FR2569118A1 - Ski safety binding and ski equipped with such a binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ski safety binding as well as to a ski equipped with such a binding. In a binding comprising a jaw 94 carried by a body 61 mounted so as to pivot laterally relative to the ski 1, from a preferred position towards which elastic energy storing means 37 tend to return it, the jaw 94 is mounted so as to pivot on the body 61 about an approximately horizontal axis 100 and is connected to the elastic energy storing means 37 so that, when the jaw 94 is raised relative to the ski by means of rotation about this axis 100 relative to the body 61, the effect of the elastic energy storing means 37 is reduced, which facilitates release of the boot at the time of a forward fall combined with a twisting fall.

Description

 The present invention relates to a ski safety binding, as well as a ski provided with such a binding.

More precisely, it relates to a binding of a type comprising - a body having its own mean direction, - means for mounting the body on a ski, defining
for the body, with respect to skiing, at least one axis of
lateral pivoting guidance, from a pri position
vilified in which the mean direction of the occu
eg a longitudinal orientation relative to the ski, - means for accumulating elastic energy, opposing
an elastic effect to such lateral pivoting, - a jaw capable of receiving and retaining, by
compared to skiing, a front end of a ski boot
and presenting for this purpose, towards the rear, two side wings
clean rales to engage with the respective shoe
on both sides of it, in particular by the
top, by areas of contact therewith, - means for mounting the jaw on the body, self
risking movement of said zones of the lateral wings
relative to the body with a movement component
along the mean direction thereof, - stop means defining a limit position of
said areas of the lateral wings in relation to the body, towards
the rear, in such a movement, - connecting means between the jaw and the means
elastic energy accumulators, so that these
the latter also oppose an elastic effect to a movement
ment of said zones of the lateral wings towards the front, by
relation to the body, from said limit position and
that such a movement reduces the effect of the means accumulated
teurs of elastic energy against a pivoting the
body in relation to skiing from said position
privileged tion.

 In the foregoing as in the following, unless expressly stated otherwise, the relative positions of the different parts of the binding and of the ski are understood by reference to the normal position and direction of movement thereof.

 A binding of this type is known from French patent application No. 2,395,046.

 It is intended to retain the front end of the boot on the ski, the rear end of which is retained on the ski by other means, and to respond by releasing the boot to abnormally high stresses applied by the latter to the jaw, that these stresses apply laterally to the wings of the latter as a result of a stress exclusively in torsion at the level of the skier's leg, or that they also apply towards the front when a fall in torsion combines a fall forward; in the latter case, the connection between the jaw and the elastic energy storage means makes it possible to compensate, by reducing the resistance which the latter oppose to a lateral pivoting of the jaw body assembly relative to the ski, the increase the resistance opposed to a pivoting of the front part of the boot relative to the ski, the friction which exists between the underside of the boot, in the front region thereof, and the upper surface of the ski; an appropriate calibration of the elastic energy accumulator means makes it possible to adjust a threshold of intensity of stress causing the release of the shoe.

 However, it appears that the attachment described by the aforementioned document cannot give full satisfaction in the case of a fall combining a forward movement with a torsional movement, which however constitutes a particularly frequent case.

 In fact, in this known binding, the jaw is mounted on the body by means of guidance in relative translation in the mean direction of the latter, and the body is mounted on the ski by means of means defining an axis of single relative pivoting, to which the mean direction of the body is perpendicular and which is itself perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski; it follows that, in the case of this known attachment, the jaw can move exclusively parallel to this upper surface so that, if the shoe comes to tip forwards while bearing downwards, in its anterior zone, on the upper surface of the ski when falling forwards, there appears a wedging effect of the anterior zone of the boot between the jaw and the ski, with the result of a risk of blockage of the jaw and the boot to against a lateral pivoting with respect to the ski, that is to say a serious risk of fracture for the skier.

 In addition, the possibility, for the jaw of the binding described by the aforementioned document, to move in translation as a whole parallel to the ski, longitudinally relative to the latter, implies a non-negligible risk of translation from the boot towards the before on the ski outside of any case of fall, with an amplitude such that the rear end of the boot is released unexpectedly.

 Consequently, the binding described in the aforementioned document does not constitute a sufficiently effective stop for the ski, towards the front, with respect to the ski, nor does it offer any safety in releasing the boot in the event of a fall towards the front.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and, for this purpose, there is proposed according to the invention a fixing of the type described above, further characterized in that the means for mounting the jaw on the body define a relative pivot axis, oriented transversely to the mean direction of the body, at least approximately horizontally when the body occupies its privileged position relative to the ski, at a level lower than that of said contact zones of the lateral wings of the jaw with a shoe and in front of these zones, and in that the abutment means define said limit position by a limit to the pivoting of the jaw relative to the body in a direction corresponding, for said contact zones, to a movement down.

 It is therefore understood that, that a single, approximately vertical axis of pivoting of the body with respect to the ski is provided as in the case of the aforementioned document or that two parallel or concurrent axes are provided for this lateral pivoting. as is known elsewhere, any forward fall may result in a lifting of the wings of the jaw relative to the upper surface of the ski, that is to say by the disappearance of any risk of jamming of the shoe between the jaw and the ski and consequently by a certain release of the shoe; however, this possibility is obtained without the jaw being able to move as a whole in translation forward with respect to the body since, for a given value of the displacement component of the contact zones of the lateral wings of the jaw with shoe forward, all areas of the jaw located at an intermediate level between that of these contact areas and that of the axis of pivoting of the jaw relative to the body have a component of forward movement of value below the level of the axis of pivoting of the jaw on the body, this component is zero and in the zones, preferably limited to a minimum, situated at a level below that of this axis, that is to say between the level thereof and the upper face of the ski, this component is even replaced by a rearward component; in other words, the binding according to the invention fully fulfills its role of stop opposing a translation of the boot forward on the ski, which avoids the risk of untimely release of the rear end of the shoe mentioned above.

 Naturally, these advantages are obtained without however affecting the lateral pivoting faculties of the body with respect to the ski, in particular in the case of a fall exclusively in torsion; the ability to release the boot in such a case can even be increased, in comparison with the possibilities offered by the device described in French patent application 2,395,046, while the means for mounting the body on the ski comprise, respectively on a wall carried by the body in a transverse orientation relative to the mean direction thereof and on a support piece carried by the ski in a transverse orientation relative to the latter, two flats in mutual contact in flat in said privileged position and that the means for accumulating elastic energy comprise a spring having one end in elastic support on said wall in a direction going from the flat of the latter towards the flat of the support piece to elastically hold these flat in mutual flat contact, the connection means between the jaw and the energy storage means comprise a pin secured to the jaw when pivoted relative to the horn ps, this pin being in abutment against said wall of the body in a direction going from the flat part of the support piece towards the flat part of said wall and being arranged, relative to the pivot axis of the jaw relative to the body, so that it moves in this direction during a pivoting of the jaw relative to the body in a direction corresponding, for said contact areas, to an upward movement from said limit position.

 Thus, any lateral pivoting of the assembly formed by the jaw and the body, relative to the. ski, results in a release of the jaw from a pivoting relative to the body in a corresponding direction, for the areas of contact of the lateral wings of the jaw with a shoe, to an upward movement at from the limit position or, in other words, by a possibility of lifting the zones of contact with the shoe, that is to say by an additional degree of freedom for the latter if a comparison is made with the device described by the aforementioned document.

 Nevertheless, the fixing according to the invention remains simple to produce and implements a reduced number of parts, as will emerge from the description below, relating to a nonlimiting embodiment, as well as the attached drawings which form an integral part of this description.

In these drawings - Figure 1 shows a view of a safety fastener
according to the present invention at rest, that is to say
in the absence of any stress, particularly in torsion
and towards the front, in section through plane II of the figure
2, which defines a longitudinal plane of symmetry for
the ski as for binding when it is so at
rest - Figure 2 shows a view of this attachment for half
from above and half in section according to plans II-II
of Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a top view of a component
killing part of the body mounting means of the
binding to the ski - Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the body of the - Figure 5 shows this body in a view similar to that
of Figure 1 ;; - Figure 6 shows a view of this body for half of
above and half in section according to plans VI-VI of the
Figure 5 - Figure 7 shows a view of the body of the binding in
section through plane VII-VII of Figure 6 - Figure 8 shows, in side elevation along the
arrow VIII of FIG. 2, a complementary piece of
the part illustrated in Figure 3 ;; FIG. 9 shows a view of the part of FIG. 8,
in section through the plane IX-IX thereof - Figure 10 shows a viie of the part of Figure 8
in the direction of arrow X thereof, that is to say from the front - FIG. 11 shows a top view of this part - FIG. 12 shows a view in lateral elevation, in
the direction of the arrow VIII of FIG. 2, of a piece of
mounting the jaw on the body of the fastener - Figure 13 shows a top view of this part.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 1 and 2, where a ski has been designated generally by 1, having in its normal position of use an upper face 2 approximately flat and which will be assumed to be horizontal in the following. of the description, and a longitudinal plane of symmetry 3 which will be assumed to be vertical; this plane of symmetry 3 corresponds to the section plane
II; there is also shown schematically by an arrow 4 a reference direction which corresponds to the normal direction of movement of the ski and which is parallel to the face 2 and located along the plane 3; this meaning will serve as a reference when the terms "longitudinal", "front", "rear", '8ntérieur "," posterior "will appear in the present description, just as plane 3 will serve as a reference when the term" lateral "appears.

 On the upper face 2 of the ski 1 are mounted on the one hand a rear binding, not shown, intended to immobilize with respect to the ski 1 the rear end of the sole of a shoe shown diagrammatically at 5, and on the other hand, before the rear attachment, the safety attachment 6 according to the present invention.

 This binding 6 is mounted on the ski by means of a support piece 7 also visible in FIG. 3.

 This support piece 7 is made in one piece, for example by machining or by molding a plastic material or a metal alloy, with a base plate 8 as screws such as 9 and 10, passing through this plate base 8 by bores 11, 12, 13, 14 thereof, integral with the ski 1 flat on the upper face 2 thereof, in a position in which the support piece 7 protrudes at above the upper face 2 of the ski, in an average direction perpendicular to this face, that is to say vertical, symmetrically on either side of the plane 3 of symmetry of the ski.

 Upwards, the support piece 7 is delimited by an upper face 15 which is flat, horizontal, into which opens a tapped bore 16 with a vertical axis 17 and located in the plane 3; in this bore can be screwed more or less, along the axis 17, a threaded rod 18 of a screw 19 having above the face 15 a head 20 hollowed out of a continuous annular groove 21 delimited by a cylindrical bottom of revolution around the axis 17 and by two annular sides also of revolution around the axis 17, this groove opening in the direction of a radial distance from the latter; the degree of screwing of the threaded rod 18 of the screw 20 in the bore 16 of the support piece 7 makes it possible to adjust the level by means of the groove 21 relative to the face 15, that is to say by relative to the upper face 2 of the ski 1; to allow the groove 21 to be brought as close as possible to the face 15 when the screw 19 is screwed into the bore 16 of the support piece 7, this bore 16 may have at its junction with the face 15 an enlarged zone 22 of revolution around the axis 17, which zone 22 is adapted to receive internally, at least in part, an annular shoulder 23, of revolution around the axis 17, that the head 20 presents at its junction with the threaded rod 18 for demarcate the throat downwards 21.

 Towards the front, the support piece 7 has sliding guide means, parallel to the axis 17, for a piece 24 which is also advantageously produced by molding a metal alloy, and more particularly visible in FIGS. 8 to 11.

 To this end, in the example illustrated, the support piece 7 is delimited by a flat face 25, vertical, perpendicular to the plane of symmetry 3, and connecting downwards to the base plate 8, upwards at the upper face 15 of the support piece 7, and laterally with two equally flat and vertical faces 26, 27, located symmetrically to one another with respect to the plane 3 to which they are parallel turned in the direction of away from plane 3, these two faces 26 and 27 are completely set back, towards the rear, with respect to face 15 which they connect respectively to a vertical plane face 28 and to a vertical plane face 29, these two faces 28 and 29 connecting both the base plate 8 to the upper face 15 of the support piece 7 and being located in the extension 1 'from one another, perpendicular to the plane 3, symmetrically one from the other with respect to the latter, these two faces 28 and 29 connect the faces 26 and 27 respectively. ent to a vertical plane face 30 and to a vertical plane face 31, these two faces 30 and 31 also connecting the base plate 8 to the upper face 15 of the support piece 7 of which they constitute the extreme limits in the direction d 'a distance from the plane of symmetry 3 to which they are parallel by being arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to it.

 The part 24 has, for its part rearward, flat and rectangular faces 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, the faces 35 and 36 of which are coplanar and parallel to the face 32 to which they are connected respectively by the face 33 and by the face 34 which are perpendicular to them and are turned towards one another; the spacing between the faces 33 and 34 is substantially identical to the spacing between the faces 26 and 27, and the spacing between the faces 35, 36 and the side 32 is substantially identical to the spacing between the faces 28, 29 and the face 25, so that the faces 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 are applied precisely against the faces 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 respectively, to ensure by a sliding contact the guidance of the part 24 sliding on the support piece 7 parallel to the axis 17 without the possibility of displacement of the piece 24 rearward or laterally relative to the support piece 7; a movement of the part 24 forwards with respect to the support part 7 is for its part prevented by means of elastic energy accumulators 37 which will be described later, which elastically press the part 24 backwards against the support piece 7 by acting on a flat trapezoidal face 38 that the piece 24 presents towards the front, parallel to its face 32, perpendicular to the plane of symmetry 3 and symmetrically with respect thereto when the piece 24 is engaged by its faces 32 to 36 against the faces 25 to 29, respectively, of the support piece 7; delimited respectively downwards and upwards by flat, horizontal faces 39 and 40, also delimiting the faces 32 to 36 respectively downwards and upwards, the face 38 is delimited laterally by two rectilinear edges 41, 42 arranged symmetrically from each other with respect to plane 3 and which converge downwardly on each other, forming an acute angle a between them; the two edges 41 and 42 define the junction of the face 38 with two triangular planar faces, respectively 43 and 44, disposed backwards with respect to the face 38 symmetrically to each other with respect to the plane 3 and which, delimited downwards by a junction edge with the face 39, are delimited by the rear by a junction edge respectively with a plane face 45 for connection with the face 35 and with a face 46 for connection with the face 36, these faces 45 and 46 being plane, trapezoidal, vertical, symmetrical to one another with respect to the plane 3 to which they are parallel with a mutual spacing identical to that of the faces 30 and 31 of the support piece 7 with which these two faces 45 and 46 are respectively coplanar; over part of their height, the faces 38, 43, 44, 45, 46 are hollowed out, at a distance from both the underside 39 and the upper face 40, of a horizontal groove 47 open towards the front, symmetrical compared to plane 3, the usefulness of this groove 47 will appear below.

 Projecting above its upper face 40 and towards the rear with respect to its face 32, the part 24 integrally has a horizontal tab 48 delimited upwards and downwards by planar faces 49, 50, horizontal the first of which is coplanar with the face 40 and which are connected together by a vertical edge 51 delimited towards the rear by two vertical rectilinear edges 52, 53 symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane 3 and situated along a same plane 54 perpendicular thereto and including the axis 17, these two edges 52 and 53 being interconnected by a hollow area 55 of the edge 51, which has a semi-cylindrical shape of revolution around the axis 17 and complementary to that of the bottom of the groove 21, the distance vertically separating the faces 49 and 50 is substantially identical to the height of the groove 21 measured between its flanks along the axis 17 so that the tab 48 engages by its zone 55 in the groove 21 to ensure a s solidity of the part 24 with the head 20 of the screw 19 in the vertical direction of the axis 17, that is to say the possibility of adjusting the level of the part 24 on the support part 7 by screwing more or less important of the threaded rod 18 of the screw 19 in the bore 16 of the support piece 7.

 Finally, towards the rear, the support piece 7 has, from the base plate 8 to its upper face 15, two faces 58 and 57 which are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane 3 and which respectively connect the face 30 and face 31 to a face 58 which connects them symmetrically with respect to the plane 3 also connecting the base plate 8 to the face 15, by tilting forward from the base plate 8 ; the two faces 56 and 57, both turned backwards and in the direction of a distance from the plane 3, have the shape of a portion of cylinder of revolution around a vertical axis respective 59, 60, with an angular development of the order of 90 "between their tangential junction with face 58 and their junction at 900 respectively with face 30 and with face 31; it will be noted that face 58 is entirely located between virtual planes parallel to the plane 3, symmetrical with respect to each other and passing through the respective limits of the faces 56 and 57 towards this plane 3.

 The support part 7 and the part 24 which have just been described are capped by a body 61 produced for example by molding a metal alloy or a plastic material, which body 61 has an average direction defined by an axis 62, arranged horizontally along the plane 3, that is to say intersecting the axis 17 at a right angle, when the attachment is at rest as illustrated.

 The body 61 has the general shape of an oblong block in the direction 4, and symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry 3 of the ski 1 if we refer to the state of rest.

 As appears more particularly from the examination of FIGS. 4 to 7, this body 61 has an internal recess 63 which opens downwards and in which the support piece 7 is engaged.

In view of a support of the body 61 towards the front against the faces 56 and 57 of the support piece 7, this body 61 has in a posterior region of the recess 63, at the lower part of the latter, two bosses 64, 65, facing forwards and arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to plane 3 if the fixing at rest is assumed
each of these bosses 64, 65 has a semi-cylindrical shape of revolution around a respective axis 66, 67, the distance between the axes 66 and 67 being identical to the distance between the axes 59 and 60 and the radius of the bosses 64 and 65 being identical to that of the faces 56 and 57 so that the bosses 64 and 65 can marry respectively the face 56 and the face 57 in the rest position, in which the body 61 is notably supported thus forward, on the support piece 7; between the bosses 64 and 65, the internal recess 63 of the body 61 extends towards the rear, at 68, so as to accommodate, by mutual play, the face 58 and the support piece 7 without hampering the lateral pivoting movements of the body 61 relative to the support piece 7 which will be described later.

 Upwards, the recess 63 of the body 61 is partially closed by a wall 69 of the body 61, which is delimited by planar, horizontal faces respectively lower 70 and upper 71; around the axis 17, the wall 69 is pierced with a hole 72 symmetrical with respect to the plane 3 if we refer to the state of rest, which hole 72 is delimited by a peripheral face 73 joining together the faces 70 and 71, perpendicular to them the vertical spacing between the faces 70 and 71 is substantially identical to that which separates the faces 49 and 50 of the tab 48 from the part 24 and, in its rear part, the face 73 has a zone 74 in the form of a part of cylinder of revolution around the axis 17, with an angular development iS of less than 900 also distributed symmetrically on either side of the plane 3 and a radius identical to that of the hollow zone 53 the edge 51 of the tab 48, so that, by this zone 74 and by the respective zones of the faces 70 and 71 immediately adjacent thereto, the wall 69 engages in the groove 21 of the head 20, behind of this, letting remain with respect to the edges 52 and 53 of the edge 51 of the tab 48, if one knows poses the fixing at rest, sufficient clearance to allow the body 61 to pivot about the axis 17 relative to the support piece 7 and to the piece 24 respectively on either side of the plane 3, with maintenance of the engagement of the zone 74 in the groove 21; for this purpose, the zones of the peripheral face 73 immediately adjacent to its hollow zone 74, to which they are connected by vertical rectilinear edges 75 and 76, and the zones of the edge 51 of the tab 48 connecting by the edges 52 and 53 in the recessed area 54 of this edge 51 also have an appropriate shape; for example the areas of the face 73 immediately adjacent to the area 74 thereof are located coplanarly, perpendicular to the plane 3, and the areas of the edge 51 immediately adjacent to the recessed area 53 thereof form an angle between them acute.

It will be noted that a more or less pronounced screwing of the threaded rod 18 of the screw 19 in the bore 16 of the support piece 7 makes it possible to simultaneously ensure the level adjustment, relative to the latter and relative to the upper face 2 of the ski 1, of the part 24 by vertical sliding on the part 7 by their complementary faces described above, and of the body 61 by sliding of the localized bosses 64 and 65 against the faces 56 and 57 of the part support 7, the head 20 of the screw 19 rotating by its groove 21 between the zone 74 of the wall 69 and the zone 55 of the tab 48
Maintaining the body 61 in forward support against the part 7, on the one hand directly by pressing the bosses 64 and 65 and against the faces 56 and 57 and on the other hand indirectly by pressing the zone 74 of the periphery 73 of the hole 72 of the wall 69 against the head 20 of the screw 19 inside the groove 21 thereof is provided, like the support of the part 24 towards the rear on the support part 7, by the accumulator means of elastic energy 37, which are carried by the body 61.

 To this end, the latter carries, along the axis 62 defining its mean direction, a bore 77 opening 'a part towards 1 rear in a face 78 delimiting the internal recess 63 of the body 61 towards the front and therefore placed opposite the part 24 with sufficient play so as not to impede the lateral pivoting movements of the body 61 relative to the support part 7 which will be described later, and on the other hand forward and towards the outside of the body 61 in a face 79 delimiting the latter forward.

 In a manner known per se, the bore 77 has, in the immediate vicinity of the face 78 of the recess 63, a section delimited by a cylindrical face 80 of revolution around the axis 62; between this section and the face 79, it has a second trongonmuni of a thread 81 whose smallest diameter is greater than the diameter of the face 80; by this tapping 81, the bore 77 receives a threaded plug 82 having a head 83 which forms a projection along the axis 62 relative to the face 79 of the body 61, and by which this plug 82 can be screwed more or less into bore 77.

 In a manner known per se, the plug 82 is hollow and closed towards the front; it is delimited internally by a cylindrical face 84 of revolution around the axis 62 with a diameter substantially equal to that of the face 80 of the bore 77, and by a face 85 in the form of a flat disc perpendicular to the axis 62 , and to which the face 84 is connected forwards, inside the head 83; on the other hand, the plug 82 is fully open towards the rear, by connection of the face 84 with an end face 86, annular, plane, of revolution about the axis 62 to which it is perpendicular, this face 86 being integrally placed radially outside the face 84 if one refers to the axis 63.

 In a manner also known per se, the face 84 of the plug 82 and the face 80 of the bore 77, placed in the same virtual cylinder of revolution around the axis 62, provide sliding guidance along the axis 62, for a piston 87 having for this purpose an outer peripheral face 88 cylindrical of revolution around the axis 62 with a diameter substantially equal to that of the faces 80 and 84 towards the front, the face 88 is connected to an end face of annular piston 89, planar, of revolution about the axis 62 to which it is perpendicular, which face 89 connects the face 88 to an inner peripheral face of piston 90 cylindrical of revolution around the axis 62 with a smaller diameter to that of face 88 but nevertheless close to the latter; this face 90 connects the face 89, towards the rear, to a face 91 in the form of a flat disc perpendicular to the axis 62, which face 91 constitutes the front face of a wall 93 of the piston 87 and closes this piston 87, and with it the bore 77 of the body 61 towards the rear, that is to say opposite the face 85 of the head 83 of the plug 82.

 In a manner known per se, between the faces 85 and 91 is interposed a coil spring 192 working under compression along the axis 62 and which, by bearing on the body 61 via the face 85 of the head 83 , resiliently pushes the piston 87 backwards along the axis 62; however, total disengagement of the piston 87 towards the rear with respect to the bore 77 and of the plug 82 is prevented by pressing on the part 24 and more precisely flat on the face 38 of the latter when the fixing is at rest, of a face 92 in the form of a flat disc, perpendicular to the axis 62, that the parpi 93 of the piston 87 presents towards the rear and to which the face 88 of the piston 87 is connected towards the rear, which ensures both the support of the part 24 against the support part 7 towards the rear and the engagement of the hollow area 55 in the groove 21, as the support of the body 61 towards the front d on the one hand against the faces 56 and 57 of the support piece 7 by the bosses 64 and 65 and on the other hand in the groove 21 by the hollow area 74; to make this resting position of the binding a stable position, the spring 192 is prestressed, under compression, in a predetermined manner by the degree of screwing of the plug 82 in the bore 77.

However, the body 61 can deviate from this stable position by lateral pivoting relative to the ski 1 and to the support piece 7; if one assimilates the contact between the recessed area 74 of the face 73 of the wall 69 with the groove 21, the contact of the boss 66 with the face 56 and the contact of the boss 65 with the face 57 to punctual contacts respectively a point A located on the axis 17 at the upper level of the groove 21, at a point B located on the combined axes 66 and 59 at the upper level of the boss 64, and at a point C located on the axes 67 and 60 at the upper level of the boss 65, this point C being symmetrical with the point B with respect to the plane 3, this pivoting can be effected by movement of the zones of the body 61 situated behind the axis 17, with respect to the ski 1 and with respect to to support piece 7 - either on the side of plane 3 where point B is located, in which case
this pivoting takes place around an axis AB by breaking the
flat contact between the face 92 of the piston 87 and the face 38
of part 24 to establish contact with this face 92
with the edge 41, oriented approximately parallel to the axis AB, by means of an additional compression of the spring 192, then, optionally, reduction of this compression as the amplitude of the pivoting increases and that the face 92 of the piston 87 thus appears progressively opposite the face 43 of the part 24, - either on the side of the plane 3 where the point C is located, in which case
pivoting takes place around an AC axis by breaking the
flat contact of face 92 with face 38 by means of a
increased compression of spring 192 until
that, by crossing the ridge 42 located approximately
side 92 is parallel to the axis AC,
possibly progressively opposite face 44
by reducing the compression of the spring 192.

 In one case as in the other, taking into account the relative positions of the points A, B, C, this movement is accompanied by a lifting of the zones of the body 61 located behind the axis 17, and more precisely in back of a plane ABC, with respect to the upper face of ski 1; we also note that the amplitude and stress conditions of the spring 92 during these pivotings are independent of the level of the body 61 and of the part 24 relative to the support part 7, adjusted by the degree of screwing of the screw 19 in the support piece 7.

The arrangements which have just been described are not characteristic of the invention proper, and one could adopt to ensure the mounting of the body 61 to the lateral pivoting relative to the support piece 7 and relative to the ski 1 other arrangements, known to the person skilled in the art or the realization of which is within the normal competence of the latter, and for example the arrangements described in French patents or certificates of addition to the latter nos. 2,419,737, 2,420 359, 2 458 299, 2 478 476 and 2 517 214 of the plaintiff, this list not being limiting and the pivoting being able to be carried out around one or the other of two converging axes as it has been described , around two axes parallel to each other and parallel to the plane 3, as according to the device described in French patent 2,174,822, or around a single axis located in this plane 3, means for accumulating elastic energy s' opposing such pivoting from a stable position in te ndant to maintain elastically, in mutual support flat in a resting position of the binding, two flats then oriented transversely to the ski, on the grounds of a flat carried integrally by the ski, namely the face 38 of the part 24 in the example described and shown, and of a flat carried by a wall of the body 61, integrally at least as regards the lateral pivoting, namely the face 92 of the wall 93 of the piston 87 in the example illustrated, with support of a spring such as 192 of accumulator means
of elastic energy such as 37 against this wall 93 opposite this flat such as 92 thereof, towards the flat such as 38 carried by the ski.

 Towards the rear, the body 61 carries, in solidarity with the lateral pivoting as it is known per se, a jaw 94 having two lateral wings 95 and 96 situated symmetrically to one another with respect to the plane 3 when the fixing is at rest, which lateral wings 95 and 96 are suitable for engaging with anterior end zones of the shoe 5 respectively on either side thereof laterally and from above, by respective zones 97, 98 of contact with this shoe, advantageously provided with an anti-friction coating to improve friction with the shoe; advantageously, there is further provided a zone 99, also coated with such a material, for pressing the boot forward against the jaw 94 between its two lateral wings 95 and 96, along plane 3. The jaw can of course be of another type and in particular of the type with lateral support by the lower part of the sole.

 In accordance with the present invention, the jaw 94 is not carried in a completely integral manner by the body 61, but in an integral manner exclusively with the lateral pivoting, and can pivot relative to the body 61 around a relative pivoting axis 100, fixed relative to the body 61 and relative to the jaw 94, oriented transversely relative to the mean direction of the body defined by the axis 62 and at least approximately horizontally when the body 61 occupies with respect to the support piece 7 and relative to the ski 1, its position corresponding to the rest state of the binding.

More specifically, in posterior end zones situated laterally respectively on either side of the extension 68 of the recess 63 towards the rear,
in the lower part of the body 61, at a level corresponding approximately to that of the bosses 64 and 65, are arranged in the mass of the body 61 two bores 101, 102 of common axis 100 and of the same diameter, which open on the one hand in the zone 68 of the cavity 63 and on the other hand outside of the body 61 and internally receive, in an integral manner, a respective coaxial pin 103, 104.

 Substantially mid-length of each of the bores 101, 102 is arranged, in the body 61, a respective groove 105, 106, arranged along a respective mean plane 113, 114 parallel to the plane 3 if we assume the attachment to the state of rest, the two grooves 105 and 106 being symmetrical to one another with respect to the plane 3 and opening out towards the rear outside the body 61.

 In each of the grooves 105 and 106 engages in the body 61, from the rear and towards the front, a respective tab 107, 108 of an intermediate mounting piece 109 more particularly visible in Figures 12 and 13 the two wings 107 and 108, arranged along mean planes 111, 112 occupying a relative position identical to that of planes 113 and 114 and having perpendicular to their mean plane dimensions substantially identical to those that grooves 105 and 106 have perpendicularly to their mean plane , are pierced with a respective bore such as 110, cylindrical of revolution about an axis common to the bores. respective of the two wings 107 and 108 with a diameter substantially equal to that of the bores 101 and 102 for engaging on the pins 103 and 1K04 in the grooves 105 and 106 thereby ensuring that the part 109 is guided in rotation relative to the body 61, around the axis 100.

 Behind the body 61, with a clearance 119 sufficient not to harm the possibilities of pivoting of the part 109 relative to the latter, the two wings 107 and 108 are integrally connected by a wall 115 of perpendicular plane 116 alK plans111 and 112 and arranged approximately vertically when the binding occupies its rest position illustrated.

 The wings 107 and 108 are arranged at the lower end of the wall 115, which is connected upwards, in an integral manner, to a wall 117 having for its part a mean plane 118 perpendicular to the three planes 111, 112, 116; this wall 117 is disposed in front of the wall 115 so as to be placed above the wall 69 of the body 61, with a clearance 120 sufficient not to harm the possibilities of pivoting of the part 109 relative to the body 61, around axis 100.

 The wall 117, having around a axis 17 a recess 121 for access to the head 20 of the screw 19, carries integrally along each of the planes 111 and 112 a respective tab 122, 123 projecting downwards and towards the front, the two legs 122 and 123 being symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane 3 when the attachment is in the rest state illustrated.

 Each of the legs 122 and 123 enters the recess 63, via a respective groove 194 and 195 arranged in the wall 69 of the body 61 along the respective mean plane 113 or 114 to put the recess 63 in communication with the outside of the body 61 upwards, with sufficient play so as not to harm the possibilities of pivoting of the part 109 relative to the body 61, around the axis 100; inside the recess 63, the two legs 122.and 123 are rigidly connected to each other by a pin 124 having a cylindrical periphery of revolution around an axis 125 perpendicular to the planes 111 and 112, that is i.e. parallel to axis 100.

 As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 1, the pin 124 is thus placed in front of the part 24, facing the groove 47 of the latter and more precisely facing the upper part of this groove 47 when the wall 115 occupies the approximately vertical position illustrated; this pin 124 is housed inside a groove 126 arranged opposite the groove 47 of the part 24 in the face 92 of the piston 87, in a medium direction parallel to the axis 100 and with an approximately rectangular cross section relative to this mean direction.

 More specifically, the groove 126 is delimited by two flat sides, respectively upper 127 and lower 128, horizontal when the attachment is at rest and separated by a distance greater than the diameter of the spindle 124, and by a bottom 129 also planar and as for then arranged it vertically.

 In the illustrated rest state, the spindle 124 is in contact with the upper flank 127 of the groove 126, so that the illustrated position corresponds, to fit the parts of the part 109 located above the axis 100 , at a rearward rotation limit around this axis with respect to the body 61; moreover, in this position; the pin 124 is in forward contact with the bottom 129 of the groove 126, which is located like the pin 124 at a level higher than that of the axis 100 so that any pivoting forwards around this and relative to the body 61, parts of the piece 109 located above this axis, from the limit position imposed by the contact of the spindle 124 with the upper flank 127 of the groove 126, is reflected by a thrust applied by the pin 124 to the bottom 129 of the groove 126 towards the front and by detachment of the face 92 of the piston 87 towards the front relative to the face 38 of the part 24 by means of an additional compression of the spring 192 due exclusively to this pivoting of the part 109 around the axis 100 relative to the body 61; in other words, a space appears between the faces 92 and 38, offering a possibility of free lateral pivoting of the body 61 relative to the support piece 7 and relative to the ski 1 around one or the other of the axes AB, AC; a person skilled in the art will preferably dimension the various elements of the fixing so that the entry of the pin 124 in contact with the lower flank 128 of the groove 126 imposes on the amplitude of this free lateral pivoting a maximum limit such that, whatever the amplitude of free lateral pivoting up to this limit, this free lateral pivoting brings the face 92 of the piston 87 into contact with one or the other of the edges 41 and 42 of the part 24 and that the continuation of the freely initiated lateral pivoting requires a further compression of the spring 192.

 It will be noted that the groove 47 has the sole role of authorizing the free movement of the spindle 124 between its limit contact positions respectively with the upper flank 127 and with the lower flank 128 of the groove 126 and that its shape and dimensions, as small as possible, can be freely chosen by a person skilled in the art according to this role g in certain embodiments, an appropriate choice of the dimensions of the various elements of the fixing makes it possible to dispense with it.

 Towards the rear, the wall 115 of the intermediate piece 109 bears integrally, at an average level corresponding substantially to that of the axis 125 of the spindle 124, and in any case to a level higher than that of the axis 100, a part 130 of the jaw 94, the lateral wings 95 and 96 of which are carried in an adjustable manner, in mutual spacing, by this part 130.

 The part 130 has, behind the wall 115 of the part 109, the zone 99 of contact with the boot 5, which zone 99 is disposed approximately vertically, symmetrically on either side of the plane 3, when the binding is at rest, at a level such that it can come into contact with the boot 5 by the upper of the latter; it will be noted that this level is adjustable like that of the whole of the part 130 and of the lateral wings 95 and 96 which it carries, by action on the screw 19 below the zone 99 intended to come into contact with the shoe, but at a level still higher than that of the axis 100, the part 130 has a forward projection 131 suitable for allowing passage under the part 130, without contact with the latter and without contact with any other part of the fixing of an anterior rim 132 of the sole of the shoe or of a similar part thereof when the shoe is in abutment forwards against the area 99 above this rim 132.

 In positions symmetrical to each other with respect to plane 3 if we refer to the rest state of the binding, the part 130 has two bores such as 133, of respective then vertical axis 134, 135, for integrally receiving a respective pin such as 136; around each of these bores such as 133, the part 130 forms a yoke capable of receiving, exclusively for rotation about the respective axis 134, 135, a respective tab 137, 138, of mean plane perpendicular to the axes 134 and 135, of a respective part 139, 140 furthermore forming, behind the respective tab 137, 138, that is to say outside the respective yoke and behind the part 130, a respective one of the lateral wings 95 and 96 integrally located at a level higher than that of the axis 100, at least as regards their respective zones 97, 98 of contact with the shoe 5.

 More precisely, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the zones 97 and 98 of contact of a lateral wing of the jaw 94 with the shoe has a respective flat bottom face such as 141 plane, turned downward, horizontal in rest position of the binding and located at a level higher than that of axis 100 and for example approximately mid-level between axes 100 and 125 if we refer to this state of rest, and these lower faces such that 141 are coplanar to bear from the top on the rim such as 132 of the boot when the latter rests flat on the upper face of the ski or on a face 143, parallel to face 2, of an intermediate plate 142 fixed for this purpose on the ski; such contact can be ensured whatever the shape of the boot, by adjusting the level of the body 61 relative to the support piece 7 and relative to the upper face 2 of the ski 1 by means of the screw 19; moreover, each of the contact zones 97, 98 has towards the plane 3 a plane face 144, 145 placed vertically when the binding occupies its rest position, the two faces 144 and 145 then converging forward on the plane 3; these two faces 144 and 145, connecting downwards to the lower face such as 141 of the respective contact zone 97, 98, are intended to constitute a lateral and forward support for the shoe above the rim 132 of this and, for this purpose, the two lateral wings 95 and 96 can be immobilized for rotation relative to the part 130, at least in the direction of a relative spacing, by means of stop means on the part 130 nevertheless authorizes an adjustment of the relative positions of the wings 95 and 96 in order to ensure contact of the boot both with their zones 97 and 98 as with the zone 99 of the part 130 under normal conditions of use of the skiing and when the binding is at rest; for this purpose, in the example illustrated, provision has been made in an area of the forward tab 137, 138 of the part 139, 140 opposite the respective lateral wing 95, 96 relative to the respective axis 134, 135 of pivoting relative to the part 130, a needle valve such as 146 engaged in a threaded bore such as 147 of this tab along an axis 148 thereof disposed horizontally in the rest position of the binding; on the other hand, there is provided on the part 130 a counterpart 149 of abutment, towards the plane 3, for one end of this screw such 146 whose other end is accessible from the outside of the fixing by the bore as that 147 for the purpose of adjusting the spacing of the respective tab 137, 138 relative to the counterpart to the stop 149 by adjusting a more or less large projection of the screw such as 146 towards the latter outside the respective tab 137 , 138.

 The operation of the binding which has just been described is as follows.

 For a given shoe 5, the binding being at rest, a level adjustment of the body 61 is established on the one hand with respect to the support piece 7 and with respect to the upper face 2 of the ski 1, by acting on the screw 19, so that the respective lower faces such as 141 of the zones 97, 98 of contact of the lateral wings 95 and 96 are located, with respect to the face 143 of the plate 142, at a level corresponding to the upper level of the rim 132 of the shoe, then, by acting on the needle screws such as 146, the position of the lateral wings 95 and 96 is adjusted relative to the part 130 so that the face 144 of the zone 97, the face 145 of the zone 98 , and the zone 99 come together in contact with the shoe 5 above the rim 132 thereof.

 When the binding is in service, the rear binding, not shown, tends to maintain this contact.

 Under normal conditions of use of the ski, the boot applies to the different zones 97, 98, 99 of contact with the jaw 94 forces symmetrical with respect to the plane 3, and that the support of the bosses 65 and 66 of the body 61 against the faces 56 and 57 of the support piece 7 on the one hand, of the zone 74 of the wall 69 of the body 61 against the groove 21 of the head 20 of the screw 19 on the other hand compensates for these forces being transmitted by means of the part 109 without risk of pivoting of the latter relative to the body 61 when they do not exceed a predetermined threshold which can be adjusted by adjusting the preload, in compression, of the spring 92.

 When the conditions for a fall occur exclusively in torsion, that is to say the application of a preferred force parallel to the upper face 2 of the ski, on one or other of the contact zones 97 and 98 , in the direction of a distance from the plane 3, this force is transmitted practically under the same conditions, via the part 109, to the body 61 which, if it exceeds a predetermined force by adjusting the the compression of the spring 92, pivots in the direction of this force around the axis AB or around the axis AC, as has been described above, under the conditions known in the case of traditional fastenings since the jaw 94 and the body 61 then behave practically as an integral whole; in particular, the wings 95 and 96 of the jaw 94 then undergo, together with the rear of the body 61, an uplift relative to the upper face 2 of the ski 1, facilitating the release of the boot.

 If, on the other hand, the fall in torsion combines a fall forwards, or possibly in the event of a fall forwards exclusively, the shoe tending to tilt forwards and upwards on the face 143 of the plate 142 applies to the zone 99, and possibly to at least one of the faces 144 and 145, a force directed forwards along a line of force situated above the axis 100, and to the lower faces such as 141 contact zones 97 and 98 an upwardly directed force, which results in the appearance of a moment tending to rotate the jaw assembly 94-part 109 around the axis 100 relative to the body 61; if this moment exceeds a value predetermined by the adjustment of the spring 92 in compression, such a movement actually occurs, with movement of the piston 87 forwards and increased compression of the spring 192, which prevents jamming of the flange 132 of the shoe 5 between the jaw 94 and the ski, on the one hand, and on the other hand lightens the elastic force with which the spring 192 applies the face 92 of the piston 87 against the part 24 and facilitates lateral pivoting of the jaw 94 and of the body 61 relative to the support piece 7 even if the force component received in this direction by the jaw 94 is much lower than the force causing such lateral pivoting during a fall exclusively in torsion.

 Preferably, in the example described and shown, the zone 99, disposed approximately vertically symmetrically on either side of the plane 3 when the attachment is at rest, is also located at an average level, relative to the upper face. 2 of the ski, corresponding substantially to the level of point A with respect to this face, so that the force F thus applied, forwards, by the boot to this zone 99 in the event of a fall forwards (FIG. 1) acts on this zone 99 along a line of force 146 passing approximately through the point A of convergence of the axes AB and AC upwards, so that this force F gives rise practically at no moment motor or resistant vis-à-vis -screw of the lateral pivoting of the jaw assembly 94 - part 109 - body 61 around one or the other of these axes.

 Naturally, the embodiment of a binding according to the invention which has just been described constitutes only a non-limiting example and, in addition to the variant embodiments of the connection, with lateral pivoting, between the body 61 and the support piece 7 which have been mentioned above, and the known embodiments of the elastic energy accumulator means 37, there could be many variants, in particular as to the practical embodiment of the jaw 94 and as to the connection mode on the one hand, to the relative pivoting around the axis 100, with the body 61 and on the other hand, to the reduction in the elastic resistance to the lateral pivoting of the body 61 relative to the support piece 107, with the elastic energy accumulator means 37; moreover, although the relative positions of the zones of contact 97, 98, 99 with a shoe and the mode of adjustment of the positions of these zones in level and in mutual spacing which have been described are currently considered to be optimal one could also conceive of variants of these arrangements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

 1. - Ski safety binding, comprising - a body (61) having a clean mean direction (6X, - means C, 19) for mounting the body (61) on a ski (1),  defining for the body (61), with respect to the ski (1),  minus one axis (AB, AC) for guiding the lateral pivoting,  from a privileged position in which the direc  medium tion (62) of the body (61) occupies a longi  tudinal with respect to the ski (1), - means for accumulating elastic energy (37) oppo-  sant an elastic effect to such lateral pivoting, - a jaw (94) capable of receiving and retaining,  compared to ski fled), an anterior end of shoe  sour ski (5) and having for this purpose, towards the rear,  two side wings (95, 96) adapted to engage with  the shoe respectively on either side thereof,  especially from above, by areas (97, 98) of ccwtazt  with this, - means (103, 104) for mounting the jaw (94) on  the body (61), allowing movement of said zones (97,  98) lateral wings (95, 96) relative to the body (61)  with a directional movement component  mean (62) thereof, - stop means (124, 127) defining a position  limit of the lateral wings (95, 96) relative to the body  (61), towards the rear, in such a movement, - means (124) for connection between the jaw (94) and the  elastic energy accumulator means (37) of such  so that these also oppose an elastic effect  that a movement of said zones (97, 98) of the wings  lateral (95, 96) forward, relative to the body (1),  from said limit position and that such movement  reduce the effect of elas energy accumulators  tick (37) against a lateral pivoting of the body  (61) relative to the ski (1) from said position  privileged, characterized in that the means (103, 104) for mounting the jaw (94) on the body (61) define an axis (100) of relative pivoting, oriented transversely with respect to the mean direction (62) of the body (61), at least approximately horizontally when the body occupies said privileged position with respect to the ski (1), at a level lower than that of said zones (97, 98) of contact of the lateral wings (95, 96) of the jaw (94) with a shoe (5) and in front of these zones (97, 98), and in that the abutment means (124, 127) define said limit position by a limit to the pivoting of the jaw (94) by relative to the body (61) in a corresponding direction, for said contact areas (97, 98) r to a downward movement  2. - A binding according to claim i, the means (19, 7) for mounting the body (61) on the ski (1) comprising, respectively on a wall (93) carried by the body (61) in a transverse orientation by relative to the average direction (62) thereof and on a support piece (24, 7) carried by the ski (1) in a transverse orientation relative to the latter, two flats (', 38) in mutual contact flat in said privileged position and the elastic energy accumulator means (37) comprising a spring (92) having one end in elastic support on said wall (93) in a direction going from the flat (92) thereof towards the flat part (38) of the support piece (24, 7) for resiliently maintaining these flat parts (92, 38) in mutual flat contact, characterized in that the means (125) of connection between the jaw (94) and the energy storage means (37) comprise a spindle (124) integral with the jaw (64) at pivoting relative to the body (61), this spindle  (124) being in abutment against said wall (93) in a direction (4) going from the flat (38) of the support piece (24, 7) towards the flat (92) of said wall (93) and being arranged , relative to the pivot axis (100) of the jaw (94) relative to the body (61), so that it moves in this direction during a pivoting of the jaw (94) relative to the body (61) in a direction corresponding, for said contact areas (97, 98), to an upward movement from said limit position.  3. - A binding according to claim 2, said wall (93) carried by the body (61) being placed in front of the support piece (24,7), characterized in that the pin (125) is located at a level higher than that of the axis (100) of pivoting of the jaw (94) relative to the body (61).  4. - A binding according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the spindle (124) is parallel to the axis (100) of pivoting of the jaw (94) relative to the body (61), and in that said wall (93) has parallel to this axis (100) a groove (126) for receiving the spindle (125), said groove (126) having a flank (127) forming a stop for the spindle (125) defining said limit to pivoting of the jaw (94) relative to the body (61) in the direction corresponding, for the contact zones (97, 98), to a downward movement.  5. - Attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jaw (94) further has, between said contact areas (97, 98) and at a level higher than that of said pivot axis (100) , an area (99) for the contact of the shoe (5) towards the front with the jaw (94).  6. - A binding according to claim 5, the means (7, 19) for mounting the body (61) on the ski (1) defining for the body (61), with respect to the ski (1), two axes (AB, AC) for lateral pivoting guidance, these two axes (AB, AC) converging upwards at a point (A) located above the ski so that lateral pivoting of the jaw (94) and of the body ( 61) relative to the ski, on either side of it respectively around one and the other of these axes (AB, AC), is accompanied by a lifting of the wings (95, 96) of the jaw (94) relative to the ski (1), characterized in that said zone (99) for the contact of the boot (5) towards the front with the jaw (94) is arranged so as to offer the shoe (5) pressing forward along a line of force (146) passing approximately through said point (A).  7. Attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (19) for adjusting the level of the contact zones (97, 98, 99).  8. Attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (134, 135, 146) for adjusting the relative positions of the contact zones (97, 98, 99).  9. Ski, characterized in that it is provided with a binding according to any one of claims 1 to 8.