FR2634659A1 - SLIDING EQUIPMENT FOR NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC SLIDING SURFACE, SKI TYPE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns: a) a ski binding comprising an interface (2) fixed to the boot (1) and fitting into a ski seating (3); (b) the interface comprises means (7, 8, 9) to fix the boot (1) and means (10, 11, 12 and 16) for securing in the means (1, 3, 15, 14, 18) of the seating (3); c) the invention concerns skis for natural or synthetic surfaces (snow, water, grass, sand).

Description

"Gliding equipment for natural or synthetic gliding surfaces, of the ski type".

 The present invention relates to gliding equipment for natural or synthetic gliding surfaces such as snow, water, grass, sand, etc., consisting of a ski-type gliding device provided with detachable connection means under the effect accidental stresses between the shoe and the gliding device.

 Such equipment is known.

Indeed, and generally for skiing, it is currently necessary:
- a ski
- fastening elements
- a specific shoe.

 The binding elements are fixed (most often by screwing) to the ski in definitive places determining a given size.

 The bindings for equipment rental and hiking are based on the same principle but incorporate a multi-size rear adjustment.

 In known equipment, the safety functions are ensured by standards relating to the blocking of the boot and in the event of tripping, the boot is freed from the integral ski / binding assembly.

 Currently, on a traditional ski, to meet this requirement, the binding cannot be adjusted relative to the ski without modifying the anchor points. In this case, only a specialist can intervene, which constitutes a constraint.

 The device therefore allows adjustment of the binding relative to the boot and not relative to the ski.

 Thus, the known equipment has multiple drawbacks related mainly to their complexity and their specificity, that is to say that these equipments are very specialized and practically do not allow versatile use.

 The present invention proposes to create a ski equipment of simple construction for all boots-bindings-skis, while allowing a versatile use, applying to all disciplines ae sliding on element (water, snow, grass, sand, etc.) and will be defined specifically according to the uses, ensuring the connection and fixing functions between the sliding device and the shoe while ensuring its safety, in the event of a fall, by uncoupling of connection parts and making it possible to adjust the binding to the shoe size very quickly and simply and regardless of the discipline and length of the gliding device, the adjustment of each binding covering all the shoe sizes on the market.

To this end, the invention relates to equipment of the above type, characterized in that it comprises
A - an interface intended to be fixed in a removable manner
wheat, ordered, by the shoe,
B - a seat made in the gliding apparatus to receive
see the interface and allow its uncoupling
due to accidental stress,
B1 - the seat including
- a front positioning cavity,
- a rear positioning part,
- an intermediate positioning member.

A - the interface comprising
- a front fixing means intended for se.loger
in the front positioning cavity of the
seat,
- an enclosed rear positioning part
quetable in the positioning part
back of the seat,
- a positioning cavity cooperating with
a relief positioning member,
corresponding shape protruding into the seat
to allow positioning and pivoting
relative interface and seat
for accidental uncoupling.

 In this equipment, the interface is a coupling and uncoupling device adjustable in dimensions and multidirectional forces with several degrees of freedom applicable mainly in skiing.

 This equipment replaces and integrates the functions of all types of ski bindings with or without security as well as those of the walking type known as hiking.

The fundamental advantages of the equipment according to the invention are multiple
The interface provides the connection function with the boot in its upper part, integrating the binding functions, almost entirely fits into the seat fitted in the ski and open on the two lateral faces.

 In the interface, the seat replaces the essence of the traditional fastening function with a simple material conformation. This seat is dormant.

 According to the invention, the safety function is no longer provided between the boot and the binding as in traditional skiing, but is provided between the interface and the seat in the beam, the boot and the interface remaining attached.

 This safety function is made possible not only only by mechanical means, but also by a specially adapted conformation which is based on the male and female grip principle with prestressing of materials which can eliminate the mechanical means.

 The seat comprises a positioning member, in particular convex but also possibly concave, in hump or hollow, for axis of rotation and centering of the interface.

 According to another characteristic, the seat has dimensions independent of at least one size class.

 This multi-size adjustment is carried out from the front, if necessary adapting to the different thicknesses of the soles.

 According to another characteristic, the rear positioning part of the interface comprises a lock and the rear positioning part of the seat comprises a cavity capable of receiving the lock as well as a controlled release means enabling the lock to be released by controlling the 'user.

 According to another characteristic, the interface comprises a front element forming an adjustable stop for the installation of a shoe, corresponding to different sizes.

According to another characteristic, the interface ce consists of an upper element and a lower element connected to each other by a transverse articulation, before,
- the lower element fixing in the seat,
- The upper element fixed to the shoe can be raised relative to the lower element by vertical tilting around the joint, the two elements being secured to one another by a lock.

 According to another characteristic, the seat is provided with an adjustable member making it possible to receive interfaces of different dimensions.

 According to another characteristic, the interface is the sole of the shoe.

 The characteristics of the invention lead to a new concept of shoe integrating a sole having the value of an interface, which has become the sole of a ski, mountain, boot, etc. boot, comprising all the safety, hiking and junction functions with the seat. of the beam.

 This simplifies the interface by abandoning the attachment functions and its thickness will be reduced with prestressing of the materials.

 This shoe therefore allows walking.

 The safety fastener as such and as an independent element is therefore thereby deleted.

 In this case, the sole of the boot becomes the base for the construction of the boot, either the shell for ski boots of the rigid type, or an overmolding base for boots of the boot type.

 According to another characteristic, the positioning member is adjustable to receive several sizes of interfaces.

The invention will be described using the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is an exploded overview of the equipment,
FIG. 2 is a view of the equipment in the assembled state,
FIG. 3 is a top view of the interface,
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the interface,
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C show an interface receiving three shoes of different sizes,
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C show two interfaces for shoes of small size, medium size and large size,
FIG. 7 shows the positioning of the interface of FIG. 6B in the seat,
FIG. 8 shows a seat provided with an adjustable positioning member,
- Figure 9 shows a seat with an interface and a complementary member.

 According to Figure 1 which is a block diagram of the invention, the gliding equipment consists of three parts, namely a shoe 1, an interface 2 and a seat 3 made in the gliding apparatus (ski) this the latter being shown only for its part corresponding to seat 3.

 The shoe 1 comprises an upper part, not shown, and a sole 4 terminated by a front end 5 and a rear end 6 forming flanges intended to be fixed in the interface 2.

 The interface 2 consists of a body provided with a rear end 7 of a shape complementary to the rear end 6 of the shoe 1 for styling and retaining the latter as well as a front end 8 movable in the direction of the double arrow A to allow the shoe 1 to be inserted into the front end 8 and the shoe to be blocked by closing the lock 9 which blocks the front end 8.

 The interface 2 is intended to be housed in the seat 3 of the gliding apparatus. For this, the interface 2 has a front part 10, at an angle, towards the front and a rear part 11, at an angle, towards the rear as well as a housing 12.

 The seat 3 of the interface comprises a front part 13 of shape complementary to the front part 10, a rear part 14 complementary to the shape of the rear part 11 and, a positioning member 15 whose shape corresponds to the positioning housing 12 of the interface.

 The interface 2, once fixed to the boot 1, is placed in the seat 3, ergonomically in the manner of a conventional ski boot, that is to say that one engages first the front end 10 in the housing 13 and then rocking around the front to lower the rear part 11 of the interface 2 in the rear part 14 of the seat 3, the positioning housing 12 being placed on the member positioning 15.

 To connect the interface 2 to the seat 3, the interface 2 comprises, at its rear part 11, a latch 16 subjected to the action of a spring 17 pushing the latch 16 into the exit position shown in FIG. 1 In a complementary manner, the seat 3 is provided with a cavity 18 of shape corresponding to the nose of the lock 16 to receive the latter by snap-fastening; the latch 16 is retracted by compressing the spring 17 then is placed in the cavity 18.

 To release on command the interface 2 of the seat 3, the latter is provided with a lever-shaped control member 19 which, subjected to a thrust exerted by the user (for example with the tip of his stick) makes it tilt this unlocking member 19 and pushes the latch 16 in the retracted position then allowing the skier to release the interface 2 by tilting it in the opposite direction of engagement.

 The different positioning movements are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by the arrows B and C.

 The assembly position of the gliding equipment is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.

 The interface adapts to the shoe size and the thickness of the sole and is anchored sclideent to the edges of the sole, front and rear, by mechanical self-locking, automatic , magnetic or others.

 This interface also integrates the mechanical elements allowing at the same time the retention, the triggering as well as the tension regulation.

 In fact, the interface 2 provides the security fixing functions by its integrated and tarable load cell mechanism, can be released from the rear (front drop) and rotates in all directions.

 Safety is obtained by simple rotation and rear unlocking (front fall and side fall) of the interface 2.

 Safety can also be obtained by unlocking from the front (rear fall). The rotation of the interface 2 is based on the presence of a concave or convex axis of rotation or circular slide located in the seat 3.

 Not shown, the sole of the interface 2 is provided with a fixed or removable surface allowing comfortable and effective contact with the bearing surfaces: sliding, grip, damping or even the adaptation of crampons, knives.

 In general, the seat can either be arranged in the thickness of the machine under the location of the foot, or one or more pieces added (s) and fixed (s) on the machine.

 The seat has a prominent positioning member serving as a centering and rotation axis of the movable part and also allowing the evacuation of snow and ice (ski) in the boot.

 According to a variant not shown, the interface 2 receives, at the front and at the rear, standardized nozzles adapting to traditional fastenings.

 According to another variant, the interface becomes the sole of a shoe for practicing sliding sports while retaining all the initial functions of the interface, which corresponds to the basis of the design of a generation of shoes.

 The length adaptation, depending on the size, is integrated either in the interface or in the seat, as described below.

 This shoe can be ski boots, mountain boots, boots and ankle boots.

 FIG. 3 is a simplified top view of the gliding equipment showing the particular shape of the front and rear parts 13, 14 of the seat 3 as well as the corresponding shape of the interface 2.

This figure lets appear in dotted lines the positioning member 15 and the positioning housing 12 with their axis 20 allowing the pivoting movement of the interface relative to the seat for accidental release. This member 15 is in the form of a truncated cone open on the two sides of the parts 15A, 15B for removing snow from the positioning housing 12.

 Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. According to this variant, the interface 2 consists of a lower element 21 intended to come into a seat similar to the seat 3 in FIG. 1 and an upper element 22 intended to be fixed to the sole of the shoe 23. L the lower element 21 and the upper element 22 are connected by a transverse articulation 24, allowing a lifting movement of the upper element 22 (and of the shoe 23) by tilting around the axis 24. The two elements 21 , 22 are also secured to one another by a bolt 25. When the bolt 25 is open, the upper element 22 can tilt around the axis 24 (for example for a walking, hiking or cross-country skiing) whereas when the lock 25 is closed, the upper element 22 is integral with the lower element 21 and the assembly of the interface 2 behaves like the interface 2 of FIG. 1. In in both cases, the safety functions are maintained.

 Figures 5, 6, 7 show different cases of positioning of the shoe 40, 41, 42 on the interface 2 along the sizes of the shoes 40, 41, 42. The shoe 40 is of relatively small size, the shoe 41 of size medium and the shoe 42 of large size. Depending on the case, the rear end of the shoes 40-42 is always in abutment at the quarry in the same position while the front part of the shoe is more or less advanced.

Figures 5A, 5B, 5C.

 Figures 6A, 6B, 6C show two alternative embodiments of the interface.

 FIG. 6A shows the medium-sized interface, while FIGS. 6B and 6C show an interface provided with a front end 43, adjustable according to the dimensions of the seat 3. This front end can come in the advanced position as shown in FIG. 6B or in the retracted position as shown in Figure 6C.

 FIG. 7 shows the positioning of the interface 2 ′ adjusted as indicated in FIG. 6B and placed in a seat 3.

 FIG. 8 shows another variant of the invention, according to which the positioning member 15 ′ of the seat 3 is removably placed in this seat so that it can occupy either the position 15 ′ shown in FIG. 10, or the position 15 "shown in dotted lines. This also allows adaptation to an interface of different size corresponding to two types of sizes.

 Figure 9 shows another variant of the invention. According to this variant, the seat 3 has a usual dimension whereas the interface 2 "has a reduced dimension. The front part of the seat 3 is then occupied by an adaptation shim 3 ′ which makes it possible to reduce the length of the seat 3.

 According to the invention, the seat 3 is produced directly in the ski and it is the same for the positioning member located in the seat.

 According to a variant, the interfaces of two skis can receive connecting members securing the interfaces or the skis and, as a result, the two skis 7 become a monoski.

In summary, the gliding equipment according to the invention is based on the following points
- a principle of male and female parts which are integrated by simple interlocking ensuring the functions of connections.

 - the safety function is based on an axial principle centered or non-interactive with different tarable mechanisms or not or with prestressing of the materials.

 The interface seat contains all of the controls for all interface functions.

 These control elements operate by simple pressure or sensitive pulse.

 It should be noted that the locking of the interface in the seat is ensured by at least one lock. This lock can be at the front or at the back.

 It can also be several locks repaired.

 A reverse connection, that is to say by latches integrated in the seat, is also possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

 The expressions "lock" and "cavity" used above and illustrated in a particular case correspond to general functions that can be carried out, for example, for prestressing the material.

Claims (7)

 (15).  - an intermediate positioning device  - a rear positioning part (14),  - a front positioning cavity (13),  B, - the seat (3) comprising  the,  accidental stress coupling  receive the interface (2) and allow its deactivation B - a seat (3) made in the gliding apparatus for  removable, controlled, with the shoe (1), A - an interface (2) intended to be fixed so  1-) Gliding equipment for natural or synthetic gliding surface such as snow, water, grass, sand, etc., consisting of a ski-type gliding device provided with detachable connecting means under the effect of constraints accident between the shoe and the gliding apparatus, equipment characterized in that it comprises:  accidentally.  ce (2) and seat (3) for a decoupling  and the relative pivoting of the interface  in the seat (3) to allow the position  relief, correspondingly projecting  with a positioning member (15) in  - a positioning cavity (12) cooperating  rear (14, 15) of the seat (3),  snaps into the positioning part  - a rear positioning part (11, 16)  (13) of the seat (3),  lodge in the front positioning cavity  - a front fixing means (10) intended to be  A. - the interface (2) comprising  2) Gliding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (3) is of independent dimensions of at least one size class.  3) Gliding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear positioning part (11) of the interface (2) comprises at least one latch (16) and the rear positioning part (14) of the seat (3 ) comprises at least one cavity (18) capable of receiving the lock (16) as well as a controlled release means (19) making it possible to release the lock (16) by user command.  4) Sliding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface (2) comprises a front element (43) forming an adjustable stop for the installation of a shoe (1), corresponding to different sizes.  5) Gliding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface (2) consists of an upper element (22) and a lower element (21) connected to each other by a hinge transverse, front (24),  - the lower element (21) fixing in the seat (3),  - The upper element (22) fixed to the shoe (23), which can be raised relative to the lower element (21) by vertical tilting around the articulation (24), the two elements (21, 22) being can be joined to each other by a lock (25).  6) Sliding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (3) is provided with an adjustable member (3 ') for receiving interfaces (3) of different dimensions.  7;) Gliding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface (2) is the sole of the shoe (1).  80) Gliding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning member (15, 15 ', 15 ") is adjustable.