructed independently of the triggering force and is then also in particular smaller than the triggering force or essentially zero. As a result, a simple adjustment of the binding between the downhill position and the walking position can be provided even with a construction with a very high release force.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release mechanism can keep the coupling means rotatable relative to the base about a release axis of rotation running orthogonally to the plane of the gliding board. The release mechanism is then set up in particular for a side release (Mz release by rotating the gliding board shoe about a vertical Z axis). Accordingly, release mechanisms known per se with a binding body that can be rotated about a Z-axis running orthogonally to the plane of the gliding board can be used in order to construct a heel unit according to the invention.

Alternatively or additionally, the adjustment mechanism can keep the coupling means rotatable relative to the base about an adjustment axis of rotation running orthogonally to the plane of the gliding board between the downhill position and the walking position, so that to adjust the heel unit into the walking position, the coupling means can also be used by a binding body that is known per se and can be pivoted about the Z-axis can be moved. This results in handling of the heel unit that is familiar to the user as well as a functional principle for the adjustment of the heel unit that has been tried and tested per se.

If the release axis of rotation and the adjustment axis of rotation run in the Z-direction (orthogonal to the plane of the gliding board), then these two axes can be aligned coaxially with one another, resulting in structural simplifications. Alternatively, the release axis of rotation and the adjustment axis of rotation can run parallel to one another at a predetermined distance, so that the movement paths of the coupling means during the release process can be different from the movement paths of the coupling means during the adjustment process. This allows greater design freedom to adapt to the respective functions. If, for example, the adjustment axis of rotation is offset slightly to the rear relative to the release axis of rotation in the direction of travel of the gliding board, a binding body carrying the coupling means can be arranged eccentrically to the adjustment axis of rotation in such a way that the binding body is in a downhill position further forward in the direction of travel than in the walking position. In this way, a collision between the binding body and the gliding board shoe can be reliably avoided in the walking position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the heel unit advantageously comprises a first binding body, which can be moved relative to the base by means of the triggering mechanism for a triggering movement, so that in the downhill position of the touring binding it moves relative to the base when a force that exceeds the triggering force is applied and when the impact occurs a force falling below the triggering force is fixed relative to the base in relation to the triggering movement, a second binding body which carries the coupling means and can be moved relative to the first binding body by means of the adjustment mechanism. In this way, a separate, second binding body is provided for holding the coupling means, as a result of which the decoupling from the release mechanism can be implemented in a structurally simple manner. In addition, a mechanism known per se for My release can be arranged in the second binding body, which pretensions the coupling means in a plane running parallel to the plane of the gliding board with a My release force towards one another, so that even in the event of a frontal fall, the gliding board shoe can be released upwards is.

The first binding body is preferably movably mounted on the base and/or the second binding body is movably mounted on the first binding body, resulting in a structurally simple structure. In a variant of the invention with improved mechanical stability, the first binding body can be movably mounted on a first bearing on the base and the second binding body can be mounted on a second bearing on the base that is separate from the first bearing.

In one embodiment of the heel unit with two binding bodies can be provided in particular that in the locked position Actuating arrangement, a relative movement between the first binding body and the second binding body is blocked and in the locked position of the actuating arrangement, a relative movement between the first binding body and the second binding body is enabled essentially without an actuating force or with an actuating force that is smaller than the predetermined release force . Here, the advantages according to the invention can be achieved in a simple manner in that a relative movement between the first and second binding bodies is permitted or blocked by the actuating arrangement. Such a locking or detaching can take place by positive locking, for example by a projection of one of the elements of the first binding body, second binding body and actuating arrangement engaging in a matching recess of another element of the first binding body, second binding body and actuating arrangement.

The actuation arrangement can be set up to allow displacement between the first binding body and the second binding body in the locked position, preferably in a direction orthogonal to the release axis of rotation and/or to the adjustment axis of rotation, and to block the displacement in the locked position. In particular, this shift between the locked position and the locked position can take place, with the binding bodies being positioned in relation to one another in the locked position in such a way that the adjustment mechanism is blocked, while the binding bodies in the locked position are positioned in relation to one another in such a way that they can be moved relative to one another for adjusting the touring binding between the downhill position and can move walking position. If the adjustment movement is a rotary movement, the two binding bodies in the locking position can be shifted into such a position that they cannot be rotated relative to one another due to a form-fitting engagement with one another, while the two binding bodies can be freely rotated relative to one another in the locking position.

In the last-mentioned embodiment, the actuating arrangement can be pivotally attached to the heel unit, wherein a linkage mechanism can be provided which converts a pivoting movement of the actuating arrangement into a sliding movement between the first binding body and the second binding body. On the one hand, the pivoting movement allows for easy handling, while the joint mechanism enables a relatively high power transmission to shift the binding bodies relative to one another.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuating arrangement is pivotally attached to the heel unit by a dead center mechanism, so that in the locking position it is pretensioned towards the locking position and, during a movement towards the unlocking position, passes through a dead center in which the direction of the bias reversed. Due to the dead center mechanism, the actuating arrangement is held under pretension by a spring action of the dead center mechanism, particularly in the locking position, i.e. when the heel unit is used for walking or downhill skiing, so that the actuating arrangement is held in the locking position without play and cannot rattle, for example.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the actuating arrangement can be held on the heel unit so that it can be moved between the locking position and the unlocking position, preferably held so that it can be moved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board. In particular in combination with a binding body that can be rotated about an axis of rotation, a displaceable actuating arrangement can provide a particularly stable, form-fitting locking mechanism. In an alternative embodiment, the actuating arrangement can be held on the heel unit such that it can pivot between the locking position and the locking position, preferably about a pivot axis running parallel to the plane of the gliding board and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board be pivotable. A pivotable actuating arrangement can be particularly resistant to external mechanical influences such as ice, snow and dirt.

In preferred variants of the invention, the actuating arrangement can have a shoe contact section which, when the heel unit is in a downhill position, comes into contact with a heel section of the gliding board shoe held on the coupling means, with the actuating arrangement being set up in such a way that a contact point is directed towards the shoe contact section in a direction pointing away from the gliding board shoe acting force urges the actuating arrangement and/or the adjusting mechanism into the locking position or holds it in the locking position. In this way, a force input from the gliding board shoe via the coupling means into the second binding body always acts in the direction of locking the actuating arrangement or the adjustment mechanism during a valley descent, so that an unintentional adjustment of the heel unit can be reliably prevented.

For example, the above-mentioned displacement of the second binding body relative to the first binding body can preferably be set up in such a way that the second binding body moves backwards in the longitudinal direction of the gliding board, i.e. away from the gliding board shoe (in a direction opposite to the direction in which the coupling means protrude). Thus, during use of the heel unit, the gliding board shoe forces the second binding body into the locking position.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Ferseneinheit gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Abfahrtsstellung,

Figur 2

eine Längsschnittansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figur 4

eine Längsschnittansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer dearretierten Gehstellung,

Figur 5

eine Längsschnittansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Gehstellung,

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Gehstellung,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Gehstellung,

Figur 8

eine Schnittansicht in horizontaler Schnittebene der Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in der arretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figur 9

eine Schnittansicht in horizontaler Schnittebene für eine Ferseneinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in der dearretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figuren 10a-c

eine Ferseneinheit gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer arretierten Abfahrtsstellung, illustriert in einer Vorderansicht, einer Seitenansicht beziehungsweise einer Längsschnittansicht,

Figuren 11a-c

die Ferseneinheit des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer arretierten Gehstellung, illustriert in einer Vorderansicht, einer Seitenansicht und einer Längsschnittansicht,

Figuren 12a und 12b

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer dearretierten Abfahrtsstellung, illustriert in einer Seitenansicht (Fig. 12a) bzw. einer vergrößerten Darstellung eines Abschnitts C aus Fig. 12a (Fig. 12b),

Figur 13a

eine Längsschnittansicht einer Ferseneinheit eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer arretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figur 13b

eine Längsschnittansicht der Ferseneinheit des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels in der arretierten Gehstellung,

Figur 13c

eine Ausschnittsdarstellung eines vorderen Abschnitts der Ferseneinheit des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer Seitenansicht, für eine dearretierte Abfahrtsstellung.

Figur 13d

eine Schnittansicht der Ferseneinheit des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer in Fig. 13e durch Pfeile markierten Schnittebene,

Figur 13e

eine Seitenansicht der Ferseneinheit des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels in der arretierten Abfahrtsstellung,

Figuren 14a-c

eine Ferseneinheit gemäß einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer arretierten Abfahrtsstellung, illustriert in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, einer Längsschnittansicht bzw. einer Schnittansicht in horizontaler Schnittebene, und

Figuren 15a-c

die Ferseneinheit des vierten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer dearretierten Abfahrtsstellung, illustriert in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, einer Längsschnittansicht bzw. einer Schnittansicht in horizontaler Schnittebene.

The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

figure 1

a side view of a heel unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a downhill position,

figure 2

a longitudinal sectional view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a locked downhill position,

figure 3

a perspective view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a locked downhill position,

figure 4

a longitudinal sectional view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a unlocked walking position,

figure 5

a longitudinal sectional view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a locked walking position,

figure 6

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

figure 7

a perspective view of the heel unit of the first embodiment in a locked walking position,

figure 8

a sectional view in the horizontal sectional plane of the heel unit of the first embodiment in the locked downhill position,

figure 9

a sectional view in a horizontal sectional plane for a heel unit of the first exemplary embodiment in the unlocked downhill position,

Figures 10a-c

a heel unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a locked downhill position, illustrated in a front view, a side view and a longitudinal sectional view, respectively,

Figures 11a-c

the heel unit of the second embodiment in a locked walking position, illustrated in a front view, a side view and a longitudinal sectional view,

Figures 12a and 12b

a side view of the heel unit of the second embodiment in a unlocked downhill position, illustrated in a side view ( 12a ) or an enlarged representation of a section C Fig. 12a (Fig. 12b ),

Figure 13a

a longitudinal sectional view of a heel unit of a third embodiment of the present invention in a locked downhill position,

Figure 13b

a longitudinal sectional view of the heel unit of the third embodiment in the locked walking position,

Figure 13c

a detail view of a front section of the heel unit of the third exemplary embodiment in a side view, for a unlocked downhill position.

Figure 13d

a sectional view of the heel unit of the third embodiment in an in Figure 13e cutting plane marked by arrows,

Figure 13e

a side view of the heel unit of the third embodiment in the locked downhill position,

Figures 14a-c

a heel unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a locked downhill position, illustrated in a perspective view, a longitudinal sectional view and a sectional view in the horizontal sectional plane, and

Figures 15a-c

the heel unit of the fourth exemplary embodiment in a unlocked downhill position, illustrated in a perspective view, a longitudinal sectional view and a sectional view in the horizontal sectional plane.

one inside Figures 1 to 9 The heel unit, shown generally at 10, of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a base 12 for fastening the heel unit 10 to a gliding board, not shown. A mounting structure of the base 12, such as mounting screws 14 and a lower abutment surface 16 of the base 12, define a gliding board plane E corresponding to a surface of the gliding board on which the heel unit 10 is to be mounted. The base 12 also defines a longitudinal direction or X-axis of the gliding board, which is oriented in the direction of travel of the gliding board, as well as a Y-axis running orthogonally to the X-axis and parallel to the plane E of the gliding board, and a Z-axis running orthogonally to the plane E of the gliding board.

The heel unit 10 comprises coupling means 18 for coupling to a touring ski boot 11 in order to hold the touring ski boot 11 in place when the heel unit 10 is in the downhill position. In a manner known per se, the coupling means 18 can be formed by two coupling pins 18l, 18r running essentially in the X-direction, which run in a plane parallel to the plane E of the gliding board and protrude forward from the heel unit 10 in the downhill position. The coupling pins 18l, 18r can be separate pins or form ends of a U-shaped bracket. In a manner known per se, the coupling pins 18l, 18r are preferably biased into their ready-to-engage position by a My release mechanism, so that they hold the heel portion of the touring ski boot 11 in place. When a predetermined release force is overcome, the coupling pins 18l, 18r can be moved away from one another in the Y direction, this movement taking place against the action of a My release spring. Examples of such a trigger mechanism are from EP 2 545 966 A2 or EP 0 199 098 A2 known, the contents of which should be fully included in this disclosure in relation to this triggering mechanism. Alternatively, the coupling pins 18l, 18r can be formed by the front ends of a U-shaped bracket element, which is held in place on the heel unit 10 in such a way that the two coupling pins 18l, 18r can be moved by elastic deformation of the U-shaped bracket element in order to To allow the heel unit 10 to be triggered.

The base 12 can be made in two parts, with a first base element 20, which for attachment to the gliding board has, for example, the attachment arrangement for attachment by means of screws 14 (corresponding bores in the first base element 20), and with a second base element 22, which is attached to the first base element 20 can be. The second base member 22 may be slidably supported on the first base member 20 in the X-direction to allow longitudinal positioning of the heel unit 10 for adjustment to a shoe size or/and to allow some mobility of the heel unit 10 relative to the gliding board along the X-axis in a predetermined dynamic range of motion. In the latter case, the heel unit 10 can be moved against the force of a pressure spring in the X direction and thus be pressed into contact with a touring ski boot 11, while the distance between the front unit and the heel unit 10 of the binding changes slightly when driving through uneven ground. In the illustrated embodiment, both a certain mobility against a pressure spring 24 and an adjustment of the position of the heel unit 10 for adaptation to a shoe size by adjusting an adjustment screw 26 are provided. The adjusting screw 26 can in particular be held rotatably but axially immovably on one of the two elements of the first base element 20 and the second base element 22 , while it is guided in threaded engagement on the second element of the first base element 20 and the second base element 22 .

The base 12, in particular the second base element 22, preferably has a first bearing section 28 on which a first counter-bearing section 30 of a first binding body 32 is mounted, so that the first binding body 32 rotates about a release axis of rotation A running in the Z direction relative to the base 12 can rotate. Rotational movement between the first binding body 32 and the base 12 may be controlled by an Mz-release mechanism known per se, which includes a cam body 34 slidably supported on the first binding body 32 and a cam surface 36 provided on the second base member 22 . A release spring 40 received in a socket 38 of the first binding body 32 then biases the cam body 34 into abutting contact against the cam surface 36 . The release spring 40 is preferably supported on the one hand on the cam body 34 and on the other hand on a spring stop 42 of the spring receptacle 38 opposite the first binding body 32 . The spring stop 42 is preferably displaceable in the direction of action of the release spring 40, for example, in threaded engagement with the first binding body 32, so that a bias of the release spring 40 to change the release force is adjustable.

If the first binding body 32 and thus also the spring receptacle 38, the release spring 40 and the cam body 34 are rotated relative to the base 12, the cam body 34 slides off the cam surface 36. By shaping the cam surface 36, in particular by flattening, it can be achieved that a rotary movement of the first binding body 32 from the in figure 2 shown downhill position out (in which the coupling means 18 essentially in the X-direction forward) is accompanied by a compression of the release spring 40 and therefore the overcoming of the release force defined by the release spring 40 requires.

The cam surface 36 may have a second flat associated with a second rotational position of the binding body 32 relative to the base 12, specifically one in Figures 4 to 6 shown walking position, so that the release spring 40 can stabilize the rotational movement of the first binding body 32 in the walking position.

The heel unit 10 also includes a second binding body 44 which is mounted on the first binding body 32 such that it can rotate about an adjustment axis of rotation V. For this purpose, the first binding body 32 can have a second bearing section 46, on which a second counter-bearing section 48 of the second binding body 44 is mounted. The adjustment axis of rotation V preferably runs at a distance parallel to the release axis of rotation A, but can alternatively also be arranged coaxially to A. The coupling means 18 and optionally a My release mechanism of the type described above are held on the second binding body 44 .

Furthermore, the second binding body 44 can carry a climbing aid arrangement 50 known per se, for example comprising a first climbing aid 52, which is mounted on the second binding body 44 so that it can pivot about a first pivot axis S1 running in the Y direction, in order to switch between an inactive position shown in the figures and to be pivoted into an active position (not shown) entering the range of motion of the touring ski boot 11 . In order to implement different heights of support for the touring ski boot 11, a second climbing aid 54 can also be provided, which can also be pivoted between the inactive position and the active position about a pivot axis S2. The pivot axis S2 can be identical to the pivot axis S1, but can also, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, be a second pivot axis S2 running parallel to S1 at a distance from S1. In particular, the second pivot axis S2 can be arranged on the first climbing aid 52 or can likewise be arranged on the second binding body 44 .

With reference to figures 2 , 8th and 9 the second bearing section 46 and the second counter-bearing section 48 for the rotatable mounting of the second binding body 44 on the first binding body 32 are explained in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the second bearing section 46 provided on the first binding body 32 comprises a first projection 56, in particular an outer annular projection, which protrudes in the radial direction with respect to the adjustment axis of rotation V and in this way forms an undercut 58 between itself and the first binding body 32. A second projection 60 of the second abutment section 48 of the second binding body 44 engages behind this undercut, preferably also formed by an annular projection, so that the second binding body 44 is held axially immovably on the first binding body 32, but fundamentally moves around the first binding body 32 in relation to the Adjustable axis of rotation V can rotate.

Furthermore, the first binding body 32 can have a third projection 62, here formed by a pin running parallel to the plane of the gliding board, which engages behind a fourth projection 64 of the second binding body 44, so that a second bearing is formed, which, however, moves around the second binding body 44 in an axially immovable manner holds the adjustment axis of rotation V rotatably on the first binding body 32 .

The first and second protrusions 56, 60 may each be formed as partial rings or partial ring protrusions so that they only interlock when the heel unit 10 is placed in the downhill position and/or the walking position or a rotational position adjacent to the respective positions. In the rotation angle range between the downhill position and the walking position, the first projection 56 and the second projection 60 can then disengage, so that the second binding body 44 is only held together by the third projection 62 and the fourth projection 64 . In this way, a force for twisting the second binding body 44 relative to the first binding body 32 can be further reduced over a large part of the angle of rotation, while at the same time, due to the bearing between the first and second projections 56, 60, which is arranged relatively far outward in the radial direction, in a range of angles of rotation close to the Downhill position and / or close to the walking position a stable and precise relative positioning between the binding bodies 32, 44 is ensured.

However, a relative rotation between the first binding body 32 and the second binding body 44 is only possible in one in figure 9 shown locking position possible while in an in figure 8 locking position shown is blocked. The second binding body 44 is preferably displaceable in the X-direction relative to the first binding body 32 between the locked position and the locked position. To realize the locking position, a first latching contour 66 is provided on the second projection 60 in the embodiment shown (a toothing, a projection or a recess), while on the first annular projection 56 of the second Bearing section 46 has a complementary second latching contour 68 (toothing, projection or recess matching the first latching contour 66). The elements of the second bearing section 46 and the second counter-bearing section 48, in particular the projections 56, 60, 62, 64, are designed in such a way that they allow a displacement between the second binding body 44 and the first binding body 32 in the X-direction to such an extent that the Projections 56, 60, 62 and 64 remain in positive contact with one another in the axial direction, but the latching contours 66, 68 can be engaged with one another or disengaged.

With reference to Figures 6 to 9 an actuation arrangement 70 is described which is set up to control the above-described movement of the second binding body 44 relative to the first binding body 32 in the X-direction between the locked position and the unlocked position. In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating arrangement 70 comprises in particular a first lever 72 and a second lever 74 which are connected to one another in an articulated manner at a lever axis H. The first lever 72 may be coupled to the second binding body 44 at a first coupling portion 76 spaced from the lever axis H. FIG. The second lever 74 may be coupled to the first binding body 32 at a second coupling portion 78 spaced from the lever axis H. As in particular in figure 6 As can be seen, the first coupling section 76, second coupling section 78 and lever axis H form a triangle, so that when an angle between the first lever 72 and the second lever 74 changes, the distance between the first coupling section 76 and the second coupling section 78 and thus a relative position between the second binding body 44 and the first binding body 32 is changed.

One of the two levers, in the exemplary embodiment the second lever 74, advantageously has an actuating section 80 which lengthens the lever arm and by which the first lever 72 and the second lever 74 can be moved. to move the actuator assembly 70 between the locked and unlocked positions. The actuation arrangement 70 is constructed in such a way that in an intermediate section of the movement path of the actuation section 80 between the locking position and de-arresting position, the actuation arrangement 70 passes through a dead center position in which the first coupling section 76, the second coupling section 78 and the lever axis H are essentially arranged on a common line are. In this dead center position, the relative displacement between the first binding body 32 and the second binding body 44 reaches a maximum, in particular a value of a maximum contact pressure between the first latching contour 66 and the second latching contour 68, as a result of which an elastic counterforce is generated, by which the actuating arrangement 70 moves on both sides of the dead center position in the direction of its respective locked or unlocked positions is biased.

A front edge in the downhill position (edge pointing towards the touring ski boot 11 in the X-direction) can form a shoe contact section 69, against which a heel section of the touring ski boot 11 can rest in the downhill position (see FIG 1 ). It can be seen that any force F acting on the heel unit from the touring ski boot 11 during the valley descent is oriented in the X direction opposite to the direction of travel and pushes the second binding body 44 backwards (in direction F). The second binding body 44 is therefore moved into the locked position (e.g figure 8 ) pushed or held in this.

in the in 6 shown arrested walking position as well as in the in 8 In the locked driving position shown, the first lever 72 pulls the second binding body 44 to the right in the drawings and thus the first latching contour 66 into latching engagement with the second latching contour 68, so that a rotational movement between the first and second binding bodies 32, 44 about the adjustment axis of rotation V is positively locked is blocked. That means, that the coupling means 18 can only be rotated to one of the two sides when the first and second binding bodies 32, 44 rotate together about the release axis of rotation A in relation to the base 12. This movement takes place against the force of the release spring 40 when the release force is overcome.

On the other hand, the actuating section 80 moves into the locked position accordingly 4 pivoted (pivoted upwards in the drawings), the actuating arrangement 70 allows the second binding body 44 to be displaced relative to the first binding body 32, so that the second binding body 44 can be displaced to the left in the drawings, until the second latching contour 68 is completely disengaged is withdrawn with the first locking contour 66 (see figure 9 ). In this position, the second binding body 44 can be rotated about the adjustment axis of rotation V relative to the first binding body 32 in order to move the coupling means 18 between the downhill position and the walking position. During this adjustment movement, the first binding body 32 remains non-rotatable relative to the base 12, so that the rotational movement of the second binding body 44 is counteracted only by the frictional forces between the second bearing section 46 of the first binding body 32 and the second counter-bearing section 48 of the second binding body 44. The actuation force for adjusting the second binding body 44 is therefore independent of the release force determined by the release spring 40 and can in particular be very small or, apart from unavoidable frictional forces, even be zero. This enables an essentially powerless and therefore very comfortable possibility of adjusting the heel unit between the downhill position and the walking position.

After the heel unit 10 has been adjusted, the actuating arrangement 70 is brought back into the locking position, so that when the heel unit 10 is used in the walking position or in the downhill position, the locked position is present. In the exemplary embodiment, an adjustment of the heel unit 10 between the downhill position and the walking position corresponds to a rotational movement of the second binding body 44 relative to the first binding body 32 by an angle of 180°. This means that the coupling means 18 point forward in the X direction in the downhill position, while in the walking position they point backward in the X direction.

With reference to Figures 10a to 12b a second embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below. Only the differences from the first exemplary embodiment will be discussed in more detail, and reference is also made to the description of the first exemplary embodiment. All features and functions of the first exemplary embodiment that are not described again here can also be transferred to the second exemplary embodiment in the same or in a corresponding manner.

A heel unit 110 of the second exemplary embodiment also comprises a first binding body 132, which is mounted on a base 112 so that it can rotate about a release axis of rotation A, and a second binding body 144, which is mounted on the first binding body 132 so that it can rotate about an adjustment axis of rotation V. Adjustment axis of rotation V and release axis of rotation A run in the Z-direction, wherein the adjustment axis of rotation V is preferably arranged at a distance behind the release axis of rotation A in relation to the X-direction.

In the second exemplary embodiment, an actuating arrangement for locking or unlocking the adjustment movement comprises a slide 170 which is mounted so as to be displaceable in particular in the X-direction between the locking position and the unlocking position. The slider 170 may have an operation portion 180 for a user. The slider 170 advantageously provides a positive coupling between a first locking section 182 of the first binding body 132, a second locking section 184 of the second binding body 144 and a third Locking portion 186 of the slider 170 ago. In the exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the third locking section 186 of the slide 170 forms a receptacle in which projections of the first locking section 182 and of the second locking section 184 are received when the slide 170 is in the locked position, while the projections are removed from the receptacle 186 of the slide in the non-locking position 170 have been withdrawn.

A front edge 169 of the slider 170 in the X-direction forms a shoe contact section and is positioned in the locking position in such a way that it abuts a rear side of a touring ski boot which is held on the coupling means 118 in the downhill position. Furthermore, the slider 170 is set up so that its detent position is in front of the detent position in the X-direction (driving direction). As a result, in the downhill position, the touring ski boot prevents the slider 170 from inadvertently moving into the locked position.

When comparing the figures 10b and 11b It is also noticeable that the parallel offset of the axes of rotation V and A allows the second binding body 144 to be mounted eccentrically relative to a housing of the second binding body 144, as a result of which in Figure 10b In the downhill position shown, the coupling means 118 and the housing of the second binding body 144 are arranged relatively far forward in the direction of travel (X-direction) and can therefore come into good contact with the touring ski boot, while the housing of the second binding body 144 is in the position shown in Figure 11b shown walking position is arranged relatively far back in the X-direction and thus at a sufficiently large distance from the touring ski boot in order to reliably avoid a collision between the second binding body 144 and the touring ski boot.

A third embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIG Figures 13a to 13e described. Also in the description of the third embodiment, only the differences compared to the first exemplary embodiment, while reference is made to the description of the first exemplary embodiment with regard to all other features. Features and functions not described again in the third exemplary embodiment can be transferred from the first exemplary embodiment to the third exemplary embodiment in the same or corresponding manner.

A heel unit 210 of the third exemplary embodiment comprises a first binding body 232 mounted rotatably on a base 212, a second binding body 244 held rotatably with respect to the first binding body 232, and coupling means 218 which are held on the second binding body 244. In the third exemplary embodiment, the second binding body 244 is mounted on the base 212 such that it can rotate about the adjustment axis of rotation V running in the Z direction. For this purpose, a first annular projection 223 of the base 212 can engage with a second annular projection 245 of the second binding body 244, so that the base 212 and the second binding body 244 are rotatable but axially fixed with respect to the adjustment rotation axis V.

The first binding body 232 is also rotatably mounted on the base 212, preferably about a release rotation axis A that runs coaxially to the adjustment rotation axis V. For this purpose, a radially outer first counter-bearing section 230 of the first binding body 232 is guided, e.g.

A release spring 240 can be accommodated in a spring receptacle 238 of the first binding body 232, in the exemplary embodiment in particular two parallel release springs 240, which are attached on the one hand to a spring stop 242 held on the first binding body 232 and on the other hand to a latching body which is held displaceably in relation to the first binding body 232 234 supports. The latching body 234 preferably has a latching projection 235, which is designed to a mating detent 229 on the base 212, particularly on the first bearing portion 228. When the first binding body 232 rotates about the release axis A, the latching body 234 is displaced out of the latching recess 229 against the force of the release spring 240, so that the rotation of the binding body 232 from the central downhill position is counteracted by a release force. The spring stop 242 can be adjusted in terms of its position relative to the first binding body 232 via an adjusting screw 243 in order to change the preload of the release spring 240 and thus the release force.

The second binding body 244 and the first binding body 232 can be coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner (locked position) or decoupled from one another (de-locked position) by operating an actuating section 280 . In the locked position, the second binding body 244 can be twisted independently of the first binding body 232, whereby for this twisting only possible frictional forces in the area of the bearing with the base section 212 (e.g. between the ring projections 223 and 245) have to be overcome, so that the necessary to adjust the The force required for the binding body and thus the coupling means 218 between the downhill position and the walking position is zero or essentially zero, but is in any case smaller than the release force required to twist the first binding body 232 relative to the base 212.

The actuation arrangement preferably comprises a first latching contour 266 arranged on the first binding body 232 and a second latching contour 268 held on the second binding body 244, which can be adjusted relative to one another by actuation of an actuating section 280 by a user such that they can be brought into latching engagement with one another in order to rotate between to block the binding bodies 232, 244, or can be released from the locking engagement to the relative rotation between the binding bodies 232, 244 release. The first latching contour 266 can be provided as a recess in the first binding body 232, while the second latching contour 268 can be designed as a matching projection. The second latching contour 268 can in particular be arranged on a lever 283 which is mounted on the second binding body 244 so that it can pivot about a pivot axis 281 and which also has the actuating section 280 . By actuating the actuating section 280 and the associated pivoting movement of the lever 283, the second latching contour 268 can then optionally be brought into engagement with the first latching contour 266 or be disengaged from it. In this way, the heel unit 210 can be adjusted between the locked position and the unlocked position.

The actuating section 280 can be positioned in such a way that it forms a shoe contact section 269 and is pushed into the locked position or held in the locked position by a heel section of a touring ski boot held on the coupling means in the downhill position, so that an unintentional displacement of the actuating arrangement into the locked position is prevented can.

In the third exemplary embodiment, too, the base 212 can, if desired, be made in two parts, with a first base section 220, which is to be attached to a gliding board using a suitable attachment arrangement, in particular attachment screws, and a second base section 222, which is attached to the first base section 220 rails running in the X-direction in order to provide an adjustment of the binding and/or an elastic pressure on the touring ski boot in the downhill position.

Referring to the Figures 14a to 15c a fourth embodiment of the invention will be explained below. Again, the description of the third embodiment will only refer to the differences compared to the first exemplary embodiment, while reference is made to the description of the first exemplary embodiment with regard to all other features. Features and functions not described again in the fourth exemplary embodiment can be transferred from the first exemplary embodiment to the fourth exemplary embodiment in the same or corresponding manner.

A heel unit 310 of the fourth exemplary embodiment comprises an axle body 332 rotatably mounted on a base 312 , a binding body 344 held rotatably with respect to the axle body 332 , and coupling means 318 which are held on the binding body 344 . In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the binding body 344 is mounted on the base 312 such that it can rotate about the adjustment axis of rotation V running in the Z direction. For this purpose, an annular projection 323 of the base 312 can in particular engage with an annular projection 345 of the binding body 344, so that the base 312 and binding body 344 are rotatably but axially fixed with respect to the adjustment rotation axis V.

The axle body 332 is also rotatably mounted on the base 312, preferably about a release rotation axis A running coaxially to the adjustment rotation axis V.

An Mz release mechanism works in a similar way to the first embodiment, with the difference that the rotary movement for the release does not take place between the base 312 and the binding body 344, but between the axle body 332 and the binding body 344. For this purpose, the axle body 332 can be locked in a rotationally fixed manner on the base 312 by means of an actuating arrangement 370, which will be discussed in more detail later. The Mz release mechanism includes a cam body 334 slidably supported on the binding body 344 and a cam surface 336 provided on the axle body 332. A release spring 340 received in a receptacle 338 of the binding body 344 biases the cam body 334 into abutting contact against the cam surface 336. The release spring 340 is preferably supported on the one hand on the cam body 334 and on the other hand on a spring stop 342 of the spring receptacle 338 opposite the binding body 344 . The spring stop 342 is preferably displaceable in the direction of action of the release spring 340, for example in threaded engagement with the binding body 344, so that a preload of the release spring 340 can be adjusted to change the release force.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the base 312 and the axle body 332 can be rotationally fixedly coupled to one another (locked position) or decoupled from one another (delocked position) by operating an operating section 370 . The locked position is in the Figures 14a-c shown while the dearretier position in the Figures 15a-c is shown. In the locked position, the binding body 344, which can be rotated relative to the axle body 332 but is pretensioned against the axle body 332 by the Mz release mechanism, can be rotated together with the axle body 332 relative to the base 312 due to this pretension, with this rotation only Any frictional forces in the area of the bearing between the axle body 332 and the base 312 (e.g. between the bearing sections 328 and 330) have to be overcome, so that the force required to adjust the binding body 344 and thus the coupling means 318 between the downhill position and the walking position is zero or essentially zero is zero, but is in any case smaller than the triggering force required to twist the binding body 344 relative to the axle body 332.

The actuating arrangement 370 in the fourth exemplary embodiment is provided in particular as a toggle lever mechanism and comprises a first lever 372 and a second lever 374 which are connected to one another in an articulated manner at a lever axis H4. Furthermore, in In the exemplary embodiment, the second lever 374 is articulated to the base 312 at its end remote from the joint H4, and the first lever 372 comprises an actuating section 380 at one end for manual adjustment of the actuating arrangement 370 and is at its end remote, pointing in the direction of the binding body 344, in particular articulated to an engagement portion for non-rotatable locking of the axle body 332. As in the figures 14c and 15c can be seen, the engagement section comprises in particular two latching projections 360a, 360b, which are connected in an articulated manner to the first lever 372, can be displaced in the longitudinal direction when the actuating arrangement 370 is adjusted between the locking position and the locking position and, in the locking position, engage in notches 360a formed in the axle body 332, 360b, 362a, 362b can engage to non-rotatably lock the axle body 332 in the locked position relative to the base 312. A plurality of latching notches 362a, 362b, 364a, 364b are preferably provided on the axle body 332, so that locking can take place at least in a driving position and another position, in particular a walking position in which the binding body 344 rotates relative to the base compared to the driving position is, preferably rotated by about 180 °.

The actuation arrangement 370 is constructed in such a way that in an intermediate section of the movement path between the locking position and the reverse locking position, the actuation arrangement 370 passes through a dead center position in which the first lever 372, the second lever 374 and the lever axis H4 are arranged essentially on a common line, see above that the actuating arrangement 370 is biased towards its respective locked and unlocked positions on both sides of the dead center position.

Claims (15)

1. Heel unit (10; 110; 210; 310) for a touring binding, comprising

   a. a base (12; 112; 212; 312) which is provided for mounting on a sliding board,

   b. coupling means (18; 118; 218; 318) which are designed to be in engagement with a heel portion of the sliding board boot (11) in a downhill position of the touring binding, in order to retain the sliding board boot on the touring binding,

   c. a release mechanism (34, 36; 234, 236; 334, 336) by means of which the coupling means are held so as to be rotatable relative to the base, such that they can be released from the engagement with the sliding board boot, in the downhill position of the touring binding, in the event of action of a force that exceeds a predetermined release force, the release mechanism comprising a spring means which determines the predetermined release force,

   d. an adjustment mechanism (70, 32, 44; 170, 132, 144; 280, 232, 244; 370, 332, 344), by means of which the touring binding can be rotatably adjusted between the downhill position and a walking position, in which the coupling means are arranged in a position remote from the sliding board boot, such that they do not come into engagement with the sliding board boot,

   characterized in that
   the adjustment mechanism comprises an actuation assembly (70; 170; 270; 370) which can be manually actuated by a user between a locking position in which the adjustment mechanism is locked in the downhill position or in the walking position, and an unlocking position in which the adjustment mechanism is unlocked and can be rotated from the downhill position into the walking position or from the walking position into the downhill position substantially without an actuation force or with an actuation force that is less than the predetermined release force.
2. Heel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the release mechanism holds the coupling means, relative to the base, in a rotatable manner, about a release axis of rotation (A) extending orthogonally to the sliding board plane.
3. Heel unit according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism holds the coupling means, relative to the base, in a manner rotatable between the downhill position and the walking position, about an adjustment axis of rotation (V) extending orthogonally to the sliding board plane.
4. Heel unit according to claim 2 and claim 3, characterized in that the release axis of rotation extends, at a spacing, in parallel with the adjustment axis of rotation or coaxially to the adjustment axis of rotation.
5. Heel unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

   e. a first binding member (32; 132; 232) which is movable relative to the base, by means of the release mechanism for a release movement, such that it moves relative to the base, in the downhill position of the touring binding, upon action of a force that exceeds the release force, and is retained on the base, with respect to the release movement, upon action of a force that does not exceed the release force,

   f. a second binding member (44; 144; 244) which carries the coupling means and is movable relative to the first binding member, by means of the adjustment mechanism.
6. Heel unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the first binding member is movably mounted on the base, and/or the second binding member is movably mounted on the first binding member.
7. Heel unit according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the first binding member is movably mounted on the base on a first bearing, and the second binding member is movably mounted on the base on a second bearing that is separate from the first bearing.
8. Heel unit according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, in the locking position of the actuation assembly, a relative movement between the first binding member and the second binding member is blocked, and, in the unlocking position of the actuation assembly, a relative movement between the first binding member and the second binding member is made possible substantially without an actuation force or with an actuation force that is smaller than the predetermined release force.
9. Heel unit according to any of claims 5-8, characterized in that the actuation assembly is designed to allow a displacement between the first binding member and the second binding member, in the unlocking position, preferably to allow a displacement in a direction extending orthogonally to the release axis of rotation and/or to the adjustment axis of rotation, and to block the displacement in the locking position.
10. Heel unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuation assembly is pivotably attached to the heel unit, and in that a hinge mechanism is provided which converts a pivot movement of the actuation assembly into a translational movement between the first binding member and the second binding member.
11. Heel unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation assembly is pivotably attached to the heel unit by means of a dead-center mechanism, such that it is preloaded towards the locking position, in the locking position, and passes through a dead center, in the case of a movement towards the unlocking position, in which dead center the direction of the preload reverses.
12. Heel unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation assembly is held on the heel unit so as to be displaceable between the locking position and the unlocking position, preferably held so as to be displaceable in a direction in parallel with the sliding board longitudinal axis.
13. Heel unit according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the actuation assembly is held on the heel unit so as to be pivotable between the locking position and the unlocking position, preferably held so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis extending in parallel with the sliding board plane and orthogonally to the sliding board longitudinal axis.
14. Heel unit according to claim 5 and optionally according to at least one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the actuation assembly blocks, preferably blocks in a form-fitting manner, a relative movement between the first binding member and the second binding member, in the locking position.
15. Heel unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation assembly comprises a boot contact portion which, in a downhill position of the heel unit, comes into resting contact with a heel portion of the sliding board boot held at the coupling means, the actuation assembly being designed such that a force acting on the boot contact portion in a direction directed away from the sliding board boot pushes the actuation assembly and/or the adjustment mechanism into the locking position or holds it in the locking position.

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