EP4452429A1

EP4452429A1 - Ski binding comprising mechanical connection means to a footweat and a lever with magnetic connection means to a wearable element placed on the calf; wearable element with magnet; ski with such a binding

Info

Publication number: EP4452429A1
Application number: EP22829598.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Konrad Baumgartner
Original assignee: Back To Future Srl
Current assignee: Back To Future Srl
Priority date: 2021-12-22
Filing date: 2022-12-02
Publication date: 2024-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2042-12-02
Also published as: WO2023119031A1; EP4452429B1; US20250050194A1; IT202100032273A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a ski binding (10) suited to be connected to a ski (1). The ski binding (10) comprises connection means (12) for connection to a footwear item (100) worn by a skier, and a lever (70) cooperating with the calf of the skier. The lever (70) transmits the movements of the skier's leg towards the ski (1). The ski binding (10) comprises magnetic connection means (80) suited to allow contact to take place between the lever (70) and at least one wearable element (100) suited to be worn on the leg of the skier.

Description

SKI BINDING COMPRISING MECHANICAL CONNECTION MEANS TO A FOOTWEAT AND A LEVER WITH MAGNETIC CONNECTION MEANS TO A WEARABLE ELEMENT PLACED ON THE

CALF; WEARABLE ELEMENT WITH MAGNET; SKI WITH SUCH A BINDING

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention concerns the field of alpine skiing, in particular the field of

5 ski binding devices, known as bindings, and of the related footwear item, known as ski boot. More specifically, the present invention concerns a ski binding of the type comprising a lever that rests on the skier’ s calf area. More particularly, said lever rests on a footwear item/boot that is worn by the skier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

The use of ski binding devices, hereinafter also referred to simply as bindings, which act as an interface device between the ski and the footwear item worn by the user/skier, is well known in the state of the art.

The binding devices of the known type typically define two constraint areas that are associated with the ski and suited to receive two corresponding binding areas

15 associated with the footwear item.

Said two constraint areas typically correspond to a front area defined in proximity to the toe of the shoe and a rear area defined in proximity to the heel of the shoe.

In known and widely used systems, the rear constraint area is conveniently

20 configured with coupling/release means that allow the skier to quickly couple and release the footwear item to/from the ski.

A first type of said known bindings typically comprises a first front part and a rear part equipped with coupling/release means suited to be fixed to the ski, and skiers connect the sole of the ski boot they are wearing to the binding. The ski

25 boot worn by the skier preferably has a rigid structure that allows the movements of the skier’s leg to be transmitted as inputs to the ski, especially during turning.

A second type of said known bindings comprises, in addition to the front and rear coupling parts for the sole of the footwear, a lever projecting upwards from the ski and pivoted at the level of the rear coupling part of the binding. In its upper part, the lever is conveniently shaped so that it cooperates with the skier's calf by resting on it. The bindings of this type allow, in particular, the use of footwear/boots that are not necessarily rigid, since the movements of the leg imposed by the skier are transmitted to the ski thanks to said lever, especially during turning.

35 In order to allow the lever to function properly during skiing, the lever is associated with elastic thrusting means, in particular spring systems, which provide the force that is necessary to keep the upper part of the lever in the position in which it rests on the skier's calf.

The patent document US4703946A describes a ski binding provided with such a lever.

However, the ski bindings provided with a lever according to the known technique have some drawbacks.

One drawback of the bindings of the known type lies in that it is not guaranteed that the lever will constantly rest on the skier's calf during skiing, unless the load of the spring system is increased, reducing the efficiency with which the skier can transmit movements from their leg to the ski.

Another drawback of the bindings of the known type is represented by the fact that the lever resting on the skier's calf, due to the force required to hold it in place, can lead to muscle fatigue, which results in slight pain and/or even in the rupture of capillaries, especially after prolonged use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and found in the systems according to the known technique.

In particular, the aims and objects of the present invention can be summed up as follows.

It is a first object of the invention to provide a ski binding solution that ensures better adhesion of the lever to the skier's calf under a variety of conditions of use compared to the systems of the known type.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski binding solution that makes it possible to reduce discomfort for the skier, particularly in the case of prolonged use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a ski binding solution that makes it possible to facilitate the connection of the boot to the ski.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski binding solution that makes it possible to facilitate the transport of the ski to which the binding is connected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is based on the general consideration according to which the drawbacks found in printing media according to the known art can be effectively overcome or at least minimized by means of a ski binding of the type comprising a lever that cooperates with the skier's calf, wherein the binding comprises magnetic connection means suited to allow contact to take place between the lever and at least one element suited to be worn on the skier's leg. According to a first aspect of the present invention, therefore, the same concerns a ski binding suited to be connected to a ski, said binding comprising connection means for connection to a footwear item worn by a skier and a lever cooperating with the calf of said skier, said lever being suited to transmit the movements of said skier's leg towards said ski, wherein said binding comprises magnetic connection means suited to allow contact to take place between said lever and at least one element suited to be worn on said leg of said skier.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic connection means comprise a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material associated with said lever and suited to cooperate with a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material associated with the wearable element.

Preferably, the connection means comprise front connection means for connection to a first front area of the footwear item and rear connection means for connection to the heel of the footwear item.

Preferably, the first and second connection means are connected to the ski by means of a supporting plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever is pivoted at the level of the rear connection means.

Preferably, the lever has an upper area provided with means for surrounding the skier's calf, preferably an arc- shaped portion designed to be placed around said calf.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic material or ferromagnetic material of the magnetic connection means is positioned at the level of the upper area of the lever.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ski binding comprises a reference element associated with the front connection means and suited to serve as a point of reference for the correct positioning of the footwear item with respect to said ski when the footwear item is connected to the ski binding.

Preferably, the binding comprises means for locking the lever in at least one first position in which it is not in contact with the wearable element and means for releasing the lever from the first position towards a position in which the lever is in contact with the wearable element.

In a preferred embodiment, the release means are activated when the footwear item is connected to the ski through said connection means. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ski binding comprises anti-slip means for skiing, said anti-slip means comprising an anti-slip element suited to be rotated with respect to the binding so that it can assume a neutral position, preferably a position substantially parallel to the ski, when the footwear item is connected to the ski, and a position in which it projects from the underside of the ski when the footwear item is disconnected from the ski.

Preferably, the release means are activated by the anti-slip means when the antislip element is rotated towards the neutral position.

In a preferred embodiment, the wearable element comprises said footwear item. According to another aspect of the present invention, the same concerns an element suited to be worn on the leg of a skier, said wearable element being suited to cooperate with a lever of a ski binding when said skier connects a footwear item they are wearing to said binding, said wearable element comprising magnetic connection means suited to allow contact to take place between said lever and said wearable element.

Preferably, the magnetic connection means of the wearable element comprise a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material suited to cooperate with a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material associated with the lever of said binding.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wearable element is one of the elements belonging to the group including: a ski boot, a high ski boot, a sock, a knee-high sock, ski pants, a strap, an elastic strap.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the same concerns an assembly comprising a ski and a ski binding connected to said ski, wherein said ski binding is made as described above.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly comprises also an element suited to be worn on a skier's leg, said wearable element being made as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention is described and explained here below by means of the description of a preferred embodiment represented in the attached drawings. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment represented in the drawings; on the contrary, all the variants of or modifications to the embodiment represented and described herein which are clear, obvious, and straightforward to understand for the expert in the art fall within the scope of the present invention. More specifically, in the drawings attached hereto:

- Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of an assembly comprising a ski, a ski binding and a ski boot according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a side plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 shows an exploded view of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows a sectional view of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 4;

- Figures 6 and 7 show two successive steps of the operation for connecting the ski boot to the ski binding according to the invention;

- Figure 8 shows a sectional view of a detail of Figure 6;

- Figure 9 shows a sectional view of a detail of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an assembly comprising a ski 1, a ski boot 100 and a ski binding 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the operating condition shown in Figure 1, the ski boot 100 worn by the skier is retained by the ski binding 10 for its normal use.

The ski binding 10, as is well known, serves the function of connecting a footwear item 100 worn by the skier to the ski 1.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated and described herein, the footwear item 100 comprises a boot 100, more preferably a boot 100 with a rigid sole 102 and an upper 104, or cuff, which is not necessarily rigid. The boot 100 according to said embodiment represents a so-called walking footwear item, that is, footwear that can be used for normal walking once disconnected from the ski, unlike, for example, the known rigid ski boots normally used by skiers. However, the footwear item worn by the skier can be of a type different from a walking boot and conveniently shaped for its connection to the ski binding according to the present invention.

The ski binding 10 is provided with connection means 12 for connection to the boot 100, preferably for connection to the sole 102 of the boot 100.

The connection means 12 preferably comprise front connection means 14 for connection to a first front area 102a of the sole 102 and rear connection means 16 for connection to a rear area 102b, or heel, of the sole 102b.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated and described herein, the front and rear connection means 14, 16 are preferably mounted on a main supporting plate 18 suited to be conveniently fixed to the ski 1, preferably by means of fixing screws. In preferred variant embodiments, not illustrated herein, the front and rear connection means can be fixed separately and directly to the ski, that is, without using any supporting plate.

The front connection means 14 preferably comprise a shaped small reference plate 20 protruding from an assembly base 22 so that they can be mounted on said main supporting plate 18 and a small wheel 24 fixed to the bottom of the sole 102 by means of a respective pin 26. The shaped small plate 20 comprises a profiled edge 28 and the small wheel 24 is provided with a peripheral groove 30 in which the profiled edge 28 of the small plate 20 can be conveniently engaged, in particular during the first step of connection of the boot 100 to the ski binding 10, as shown in Figure 6.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a reference element 32, or toepiece, is arranged at the level of the front connection means 14. The reference element 32 is preferably fixed directly to the ski 1 or, alternatively, to a suitable area of the main supporting plate 18.

The covering element 32 constitutes the point of reference for the correct positioning of the boot 100 during insertion in the ski binding, and ensures the correct coupling of the small wheel 24 with the plate 20, thus facilitating the operations required for coupling the boot 100 to the ski 1.

The reference element 32 is also preferably shaped to define a covering element that advantageously protects the front connection means 14 from dirt and/or snow, guaranteeing the functionality of the same especially during the coupling/release steps.

The reference element 32 is also preferably shaped to reduce the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the assembly.

The reference element 32 is preferably made of a technopolymer.

The rear connection means 16 preferably comprise a coupling/release system that interacts with the heel 102b of the boot 100.

The rear connection means 16 are essentially of a known type and therefore their construction details are not provided herein.

The rear connection means 16 preferably comprise a base body 34 and a terminal thrusting element 36 suited to protrude from said base body 34 and to fit into a corresponding seat 136 defined in a rear area of the heel 102b of the boot 100. The base body 34 is fixed to the main supporting plate 18 by means of a rear supporting element 35a and the corresponding covering element 35b.

The terminal thrusting element 36 preferably comprises a sphere 36 and the seat 136 of the boot 100 preferably has a hemispherical shape.

The base body 34 accommodates a sphere-holding element 38 and a spring 40 acting on the sphere-holding element 38 to push the sphere 36 to a position in which it protrudes from the base body 34. A cover 42 receives the sphere 36 so as to lock it to the sphere-holding element 38 and preferably comprises a projecting edge 43 suited to provide a stop edge and define the position of maximum projection of the sphere 36 with respect to the base body 34.

The boot 100 is advantageously held in the connected position, as shown in particular in Figures 2 and 4, by the thrusting force of the spring 40 and the interference of the sphere 36 inserted in the corresponding seat 136 provided in the boot 100.

The spring 40 is conveniently sized to allow the automatic release of the boot 100 in the event of abnormal movements that exert forces exceeding a predetermined safety value on the boot 100, for example following falls and as is generally known in relation to ski bindings.

Furthermore, the rear connection means 16 are preferably associated with manual release means, indicated as a whole by 50, which allow the sphere 36 to be manually released from the sole 102. The manual release means 50 determine the forced displacement of the sphere 36 towards the inside of the base body 34. The manual release means, of a known type per se and not described in detail, preferably comprise a tilting lever system 52 that, for example, can be activated manually or using the tip of a ski pole.

In an intermediate area between the front connection means 14 and the rear connection means 16, substantially corresponding to the tibial axis, an intermediate support area is preferably defined for the sole 102 of the boot 100, preferably comprising a cylindrical base 54 and a disc 56 fixed to said cylindrical base 54.

The support area created in this way constitutes the axis of rotation of the boot 100 in the lateral release condition and avoids any torsional overloading of the lower limb.

Anti-slip means 60 for the ski 10, commonly known also as ski stoppers, are preferably provided at the level of the rear connection means 16 and in an area under the heel 102b of the sole 102. The anti-slip means 60 comprise an anti-slip element 62 suited to be rotated with respect to the binding 10 so as to assume a neutral position, preferably a position substantially parallel to the ski 1, when the boot 100 is connected to the ski 10 (for example, as shown in Figure 2) and a position in which it projects from the underside of the ski 10 when the boot 100 is disconnected from the ski 10 (for example, as shown in Figure 6).

The anti-slip means 60 preferably comprise a plate 64 suited to receive the heel 102b of the boot 100 resting thereon, said plate 64 being connected to one end of the anti-slip element 62. Preferably, the latter is substantially U-shaped and can be rotated in a pivot area 66, visible in Figure 3, defined in a small plate 68 fixed to the main supporting plate 18. In a preferred variant embodiment, the small plate could be fixed directly to the ski.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the ski binding 10 comprises a lever 70 suited to cooperate with the skier's calf. In this type of binding, the lever 70 makes it possible to transmit the movements of the skier's leg towards the ski 1, in particular its lateral movements. Said movements are typically inputs given by the skier to the ski 1 during turning. The lever 70 serves said function of transferring force, especially when the skier is not wearing rigid boots but footwear with a flexible cuff, or even footwear without a cuff.

The lever 70 preferably comprises an upper area 72 provided with means 74 for surrounding the skier's calf. Said surrounding means 74 preferably comprise an arc- shaped portion 74 conveniently shaped to be placed around the calf.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, the surrounding means 74 are placed around the calf by means of the cuff 104 of the boot 100.

The lower part of the lever 70 is preferably hinged at the level of the rear connection means 16 of the binding 10. The lever 70 is provided with a rotation pin 76 extending along a rotation axis that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski 1 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the ski 1.

The rotation pin 76 is preferably received within the base body 34 of the rear connection means 16.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the binding 10 comprises magnetic connection means 80 suited to allow contact to take place between the lever 70 and an element 100 suited to be worn on the skier's leg.

According to the embodiment illustrated, said wearable element 100 coincides with the boot 100.

In preferred variant embodiments, which are not illustrated herein, the wearable element can consist of other elements, such as a boot, a sock, a knee-high sock, ski pants, a strap, an elastic strap, as better described below.

Preferably, the magnetic connection means 80 comprise a magnetic material 82 associated with the lever 70 and suited to cooperate with a ferromagnetic material 84 associated with the boot 100.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the magnetic material 82 comprises a magnet 82, more preferably a neodymium magnet.

In preferred variant embodiments, the number and/or type of magnet used can be different.

The magnet 82 is preferably positioned at the level of the upper area 72 of the lever 70, more preferably at the level of the arc-shaped portion 74 of the lever 70. The magnet is received in a seat 75 in the arc-shaped portion 74 and is preferably secured by suitable fixing means, for example by gluing or using screws.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the ferromagnetic material 84 associated with the boot 100 consists of a small plate 84 made of a ferromagnetic metallic material, preferably steel.

The small plate 84 is preferably buried in the material that forms the back of the cuff 104 of the boot 100.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, therefore, the lever 70 is advantageously held in the position in which it rests on the boot 100 by the magnetic attraction force between the magnetic material 82 associated with the lever 70, preferably a magnet, and the ferromagnetic material 84 associated with the boot 100, preferably a small steel plate.

In variant embodiments, however, the magnetic attraction force between the lever and the boot can be obtained with appropriate combinations of magnetic or ferromagnetic material on the one hand and magnetic or ferromagnetic material on the other.

For example, according to the invention, it is possible to use a magnetic material associated with the lever, as in the case illustrated and described above, and a magnetic material associated with the boot, instead of a ferromagnetic material as described above. In this case, preferably, the magnetic material associated with the boot may comprise one or more magnets directly associated with the boot. Or again, it is possible to use a ferromagnetic material associated with the lever, for example a small plate made of a ferromagnetic metallic material, and a magnetic material associated with the boot, for example one or more magnets.

It is evident that when using a magnet that interacts with another magnet to obtain a desired attraction force, it is necessary to make sure that said magnets are arranged with the N-S polarities correctly oriented to attract each other.

Advantageously, the solution described above makes it possible to ensure that the lever 70 is constantly resting on/connected to the boot 100 while maintaining the correct efficiency in transmitting the movements from the skier’s leg to the ski 10 in the various skiing situations, particularly during turning.

Furthermore, to advantage, the connection between the lever 70 and the boot 100 is ensured with no need to use thrusting means associated with the lever 70, and therefore the skier's calf muscles are not subjected to fatigue as is the case with the known systems.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the ski binding 10 according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to use a walking boot 100, as mentioned above.

In preferred variant embodiments, not illustrated herein, the ski binding according to the invention allows a skier to ski even without necessarily wearing a boot, as described above. According to the invention, in variant embodiments, in fact, instead of using the boot cuff to receive a magnetic or ferromagnetic material to generate the desired attraction force for the lever, it is possible to use any other element that can be worn by the skier such as, for example, a boot, a sock, a knee-high sock, ski pants, a strap, an elastic strap, to which said magnetic or ferromagnetic material can be conveniently connected.

According to an aspect of the present invention, therefore, the same concerns an element suited to be worn on the leg of a skier and comprising magnetic connection means suited to allow contact to take place between the lever of the ski binding and the wearable element itself. According to the above, said magnetic connection means comprise a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the same concerns a system that cooperates with the lever 70 and makes it easier for the skier to carry out the operations required when wearing the ski 1.

For this purpose, the ski binding 10 comprises locking means 90 suited to lock the lever 70 in at least one first position in which it is not in contact with the boot 100, as shown for example in the position of Figure 6, and release means 92 suited to release said lever 70 from the first position towards a position in which the lever 70 and the boot 100 are in contact with each other, that is, the position of normal use as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

Preferably, as described in greater detail below, the release means 92 are activated automatically exactly at the moment when the skier connects the footwear item 100 to the ski binding 10.

The locking means 90 preferably comprise a locking mechanism that interacts with the rotation pin 76 of the lever 70.

The locking mechanism preferably comprises a shaped bush 93 mounted so that it is integral with the rotation pin 76 of the lever 70 and a ratchet 94 cooperating with said shaped bush 93. The shaped bush 93 therefore rotates together with the rotation pin 76 of the lever 70.

The ratchet 94 is arranged at the level of the rear supporting element 35a and can tilt with respect to a support point 94a.

The ratchet 94 comprises a first end 96a suited to fit into a recessed seat 93a provided on the outer surface of the shaped bush 93 and a second end 96b on which a control portion 63 associated with the anti-slip element 62 of the antislip means 60 preferably acts. When the anti-slip element 62 rotates with respect to the ski binding 10, the control portion 63 also moves/rotates and acts on the second end 96b of the ratchet 94, as described in greater detail below.

The control portion 63 at least partially defines said release means 92 for the lever 70.

An elastic element 98, preferably a coil spring, acts on the ratchet 94 to exert a force intended to hold the first end 96a of the ratchet 94 within the recessed seat 93a in the shaped bush 93.

The shaped bush 93 is also associated with thrusting means 99 preferably comprising a thrusting element 99a and a thrust spring 99b. The thrusting element 99a rests on a contact portion 93b created on the outer surface of the shaped bush 93.

The thrusting means 99 tend to push the shaped bush 93, and thus the rotation pin 76 and in turn the lever 70, in a predefined direction of rotation (the clockwise rotation direction with reference to Figures 5, 8 and 9). Said direction of rotation corresponds to a rotation of the lever 70 towards the skier's leg or, in other words, towards the operating position of normal use of the lever 70 itself. The operation of said locking means 90 and release means 92 suited to lock and release the lever 70 is described below with reference to Figures from 6 to 9.

Figures 6 and 8 show an operating position before the boot 100 is connected to the ski 1. The anti-slip means 60 (ski stopper 60) are in their operating position with the anti-slip element 62 rotated downwards and with the control portion 63 interacting with the second end 96b of the ratchet 94 so as to maintain the locked position in which the first end 96a interacts with the outer surface of the bush 93 and holds it in position. Said position of the bush 93, as mentioned, determines the respective position of the lever 70, spaced from and not in contact with the boot 100. Advantageously, while connecting the boot 100 to the ski binding 10 (Figure 6), the skier is not obliged to hold the lever 70 in a position in which it does not constitute a hindrance, for example with the help of one hand. When the skier subsequently connects the boot 100 to the ski binding 10, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, the anti-slip element 62 is rotated by the thrust force of the sole 102 and the control portion 63 interacts with the second end 96b of the ratchet 94 which, as it rotates, moves to the released position in which the first end 96a protrudes from the seat 93a in the bush 93.

The lever 70 with the rotation pin 76 and the bush 93 are therefore free to rotate integrally with each other.

The coupling of the boot 100 thus automatically frees and releases the rotation pin 76 of the lever 70 from the locking action of the ratchet 94.

At the same time, the thrusting means 99 act with the thrusting element 99a which, subjected to the force of the thrust spring 99b, pushes on the contact portion 92b of the shaped bush 93 setting the rotation pin 76 rotating and thus the lever 70 in the operating position in which it rests on the boot 100.

Advantageously, therefore, the operations required for coupling the boot 100 are simplified for the skier and the lever 70 is automatically brought to the desired operating position. The thrust spring 99b of the thrusting means 99 is preferably sized in such a way as to exert the least possible rotational force on the lever 70 while at the same time also ensuring that the value of said force is sufficient to bring the lever 70 into contact with the boot 100. Minimum values of said thrust force prevent discomfort and/or injuries or pain to the skier's calf.

When, at the end of use, the boot 100 is disconnected from the ski 1, the lever 70 is further pushed clockwise under the action of the thrusting means 99 on the rotation pin 76 and the lever 70 advantageously moves towards a position parallel to the ski 1. Said position corresponds to an advantageous position in which it does not constitute a hindrance during transport or storage of the ski 1. Furthermore, in said position the lever 70 essentially acts as a "handle" and makes it easier to transport the ski 1. For any subsequent use, it will be sufficient to rotate the lever 70 to lift it to the locking position, that is, the position shown in Figure 6.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated and described above, the release means 92 for releasing the lever 70 are preferably operated by the antislip means 60 (ski stoppers).

In preferred variant embodiments, however, the release means can be made differently and separately from the anti-slip means, especially in ski bindings without anti-slip means.

It has thus been shown, by means of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided above, that the present invention makes it possible to achieve the desired results while at the same time minimizing the drawbacks found in the state of the art.

It should be noted, however, that although the present invention has been explained by means of the preceding detailed description of its embodiment represented in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and represented in the drawings. On the contrary, all those variants and modifications of the embodiment described and illustrated herein that are clear and obvious to the expert in the art fall within the scope of the present invention.

The scope of the present invention is thus defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Ski binding (10) suited to be connected to a ski (1), said binding (10) comprising connection means (12) for connection to a footwear item (100) worn by a skier and a lever (70) cooperating with the calf of said skier, said lever (70) being suited to transmit the movements of said leg of said skier towards said ski (1), said binding (10) being characterized in that it comprises magnetic connection means (80) suited to allow contact to take place between said lever (70) and at least one wearable element (100) suited to be worn on said leg of said skier.

2. Binding (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnetic connection means (80) comprise a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material (82) associated with said lever (70) and suited to cooperate with a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material (84) associated with said at least one wearable element (100).

3. Binding (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connection means (12) comprise front connection means (14) for connection to a first front area (102a) of said footwear item (100) and rear connection means (16) for connection to the heel (102b) of said footwear item (100).

4. Binding (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lever (70) is hinged at the level of said rear connection means (16).

5. Binding (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lever (70) comprises an upper area (72) provided with means (74) suited to surround said calf of said skier, preferably an arc- shaped portion (74) suited to be placed around said calf.

6. Binding (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said magnetic material or said ferromagnetic material (82) of said magnetic connection means (80) is positioned at the level of said upper area (72) of said lever (70).

7. Binding (10) according to any of the claims from 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a reference element (32) associated with said front connection means (14) and suited to provide a point of reference for the correct positioning of said footwear item (100) with respect to said ski (10) when said footwear item (100) is connected to said binding (10).

8. Binding (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises locking means (90) suited to lock said lever (70) in at least one first position in which it is not in contact with said at least one wearable element (100) and releasing means (92) suited to release said lever (70) from said first position towards a position in which said lever (70) is in contact with said at least one wearable element (100).

9. Binding (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said releasing means (92) are activated when said footwear item (100) is connected to said ski (1) through said connection means (12).

10. Binding (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises anti-slip means (60) for said ski (1), said anti-slip means (60) comprising an anti-slip element (62) suited to be rotated with respect to said binding (10) in such a way as to assume a neutral position, preferably a position that is substantially parallel to said ski (1), when said footwear item (100) is connected to said ski (1), and a position in which it projects from the underside of said ski (1) when said footwear item (100) is disconnected from said ski (1).

11. Binding (10) according to claim 9 and 10, characterized in that said releasing means (92) are activated by said anti-slip means (60) when said antislip element (62) is rotated towards said neutral position.

12. Binding (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one wearable element (100) comprises said footwear item (100).

13. Wearable element (100) suited to be worn on the leg of a skier, said wearable element (100) being suited to cooperate with a lever (70) of a ski binding (10) when said skier connects a footwear item (100) which they are wearing to said binding (10), said wearable element (100) being characterized in that it comprises magnetic connection means (80) suited to allow contact to take place between said lever (70) and said wearable element (100).

14. Wearable element (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that said magnetic connection means (80) comprise a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material (84) suited to cooperate with a magnetic material or a ferromagnetic material (82) associated with said lever (70) of said binding (10).

15. Assembly comprising a ski (1) and a ski binding (10) connected to said ski (1), characterized in that said ski binding (10) is made according to any of the claims from 1 to 12.

16. Assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said assembly furthermore comprises a wearable element (100) suited to be worn on the leg of a skier, said wearable element (100) being made according to any of the claims from 13 to 15.

16