EP4151292A1 - Adjustable front jaw - Google Patents

Abstract

Toe piece of a ski binding, the toe piece (1) comprising: a housing (11), a first sole holder (2) which is connected to the housing (11) in a first pivot joint (21), a second sole holder (3) which is connected in connected to the housing (11) by a second swivel joint (31), a clamping device (7) which clamps the first sole holder (2) and the second sole holder (3) towards one another, the first sole holder (2) having an inner first side wall (22) and the second sole holder (3) have an inner second side wall (32) and the first inner side wall (22) and the second inner side wall (32) face each other with a clear horizontal distance (A1; A2), and a Adjusting device (6) for adjusting a horizontal distance (A1; A2) of the facing inner side walls (22; 32).

Description

The invention relates to a toe piece of a ski binding with a housing, a first sole holder which is connected to the housing in a first pivot joint, a second sole holder which is connected to the housing in a second pivot joint, and a tensioning device which connects the first sole holder and tightens the second sole holder towards each other. The first sole holder has an inner first side wall and the second sole holder has an inner second side wall. The first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall face each other with a clear horizontal spacing. The front jaw also includes an adjustment device for adjusting a horizontal distance between the inner side walls facing one another.

As the trend towards rental skis continues, it is in the interest of rental companies to provide ski bindings that are suitable for different types of ski boots. Ski bindings that are compatible with different types of ski boots are also in demand among users who are both off-road and love downhill runs, so-called freeriders. The common types of ski boots include the so-called "ski boots for piste skiing" according to DIN ISO 5355, the specifications of which are regulated for both adult ski boots (type A) and children's ski boots (type C). Furthermore, DIN ISO 9523 regulates "Touring ski boots for adults". The newly added DIN ISO 23223 standard specifies "Alpine ski boots with improved outsoles (known commercially as "GripWalk" soles). DIN ISO 23223 also distinguishes between adult (type A) and children's ski boots (type C). The manufacturers of ski bindings can ensure the greatest possible compatibility of their ski bindings with the standardized types of ski boots, different adjustment systems are known.This means, for example, that the toe piece of a ski binding is designed in such a way that by adjusting the height of a contact surface for an underside of the ski boot sole or by adjusting the height of the toe piece itself, you can choose between a ski boot for touring according to DIN ISO 9523 or a ski boot for downhill skiing according to DIN ISO 5355. Most toe pieces are in the position of the Contact plate for ski boots according to DIN ISO 5355 due to a special shape of the contact plate also compatibility with ski boots according to DIN ISO 23223..

The person skilled in the art is therefore always looking for solutions to adapt a binding to as many different types of ski boots as possible in order to be able to serve the rental market and the market for the less specialized user. In the prior art, there are numerous examples of toe pieces of ski bindings that propose a height-adjustable contact plate for the front end of a ski boot sole bottom, in order to be able to use ski boot soles of different thicknesses in one and the same binding. Such a toe is, for example, from the AT517430A1 known.

The DE 10 2012 217 867 B3 relates to a toe piece of a ski binding in which a holding device for the front end of a ski boot sole can be locked in a base plate in two positions, in a first position for a ski boot with an alpine sole and in a second position for a ski boot with a touring sole.

It is the object of the invention to provide a toe piece for a ski binding that can be easily adjusted to accommodate ski boots with different ski boot soles. The invention further relates to a ski binding with such a toe piece.

One aspect of the invention relates to a toe piece for a ski binding, such as an alpine binding, a touring binding or a freerider binding. The toe piece can be connected to the ski directly or via a base, or it can be arranged together with a rear piece on a plate or frame.

The toe includes a housing, a first sole holder connected to the housing at a first pivot, a second sole holder connected to the housing at a second pivot, and a Clamping device which clamps the first sole holder and the second sole holder towards one another.

The first sole holder has an inner first side wall and the second sole holder has an inner second side wall. The first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall face each other with a clear horizontal spacing.

The front jaw also includes an adjustment device for adjusting a horizontal distance between the inner side walls facing one another.

The first sole holder of the toe can comprise a sole holder housing and a sole holder element with the first inner side wall. The second sole holder of the toe can comprise a sole holder housing and a sole holder element with the second inner side wall.

The sole holding element of the first or second sole holder can be mounted in the sole holder housing of the respective sole holder. The sole holding element can preferably be moved in the sole holder housing or relative to the sole holder housing from a first position, in which the inner side walls facing one another or the outer top sides or surfaces of the inner side walls facing one another have a first clear horizontal spacing, into a second position, in which the facing inner side walls, or the facing outer tops or surfaces of the inner side walls have a second clear horizontal distance. The distance between a respective point on the first inner side wall and a point on the second inner side wall that is mirrored with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the front jaw is considered to be the distance. The distance between different pairs of points defined by the reflection can vary in size. The sole holding element is mounted in the sole holder housing in such a way that when the horizontal distance is adjusted of the side walls, the sole holder element performs a linear and/or rotational movement with respect to the sole holder housing.

The first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall preferably have a contoured surface. The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall can be curved in some areas, can include indentations, for example at the edge or at a corner, or can be shaped in some other way.

The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall are preferably mirror-identical with respect to a mirror plane with a mirror axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the toe piece.

The adjusting device can include a locking mechanism that fixes the first sole holder or the first inner side wall and the second sole holder or the second inner sole wall in a first locking position at the first distance and/or at least in a second locking position at the second distance.

The adjusting device can, for example, comprise at least one thread, a threaded element such as a nut, or a through hole which is formed or arranged in the sole holder housing and/or the sole holder element and into which a screw body can be screwed or a cotter pin can be inserted, to adjust and/or fix the clear horizontal distance between the first sole holder or the first inner side wall and the second sole holder or the second inner side wall.

The adjusting device can be a shaft, with a shaft head, which forms a first or upper end of the shaft facing away from a ski surface, and a shaft base, which forms a second or lower end of the shaft, facing the ski surface, and an eccentric section, which is located between the Shaft head and the shaft foot is arranged.

The shaft head and the shaft foot can be rotatably mounted in the first and second sole holder or in the corresponding sole holder housing. The eccentric section is arranged in a through opening which is formed in the sole holding element and which is formed essentially vertically in the sole holding element, that is to say orthogonally to the ski surface.

The adjusting device designed as a shaft can be adjusted or rotated from a rest position, in which the sole holding element is in the first position or 0° position, by essentially 180°, preferably by more than 180°, to move the sole holding element to the second position or 180° ° position to move. The adjustment device can act as a toggle lever or like a toggle lever, so that during an adjustment movement of the adjustment device or rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis by more than 180°, a locking effect of the adjustment device in the second position is achieved by overstretching.

In order to secure the adjusting device or to additionally secure it in the overextended position, the shaft can be secured, in particular by means of a force fit and/or form fit, at least in the second position. To secure the shaft head, for example, can include a latching element such as a latching lug or notch, which latches with a counter-latching element formed in or on the sole holder housing when the adjusting device or shaft is in the second position.

Particularly advantageously, the clear horizontal distance between the facing inner side walls can be changed from a first clear horizontal distance of 69±2 mm to a second clear horizontal distance of 62±2 mm by means of the adjusting device. The first distance of 69±2 mm corresponds to the value of DIN ISO 5355 from May 2020 or DIN ISO 23223 from July 2020 for the width of the front end of a ski boot sole for an adult ski boot (type A). A touring ski boot according to DIN ISO 9523 can also be accommodated in this configuration. The second distance of 62±2 mm corresponds to the value of DIN ISO 5355 from May 2020 or DIN ISO 23223 of July 2020 for the width of a front end of a ski boot sole for children's ski boots (type C).

This means that the toe piece described above can be used flexibly. The ski binding can, so to speak, "grow" with the user from children's ski boots to adult ski boots. This is not only particularly advantageous in the private sector, but also for rental skis, since a ski with such an adjustable toe piece can be lent to children in a first configuration and to adults in a second configuration, with the adjustment being quick, safe and easy by service personnel can be done in front of the customer.

According to the standard mentioned, ski boots for adults and children not only have different widths of the front end of the ski boot sole, but also different distances between the upper side of the front end of the ski boot sole and the contact area of the ski boot in the toe piece. DIN ISO 5333 and DIN ISO 23223 (Type A) for adults specify a vertical distance between the top of the front end of the ski boot sole and the contact surface for the ski boot of 19±1 mm, for children's shoes (DIN ISO 5355 and DIN ISO 23223 Type C) of 16.5±1.5 mm. For touring ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523, a greater vertical distance is required, deviating from the dimensions mentioned above, but this is not specified by the standard.

The toe piece can therefore also include a contact surface for the front end of a ski boot sole underside held in the toe piece. The footprint can be adjustable or adjustable in height in the vertical direction. The contact surface can be a contact plate, for example, which can be displaced relative to the toe block housing in and against the direction of skiing on a ramp. By displacing the contact plate, a distance between the upper side of the contact plate facing away from the upper side of the ski is changed in the vertical direction, ie increased or decreased. The contact plate can preferably have a first position for ski boots according to DIN ISO 5333 or DIN ISO 23223 Type A, in which the vertical distance between a bottom of the ski boot sole standing on the contact plate and a free top of the front end of the ski boot sole is 19±1 mm, and occupy a second position, for ski boots according to DIN ISO 5333 or DIN ISO 23223 type C, in which the vertical distance between a bottom side of the ski boot sole resting on the contact plate and a free top side of the front end of the ski boot sole is 16.5±1.5 mm. Furthermore, the contact plate can assume a third position for ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523, the position deviating from the two previously mentioned.

The sole holding element can be a molded body made of a plastic or a light metal such as aluminum. The shaped body can be machined from a block of material or produced in, for example, an injection molding process or a sintering process or by another rapid prototyping process, such as 3D printing.

The sole-retaining member may include a guide portion, the inner sidewall connected to the guide portion, and a wall portion protruding substantially orthogonally inwardly from the vertical upper end of the inner sidewall remote from the top of the ski. The guide section engages, for example, in the sole holder housing and is guided in engagement with the sole holder housing. In a ski boot held in the toe, the inner side wall bears laterally against a front end of a sole of the ski boot, and the orthogonally projecting wall section covers a region of the free top of the front end of the sole of the ski boot and/or rests on the free top.

A second aspect relates to a ski binding with a front jaw and a rear jaw as described above, and optionally a ski brake. The toe and heel can be connected to a ski directly or via a base, or the toe and heel can be connected to a frame or plate that can be connected to a ski.

A further aspect relates to a ski with a ski binding according to the second aspect. If the ski binding includes the frame or the plate, this can be connected to a ski at its front end facing the tip of the ski in a pivot joint with a pivot axis that points essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski, so that the frame or the plate can be connected, for example, in a Touring mode can be pivoted relative to the ski during ascent in this pivot axis. The rear end of the frame or plate may be releasably locked to the ski so that when the lock is released the frame/plate can lift off the ski surface (backcountry skiing, ascent) and when the lock is locked it is firmly attached to the ski surface (downhill, alpine skiing ).

For the sake of simplicity, ski boots according to DIN ISO 5355 Type A, ski boots according to DIN ISO 23223 Type A and touring ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523 are collectively referred to as "adult ski boots". Ski boots according to DIN ISO 5355 Type C and ski boots according to DIN ISO 23223 Type C as "children's ski boots".

It goes without saying that the term "children's ski boot" or "adult ski boot" is not only limited to ski boots of the aforementioned relevant standards, but also includes ski boots whose specifications are comparable to those of the relevant standards. These specifications are in particular the width of the front end of a ski boot sole and the vertical distance between the top of the front end of the ski boot sole and the contact surface for the ski boot.

Another aspect relates to a method for adjusting a toe piece with a first sole holder and a second sole holder from a first configuration in which the toe piece can accommodate an adult ski boot to a second configuration in which the toe piece can accommodate a child's ski boot. To set the second configuration, a sole holding element, which is movably mounted in a first sole holder housing, is removed from the first sole holder housing in direction with the aid of a tool a central longitudinal axis of the ski and with the aid of the tool a sole holding element movably mounted in the second sole holder housing is moved out in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the ski, and a contact plate for a front underside of the ski boot sole is adjusted in height for the second configuration. The same applies, mutatis mutandis, to adjusting the front piece from the second configuration to the first configuration.

Figur 1:

Vorderbacken von unten mit Erwachsenenskischuh

Figur 2:

Schnitt A-A durch Sohlenhalter des Vorderbackens der Figur 1

Figur 3:

Vorderbacken von unten mit Kinderskischuh

Figur 4:

perspektivische Ansicht des Vorderbackens der Figur 3

Figur 5:

Vorderbacken der Figur 3 von schräg unten

Figur 6:

Horizontalschnitt und Vertikalschnitt durch Sohlenhalter des Vorderbackens der Figur 3

Figur 7:

Vorderbacken mit erster alternativer Sicherung des Sohlenhalteelements im Sohlenhaltergehäuse in drei Skizzen

Figur 8:

Vorderbacken mit zweiter alternativer Sicherung des Sohlenhalteelements im Sohlenhaltergehäuse in drei Skizzen

Figur 9:

Sohlenhaltergehäuse in zwei Ansichten

Figur 10:

Sohlenhalteelement in zwei Ansichten

Figur 11:

Verstelleinrichtung in zwei Ansichten

Figur 12:

Skibindung mit Vorderbacken und Hinterbacken montiert auf einem Rahmen/ einer Platte

An exemplary embodiment of a toe piece as described above is explained in more detail below with the aid of figures. The figures show in detail:

Figure 1:

Toe piece from below with adult ski boot

Figure 2:

Section AA through the sole holder of the toe piece figure 1

Figure 3:

Toe piece from below with children's ski boot

Figure 4:

perspective view of the toe piece figure 3

Figure 5:

front cheeks of figure 3 from below

Figure 6:

Horizontal section and vertical section through the sole holder of the toe figure 3

Figure 7:

Toe piece with first alternative securing of the sole holder element in the sole holder housing in three sketches

Figure 8:

Toe piece with a second alternative securing of the sole holder element in the sole holder housing in three sketches

Figure 9:

Sole holder housing in two views

Figure 10:

Sole holding element in two views

Figure 11:

Adjustment device in two views

Figure 12:

Ski binding with toe piece and heel piece mounted on a frame/plate

The figure 1 shows a view from below of an adult ski boot 100 which is held in a toe piece 1 of a ski binding. The toe piece 1 has a housing 11 , a first sole holder 2 and a second sole holder 3 . The first sole holder 2 and the second sole holder 3 are clamped towards one another by a clamping device 7 in order to mount the ski boot 100, respectively to hold its front end. The tensioning device 7 is designed in the form of a spring.

The first sole holder 2 is connected to the housing 11 in a first swivel joint 21 . A pivot axis of the first pivot joint 21 runs essentially orthogonally to a surface of a ski (not shown) to which the front jaw 1 can be connected. The second sole holder 3 is connected to the housing 11 in a second swivel joint 31 . A pivot axis of the second pivot joint 31 runs essentially parallel to the pivot axis of the first pivot joint 21.

The first sole holder 2 comprises a first inner side wall 22 ( figure 2 ), which rests against an outside of the ski boot sole 101 of the ski boot 100 when the ski boot 100 is held in the toe piece 1. The second sole holder 3 comprises a second inner side wall 32 ( figure 4 ), which rests against an outside of the ski boot sole 101 of the ski boot 100 when the ski boot 100 is held in the toe piece 1. The first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 face each other with a first clear horizontal distance A1, the horizontal distance A1 preferably corresponding to a dimension of an international standard for adult ski boots (e.g. DIN ISO 5355 from May 2020: 69±2 mm). .

The first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 can be moved from a first position by means of an adjusting device 6 figure 1 points, to a second position (see figure 3 ) can be adjusted.

In the position shown, the toe piece 1 has a first configuration in which the sole holder 1 can receive an adult ski boot 100 .

The figure 2 shows a detailed view of the first sole holder 2, exactly a section along AA figure 1 by the first sole holder 2 in the area of the adjusting device 6. The sole holder 2 of the exemplary embodiment shown comprises a sole holder housing 25 and a sole holder element 26 with the first inner side wall 22.

Shown are the housing 11 of the front jaw 1, the sole holder housing 25, the sole holder element 26 with the first inner side wall 22 and the adjusting device 6 in the first position in which a rear side of the first inner side wall 22 rests against the sole holder housing 25

The sole holding element 26 engages with a guide section 27 ( figure 10 ) into an opening 29 ( figure 9 ) of the sole holder housing 25. The guide portion 27 is connected to the first inner side wall 22 or molded together with the first inner side wall 22 . That is, when the guide portion 27 is moved, the first inner side wall 22 moves in the same direction at the same speed. The sole holding element 26 is guided by the guide section 27 in such a way that it executes a linear movement and/or a rotational movement with respect to the sole holder housing 25 when changing between the two positions.

The adjusting device 6 is a shaft body with a shaft head 61 and a shaft foot 62 which are mounted in the sole holder housing 25 so that they can rotate about a common axis of rotation D. The shaft head 61 has an engagement for a tool, the shaft foot 62 is secured with a rivet in the sole holder housing 25 in the exemplary embodiment.

Between the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62, the adjusting device 6 forms an eccentric section 63 with an axis of rotation D1, which is offset horizontally to the common axis of rotation D of the shaft head 61 and shaft foot 62. The axes of rotation D and D1 run parallel to one another.

The figure 3 shows the sole holder 1 of figure 1 with a children's ski boot held in it 200. In contrast to the sole holder 1 of figure 1 the first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 are now spaced apart A2 to each other, which is smaller than the distance A1. The second horizontal distance A2 preferably corresponds to a dimension for the children's ski boot 200, in particular the dimension of an international standard for ski boots of type C (eg DIN ISO 5355 from May 2020: 62±2 mm). In the figure 3 the first inner side wall 22 is in contact with one side of a ski boot sole 201 of the children's ski boot 200, the second inner side wall 32 is in contact with an opposite side of the ski boot sole 201 of the children's ski boot 200, in order to protect the children's ski boot 200 on an alpine trip and/or when touring with a non connect the skis shown.

In the figure 4 the sole holder 1 is shown in a perspective view, with the reference numbers being identical to the reference numbers of FIG figure 1 and the figure 2 are.

figure 1 and figure 4 differ only in that the sole holding element 26 with the first inner side wall 22 relative to the sole holder housing 25 and the sole holding element 36 with the second inner side wall 32 relative to the sole holder housing 35 by means of the respective adjusting device 6 from the first position in which the facing one another inner side walls 22, 32 have the clear horizontal distance A1 from one another, into a second position in which the facing inner side walls 22, 32 have the clear distance A2 from one another.

Sole holding element 26 and sole holding element 36 have reinforcing ribs 40 on an upper side facing away from a ski surface (not shown), which in particular reinforce a wall section 28, 38 protruding orthogonally inward from the first or second inner side wall 22, 32. The reinforcing ribs 40 can also form guide elements which are guided in, for example, groove-shaped guides 23, 33 in the sole holder housing 26, 36.

To set the second position, the adjustment device 9 was rotated by at least 180° using a tool. The shaft head 61 includes an indicator in the form of an arrow whose tip in the figure 4 points to a brand covered by the sole holder housing 25 . The brand is a "C" for "Child", which indicates in the 180° position that the sole holder 1 has a configuration in which it can only hold children's ski boots 200. Opposite the brand "C" is a second brand "A", which stands for "adult", i.e. when the arrowhead is pointing to the "A" in the 0° position, it shows the user that the sole holder 1 in this configuration is only safe for adult ski boots 100 can be connected to a ski.

The shaft head 61 of the adjustment device 6 includes a nose 64 which, together with the counter-locking elements 24 ( figure 9 ) The adjusting device 6 can be set at least in one end position. The adjusting device 6 is preferably latched in the second position, so that the first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 are not moved from the second position into the first position during an alpine trip or during an ascent when high lateral forces occur.

The figure 5 FIG. 14 is an oblique view of the toe holder 1 of FIG figure 4 . The figure 4 shows more clearly the wall section 28 of the first inner side wall 22 and the wall section 38 of the second inner side wall 32. When the ski boot 100, 200 is held in the toe piece, the wall sections 28, 38 rest on a free surface of the ski boot sole 101, 201 facing away from the ski surface, to secure the ski boot 100, 200 in the toe piece 1.

The figure 6 shows two sectional views of sole holder 2.

The Figure 6.1 shows a horizontal section through the sole holder 2 with an opening 20 ( figure 9 ), which forms part of the pivot joint 21, in which the sole holder 2 is connected to the housing 11, the sole holder housing 25, the sole holding element 26 to the first inner side wall 22, and the adjusting device 6.

The sole holding element 26 has a slot 50 in the guide section 27 which extends essentially parallel to a central longitudinal axis L of the front jaw 1 .

The elongated hole 50 is a through opening in which only the eccentric section 63 of the adjusting device 6 is mounted. A width transverse to the length of the elongated hole 50 essentially corresponds to the diameter of the adjusting device 6 in the area of the eccentric section 63.

The Figure 6.2 shows a vertical section through the sole holder 2 with the sole holding element 26 in the second position. The adjusting device 6 is rotatably mounted with the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62 in a substantially vertical through-opening 60 which is directed transversely to the substantially horizontal opening 29 which accommodates the guide section 27 . In the exemplary embodiment, the through opening 60 has two round areas of different diameters, the two areas having the common axis of rotation D, which is offset horizontally to the axis of rotation D1 of the eccentric section 63 and runs parallel to the axis of rotation D1. The eccentric section 63 rests with its lower end facing a ski surface, which protrudes radially beyond the shaft foot 62 , on a stop surface 70 which is formed by the sole holder housing 25 . The sole holding element 26 forms a stop 71 for the end 66 of the shaft base 62 facing away from the ski surface.

In synopsis of figures 2 and 6.1 or. 6.2 it becomes clear that by turning the adjusting device 6 by essentially 180°, the sole holding element 26 necessarily moves out of the first position ( figure 2 ) to the second position ( Figure 6.2 ) is moved. In the first position and in the second position, the adjusting device 6 is captively secured in the sole holder housing 25 by the interaction of the stops 70, 71 with the lower end 65 of the eccentric section 63 and the upper end 66 of the shaft foot 62. If the diameter of the eccentric section 63 and the shaft base 62 are essentially the same, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, the adjustment device 6 can be inserted from above into the sole holder 2 through the slot 50 into the opening 60 when the arrow in the shaft head 61 is in the 90° or 270° position.

The figure 7 shows in three images a first alternative adjusting device 9 for connecting a sole holder element 26* to a sole holder housing 25* in the first position and in the second position. The toe piece 1 of figure 7 corresponds to the toe piece 1 of the figure 1 .

Figure 7.1 is an exploded view showing the individual parts of the adjusting device 9. The adjusting device 9 consists of a screw body 99 which is provided with at least one threaded section 92, 93 ( Figure 7.3 ) can be screwed into the sole holder body 25*, in particular into at least one counter-thread formed in the sole holder body 25*. The screw body 99 passes through a substantially vertically running through opening 91 in the sole holding element 26*. A diameter of the through-opening 91 essentially corresponds to the diameter in a lower free end 96 of the screw body 99, that is to say one that faces away from the screw head 95. In order to secure the sole holding element 25* in the first position and in the second position, the sole holding element 25* comprises of the exemplary embodiment, two adjacent, spaced through openings 91.

The thread 92, 93 can either be arranged subsequently at or near the screw head 95, or the thread 92, 93 is arranged near or at the free end 96 of the screw body 9. In principle, the screw head can also have the two threads 92, 93. The counter thread or threads 97, 98 ( Figure 7.2 ) are arranged or formed accordingly in the sole holder housing 25*.

The Figure 7.2 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for adult ski boots 100 with the sole holding element 26* in the first position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A1 from one another.

The Figure 7.3 Figure 1 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for children's ski boots 200 with the sole retaining element 26* in the second position, in which the two face each other facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A2 to each other.

The figure 8 shows a further alternative adjusting device 8 in three images in order to connect a sole holder element 26** to a sole holder housing 25** in the first position and in the second position. The toe piece 1 of figure 8 corresponds to the toe piece 1 of the figure 1 .

The Figure 8.1 shows the toe piece 1 and the sole holder 2 in its individual parts. The sole holder 2 comprises a sole holder housing 25**, a sole holding element 26**, a screw element 82 and a nut 85 into which the screw element 82 with a threaded section 88 can be screwed.

The sole holder housing 25** has an opening 83 which is open on one side and runs essentially horizontally, into which the sole holder element 26** or a guide section 27 of the sole holder element 26** can be inserted. The side opposite the open side of the opening 83 has a bore 87 with a diameter which essentially corresponds to the diameter of the threaded section 88 of the screw element 82 .

The sole holding element 26** comprises the inner side wall 22, the guide section 27 and a receptacle 86 formed in the guide section 27, in which the nut 82 can be arranged in a rotationally fixed and axially non-movable manner. To adjust the sole holding element 26 ** from the first position to the second position, the screw element 82 is screwed into the nut 85 with its threaded section 88 . By turning the screw element 82, the nut 85 and thus the sole holding element 26** is moved into the sole holder housing 25** or out of the sole holder housing 26**.

The Figure 8.2 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for adult ski boots 100 with the sole holding element 26** in the first position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A1 from one another.

The Figure 8.3 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for children's ski boots 200 with the sole holding element 26** in the second position, in which the two inner side walls 22, 32 facing one another have a clear horizontal distance A2 from one another.

With regard to the preceding figures, it should be noted that all features that were only described for one of the sole holders 2, 3 also apply to the sole holder 2, 3 that is not shown. This applies in particular to the features of the corresponding sole holder housings 25, 35; 25*, 35*; 25**, 35** and the features of the corresponding sole retaining elements 26, 36; 26*, 36*; 26**, 36**.

The figure 9 shows in two pictures only the sole holder housing 25 of the sole holder 2 of FIG Figures 1 to 6 . The sole holder housing 25 is preferably formed in one piece, for example from light metal such as aluminium, an aluminum alloy or magnesium, or a plastic with or without reinforcement. Suitable methods include die casting, rapid prototyping or machining with cutting tools.

The sole holder housing 25 partially has a skeleton-like structure, with struts that can optimally absorb the strength and direction of previously calculated forces.

How Figure 9.1 shows, the sole holder housing 25 comprises a first vertically running through-opening 20 for an axis, which connects the sole holder housing 25 in the pivot joint 21 pivotably to the housing 11 of the toe piece 1 . A second vertically running passage opening 60 supports the shaft head 61 and the shaft base 62 of the adjustment device 6 in a rotatable manner.

The Figure 9.2 shows that the sole holder housing 25 has a first through opening 12 running horizontally, which receives one end of the clamping device 7 . A second horizontally extending through opening 29 is formed in the sole holder housing 25 which accommodates the guide section 27 of the sole holder element 26 . The guides 23 for the reinforcing ribs 40 on the sole holding element 26 can also be seen.

The figure 10 shows only the sole holding element 26 in two images, which can be pushed into the through-opening 29 of the sole-holder housing 25, is guided in this through-opening 29 and can be moved into a first position and into a second position by the adjusting device 6. The sole holding element 26 comprises the guide section 27, the inner side wall 22 with the orthogonally inwardly projecting wall section 28. The wall section 28 has reinforcing ribs 40 on its upper side, which can be used as guides to guide the sole holding element 26 in the sole holder housing 25 when moving in of the through-opening 29 to lead.

The Figure 10.1 and the figure 10 . 2 show the sole holding element 26 in two views, one from above ( Figure 10.1 ) and looking at the inner side wall 22 ( Figure 10.2 ). The sole holding element 26 has the slot 50 in the guide section 27, which runs in the vertical direction and is aligned with the through opening 60 at least in one position of the sole holding element 26 in the through opening 29 of the sole holder housing 25, so that the adjustment device 6 can be positioned in the sole holder 2.

The figure 11 shows the adjusting device 6 of the toe piece 1 of FIG Figures 1 to 6 . The adjustment device 6 is a shaft body which can be rotated by means of a tool.

The shaft body has a first end that forms the shaft head 61 and a second end that forms the shaft bottom 62 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 63 have the common axis of rotation D. The shaft head 61 and/or the shaft foot 62 can be rotatably mounted in a receptacle formed in the sole holder housing 25 . In the shaft head 61 an engagement for a tool is formed. A locking lug 64 is formed on the shaft head 61 and, in order to secure the adjusting device 6 in at least one position, preferably an end position of the rotary movement, interacts with a locking element 24, 34 formed on the sole holder housing 25 in order to secure the adjusting device 6 in this position by means of shaping and/or or to determine adhesion.

Between the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62, the adjusting device comprises the eccentric section 63, which interacts with the shoe-retaining element 26 in order to set the distance A1 or distance A2 when the adjusting device 6 is rotated by essentially 180°. By rotating the adjustment device 6 into the second position by more than 180°, the toggle lever effect can also ensure that the adjustment device 6 is intrinsically secured in the second position.

The fact that the adjustment device 6 is secured, in particular in the second position, in which the inner side walls 22, 32 facing one another have the distance A2 for children's ski boots 200, results from the fact that in the configuration with the distance A1 for adult ski boots 100, the inner side walls 22, 32 are held by the front end of the ski boot sole 101 in the first end position, in which the rear sides of the facing inner side walls rest against the sole holder housing 25. An additional securing of the adjusting device 6 in the first position is therefore unnecessary.

The adjusting device 6 can be made of metal, for example steel, zinc or a light metal alloy such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Magnesium or a plastic with or without reinforcement are also possible. The adjusting device 6 is preferably formed in one piece. The adjusting device 6 can in particular be machined from a solid body in an automatic lathe or be manufactured in a rapid prototyping process. Other suitable methods include casting methods or machining with cutting tools.

The figure 12 12 shows a frame touring binding 300 with a frame 301, a toe piece 302 which is connected to the frame 301, and a rear piece 303 which is connected to the frame 301.

The frame 301 is connected at a front end in the skiing direction in a pivot joint 305 to a base 306 or directly to a ski. The frame binding 300 shown includes a safety lever 310 from a first position shown in FIG figure 12 shown can be moved to a second position. In the first position, the locking lever 310 connects the frame 301 to the ski such that the frame 301 is substantially unable to move relative to the ski. In the second position, the safety lever 310 releases the frame 301, so that the rear end of the frame 301 can be lifted off the ski and the front end can be pivoted in the pivot joint 305, for example for an ascent with the ski.

While the rear jaw 303 can be moved on the frame 301 in and against the direction of skiing in order to use the binding 300 for ski boots of different sizes, the front jaw 302 has a height-adjustable contact plate 311 for the front end of a ski boot sole bottom.

That in the figure 12 a frame binding 300 is shown does not imply that the Figures 1 to 11 described front jaw 1 is only suitable for this type of binding. The toe piece and the heel piece can also be connected to the ski directly or via a base, whereby it is advantageous for the change from adult ski boot 100 to child ski boot 200 if the heel piece is fixed in the base or on the ski in such a way that it is relative to the Toe piece can be adjusted in and against the direction of skiing.

Claims (12)

Toe piece of a ski binding, the toe piece (1) comprising: 1.1 a housing (11), 1.2 a first sole holder (2) which is connected to the housing (11) in a first pivot joint (21), 1.3 a second sole holder (3) which is connected to the housing (11) in a second swivel joint (31), 1.4 a clamping device (7) which clamps the first sole holder (2) and the second sole holder (3) towards one another, 1.5 wherein the first sole holder (2) has an inner first side wall (22) and the second sole holder (3) has an inner second side wall (32) and the first inner side wall (22) and the second inner side wall (32) each other with a space facing horizontal distance (A1; A2), 1.6 and an adjustment device (6) for adjusting a horizontal distance (A1; A2) of the facing inner side walls (22; 32). Front jaw according to claim 1, wherein the first sole holder (2) has a sole holder housing (25) and a sole holding element (26) with the first inner side wall (22) and the second sole holder (3) has a sole holder housing (32) and a sole holding element (36). the second inner sidewall (32). Front jaw according to the preceding claim, wherein the sole holding element (26; 36) is mounted in the sole holder housing (25; 35) and in the sole holder housing (25; 26) from a first position in which the mutually facing side walls (22; 32) have a first have a clear horizontal distance (A1), into a second position in which the mutually facing side walls (22; 32) have a second clear horizontal distance (A2), is movable. Front jaw according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting device (6) comprises at least one thread (8) or thread element (85) which is formed or arranged in the sole holder housing (25; 35) and/or the sole holder element (26; 36), and into which a screw body (99) can be screwed in order to define the clear horizontal distance (A1; A2). Front jaw according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting device (6) is a shaft with a shaft head (61) and a shaft foot (62) and an eccentric section (63), the eccentric section (63) between the shaft head (61) and the Shaft base (62) is arranged. Toe piece according to the preceding claim, wherein the shaft head (61) and the shaft foot (62) are rotatably mounted in the sole holder housing (25; 35) and the eccentric section (63) is arranged in a through-opening (60) in the sole holder element (26; 36). Toe piece according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the adjustment device (6) can be adjusted from a rest position, in which the sole holding element (26; 36) is in the first position, by essentially 180°, preferably by more than 180°, in order to to move the sole holding element (26; 36) into the second position, with the adjustment device (6) preferably forming a toggle lever which achieves a locking effect by overstretching during an adjustment movement of the adjustment device (6) by more than 180°. Front piece according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the clear horizontal distance (A1; A2) of the inner side walls (22; 32) facing one another increases from a first clear horizontal distance (A1) of 69±2 mm to a second clear horizontal distance (A2) of 62±2 mm, wherein the first distance (A1) corresponds to the specifications for adult ski boots (100) and the second distance (A2) corresponds to the specifications for children's ski boots (200) for the width of a front end of a ski boot sole. Toe piece according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the toe piece (1) further comprises a contact surface for the front end of a ski boot sole underside held in the toe piece (1), the contact surface being adjustable in the vertical direction. A toe piece according to any one of the eight preceding claims, wherein the sole retaining element (26; 36) comprises a guide portion (27; 37), the inner side wall (22; 32) connected to the guide portion (27; 37) and one from the vertical upper end of the inner side wall (22; 32) comprises a wall section (28; 38) protruding substantially orthogonally inwards, the guide section (27; 37) engaging in the sole holder housing (25; 35), and at a point in the toe piece (1) held ski boot the inner side wall (26; 36) abuts laterally against a front end of a sole of the ski boot and the orthogonally projecting wall portion (28; 38) covers a region of the top of the front end of the sole of the ski boot. Ski binding with a toe piece according to one of Claims 1 to 10 and a rear piece (303). Ski binding with a toe piece according to one of Claims 1 to 10, which is suitable for alpine skiing and touring, with a frame (301) arranged in the front region which can be pivoted upwards about a pivot joint (305) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, on which the Front jaws (302) and a rear jaw (303) for holding a ski boot (100, 200) are attached, which frame (301) can be fixed in its rear region via at least one locking element on a ski.

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