FR2647025A1 - Binding device for fastening a pair of ski boots on a board for sliding over snow, such as a snowboard or a monoski - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a binding device for fastening a pair of boots A, B on a board for sliding over snow 1, such as a snowboard or a monoski. This device is characterised in that it includes an energising mechanism 6 which is symmetrical with respect to an axis yy', including two levers 12, 13 which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry yy', articulated at one of their ends, about pivots 14, 15 with axes Z perpendicular to the plane of the sliding board 1, and connected at their movable ends 16, 17, respectively, to two flexible traction cables 4, 5 extending as far as the movable stops of the two individual binding assemblies 2, 3, and elastic means 11 for stressing the two levers 12, 13 towards one another and exerting, on the two cables 4, 5, traction effects transmitted to the two movable stops.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for fixing a pair of boots for a skier on a snowboard, such as a surfboard or a monoski.

 The practice of snowboarding has developed rapidly in recent years and to practice this sport the skier uses a single board of large width, with an anterior end curved upwards and on which it bears transversely. For this purpose the surfboard is provided with a device for fixing the two skier's shoes, in order to maintain the rear foot (right or left depending on the skier) and the front foot (left or right) in positions inclined relative to to the longitudinal axis of the surfboard, so that the two feet of the skier are parallel or diverge from each other. Such a fastening device is described, for example, in patent US-A-4,652,007. This fastening device comprises means allowing a safe release in the event of a fall resulting in a stress on the skier's legs likely to cause an accident. The device described in the aforementioned patent comprises two fastening assemblies, respectively associated with the front and rear shoes, and these two fastening assemblies are coupled by an intermediate connecting element in such a way that the triggering of a fastening assembly ensuring the maintenance of one shoe automatically releases the other shoe. If the operation of such a device is relatively satisfactory from the safety point of view, due to the triggering of the two front and rear fasteners as soon as a skier's leg is subjected at a stress greater than the triggering threshold, this device nevertheless has the disadvantage of having a relatively complex structure, therefore expensive, and of a relatively large weight.

 The present invention aims to remedy these various drawbacks.

 To this end, this device for fixing a pair of boots for a skier on a snow gliding board, such as a surfboard or a monoski, comprising two individual binding assemblies holding the two boots respectively and each comprising a front stop holding the front end of the corresponding shoe, and a rear or heel stop holding the rear end of the shoe, one of the front and rear stops being mounted movable longitudinally relative to the other stop fixed to the sliding board, is characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for energizing symmetrical with respect to an axis, comprising two levers arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry, articulated, at one of their endsr around pivots axes perpendicular to the plane of the gliding board and connected, at their mobile ends, respectively to two flexible traction cables extending Ju squ'à mobile stops of the two individual fastening assemblies, and elastic means to urge the two levers towards each other and exert, on the two cables, pulls transmitted to the two mobile stops.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of a device for fixing a pair of shoes on a snowboard according to the invention, in the engagement position of the two individual fastening assemblies.

 FIG. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the energization mechanism of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1.

 Figure 3 is a plan view of the energizing mechanism in an intermediate position during the release of the rear mounting assembly.

 FIG. 4 is a plan view of the energization mechanism, in the partial engagement position, the rear attachment assembly being assumed to be released, and the front attachment assembly engaged.

 Figure 5 is a partial plan view of an alternative embodiment of the energization mechanism.

 Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening device provided with a boot and heaving member.

 Figure 7 is a plan view of a fixing device according to the invention mounted on a monoski.

 The device shown in Figures 1 to 4 is intended to secure, on a gliding board 1 consisting of a snowboard, two front shoes A and rear B, shown schematically in Figure 1. According to practice usual for snowboarding the rear boot B is maintained in an appropriate orientation, for example perpendicular, with respect to the longitudinal axis xx '<of the surfboard 1 while the front boot A is inclined towards the front of this board (assumed to be on the left in the drawing). The front shoe A is held on the surfboard 1 by an individual front fixing assembly 2 and the same is true for the rear shoe B which is held by an individual rear fixing assembly 3. Each of the fixing assemblies 2,3 can be of any known type and it can include a front stop and a heel holding the front and rear ends of the shoe respectively. Each of the fastening assemblies 2, 3 comprises at least one movable element which is urged elastically, longitudinally or transversely, so as to ensure the secure maintenance of the corresponding shoe A, B. This movable element can be constituted, as shown in FIG. 1 by a front stop 2a, 3a, maintaining the front of the shoe, which is then elastically urged, in the longitudinal direction, towards a rear stop or fixed heel piece 2b, 3b maintaining the rear end of the shoe, so that the shoe is "pinched" between the front stop and the heel piece and that it can be released, in the event of a fall, when the stress exerted by the shoe on the movable front stop exceeds a predetermined triggering threshold. The opposite solution can also be adopted, that is to say that in this case the shoe is held between a front stop 2a, 3a fixed and a mobile heel 2b, 3b. The mobile elements (front stops or heel) of the two sets individual fastening devices 2,3 are connected, via respective traction cables 4,5, to an energizing mechanism 6 placed between the two individual fastening assemblies 2,3 and thus acting jointly on the two fastening assemblies 2,3 individual so as to elastically urge each movable front stop 2a, 3a (or the movable heel 2b, 3b) towards the fixed heel 2b, 3b (or the corresponding front stop 2a, 3a). Another possibility would be to pinch each shoe elastically between two stops disposed laterally, that is to say on each side of the shoe. In this case, the lateral abutment located outside would be fixedly mounted on the gliding board 1, while the interior lateral abutment would be connected by the cable 4 or 5 to the energization mechanism 6.

The energizing mechanism 6 comprises a locking and unlocking plate 7 fixedly mounted on the surfboard 1, extending parallel to this surfboard and having the general shape of an isosceles trapezium symmetrical with respect to a transverse axis yy '. This plate 7 comprises a large base 7a facing the axis xx 'of the board 1, a small base 7b facing the lower or left side of the board 1 and two inclined sides 7c, 7d. In these inclined sides 7c, 7d are respectively provided, near the large base 7a, notches 7e, 7f. These notches 7e, 7f serve as locking housings respectively for two lugs 8.9 to which are hooked the two ends of a tension spring 11. The lugs 8.9 extend respectively through longitudinal slots 12a, 13a, formed in two levers 12,13 mounted symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis yy '. These levers 12,13 are respectively articulated, at one of their ends, around pivots 14,15 taxes Z, integral with the surfboard 1, which are perpendicular to the surfboard 1 and arranged, symmetrically with respect to the axis yy ', in the vicinity of the ends of the small base 7b of the plate 7.The lugs 8, 9 can slide in the slots 12a, 13a between two extreme positions, namely a first extreme position in which the lug 8, 9 is housed in the bottom of its notch 7e, 7f and the axis of the lug 8.9 is located at point X, and a second extreme position in which the lug 8.9 is close to the pivot 14.15 of the lever 12,13 and its axis is located at the point
Y. The two points X and Y form, with the center Z of each pivot 14,15 of the levers 12,13, an obtuse angle XYZ open towards the outside, that is to say opposite the plate 7. The levers 12,13 are connected, at their mobile ends, that is to say opposite to the pivots 14,15, respectively to the traction cables 4,5, by respective hooking points 16,17.

 When the individual front 2 and rear 3 fastening assemblies are both in the latching position, to maintain the two shoes A and B as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two lugs 8, 9 are housed respectively in the bottoms of the two notches 7e, 7f and the tension spring 11 extends along the parallel axis Ila, at the distance dl from the axes of rotation Z of the two levers 12,13, to the two bases 7a, 7b of the plate 7 , as shown in phantom in Figures 2 and 3. The distance between the axes of the two lugs 8,9, then in the positions X, that is to say the extension of the tension spring 1 then has, in this case, a minimum value a. In this latching position, owing to the fact that the lugs 8, 9 and the two pivoting levers 12, 13 are permanently biased towards each other by the tension spring Il , the two flexible cables 4,5 are subjected to tensile forces of the same intensity fl and in opposite directions. The tension spring 11 exerts, on each of the lugs 8, 9, a force F1 along the axis lla and consequently, on each of the levers 12, 13 a torque C1 = Flxdl. I1 thus ensures the energization of the two individual fixing assemblies 2,3, by means of the flexible traction cables 4,5 which are then subjected to the tensile forces fl. Furthermore, each lug 8,9, in the extreme position X , is biased, by the spring 11, towards the other end of the lumen 12a, 13a, in which its axis is in position Y, but it is however retained by the corresponding notch edge 7e, 7f.

 If, as a result of a request, greater than the triggering threshold, exerted by one of the shoes, for example the rear shoe B, during the practice of surfing, the rear fixing assembly 3 tends to trigger, the cable traction 5 is subjected to a higher traction force and opposite to the force fl produced by the traction spring ll and this results in a rotation of the lever 13 about its axis Z, in a clockwise direction , in Figure 2. During this rotational movement the lever 13 carries with it the lug 9 which is thus moved outward, in its notch 7f, until it arrives at the place of the connection edge 7g between the edge of the notch 7f and the inclined side 7d of the plate 7, as shown in FIG. 3. Like, during this movement, the other lug 8 remained fixed in the bottom of the notch 7e, the distance between the axes X of the two lugs increases, the tension spring 11 which extends end then along the axis llb, is therefore subjected to an elongation and it reaches a maximum extension b, greater than the extension a in the latching position, as soon as the lug 9 reaches the edge 7g. moment, as lug 9 is in contact with the inclined side 7d, it is caused to move, under the action of the tension spring It retracts, along this inclined side 7d playing the role of guide ramp, in direction of the small base 7b of the plate 7. This movement continues until the lug 9 comes into contact with the end of the light 13a which is close to the pivot 15, its axis then coming to be placed in the extreme position Y, as shown in Figure 4.

 During this movement of the lug 9, along the ramp 7d, the lever 13 does not move. The value of the obtuse angle XYZ and consequently the direction of the light 13a are preferably chosen so that the light 13a is parallel to the inclined side 7d when the lug 9 is in contact with this side. In this case the inclined side 7d of the plate and the adjacent longitudinal side of the light 13a are located in the same vertical plane and they are both in contact with the lug 9. However, this arrangement is not limiting and the light 13a could have a different orientation, depending on the obtuse angle XYZ.

 When the lug 9 reaches its extreme position, its axis then being located at point Y (FIG. 4), the spring 11 which extends along the axis Ilc, is somewhat relaxed and its extension then has a value c which is less than its original extension a. As a result, the other lever 12 is subjected, on the part of the tension spring 11, to a torque C2, clockwise, which is less than the torque C1 existing in the latching position. effect the force F2 exerted by the tension spring Il, which then has its minimum extension c, is weaker than the initial force F1 and moreover the axis llc of application of this force F2 is at a distance d2 from the axis of rotation Z of the lever 12 which is smaller than the distance dl from the axis lla of application of the initial force F1, therefore C2 = F2 x d2 is less than Cl = Flxdl. The intensity of the traction force applied to the flexible traction cable 4 is then reduced to a value f2 lower than the initial value fl.

 Consequently, during the triggering of an individual fixing assembly such as, for example, the rear assembly 3, the other individual fixing assembly 2 remains engaged but is nevertheless subjected to a stress of lower intensity. This allows the skier to keep his front foot on the surfboard 1, by means of the individual front fixing assembly 2 engaged, and to push, by means of his free rear foot, in order to propel himself on the board 1 to the way of a "scooter".

 Furthermore, it can be seen from the above that, in the event of a fall, the triggering of an individual fastening assembly, for example the assembly 3 holding the rear shoe B, results in a lowering of the triggering threshold of the another individual attachment assembly 2, now the front shoe A, due to the reduction in the traction force applied by the energizing mechanism 6 to the cable 4 connected to the individual attachment assembly 2.

It is possible to adjust the intensity of the return force of the spring 11 either by changing this spring, that is to say by using springs of more or less high hardness, or by providing means making it possible to adjust the elongation c 'that is to say the initial tension of the spring 11. Figure 5 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment for obtaining such an adjustment. In this case, the lug 9 is not directly connected to the end of the spring 11 but it is engaged in an elongated opening 18 of a tensioner 19 carrying, at one end, a finger 20 to which the end of the spring 11. The tensioner 19 carries, at its other end, a tension adjustment screw 21 which is axially screwed into a tapped hole and which is engaged in the slot 18 so as to bear, by its end, against the lug 9.Therefore, by screwing more or less the adjusting screw 21 of the tensioner 19, it is possible to vary the distance between the lug 9 and the finger 20 and consequently the tension of the spring 11.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the energization mechanism 6 in which a shoeing and heaving plate 22, symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis yy ', is superimposed on the locking and unlocking plate 7. This plate 22 is mounted movable in translation along the transverse axis yy 'and it can be moved by any suitable means, for example by a shoeing and heaving lever. The plate 22 has the general shape of two isosceles trapezoids, of different inclinations, converging towards one another and connected by a rectangular intermediate part connected to the small bases of the two trapezoids. The inclined sides of this plate 22 are in contact with the lugs 8.9 vis-à-vis which they act as ramps. The plate 22 forms a trapezoidal boot cam delimited laterally by two sides 22a, 22b, inclined symmetrically relative to the axis yy 'and constituting boot ramps, and a release cam delimited laterally by two other sides 22c, 22d inclined symmetrically with respect to the axis yy 'and constituting heaving ramps, the inclined sides 22a, 22c and 22b, 22 being connected to each other by sides 22e, 22f parallel to the axis yy' and delimiting the intermediate part rectangular of the plate 22.The fitting ramps 22a, 22b converge in the direction of the large base 7a of the locking and unlocking plate 7 while the release ramps 22c, 22d are inclined in opposite directions, that is to say say that they converge towards the small base 7b of the plate 7. Each of the ramps 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d is extended outwards by a small side 22g perpendicular to the axis yy '. The width of the plate 22 is slightly greater than that of the plate 7 so that the lugs 8, 9 are always in contact with the sides of the plate 22 whatever its position.

 When the two individual fixing assemblies 2,3 are triggered, the two lugs 8,9 are respectively in contact with the inclined ramps 7c, 7d of the plate 7, near the pivots 14,15 of the levers 12,13, as it is shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, and the spring 11 is then completely relaxed, with its minimum extension, less than the extension a shown in FIG. 2. The pins 8, 9 are also in contact with the ramps boot 22a, 22b. Consequently if the skier, after having engaged his two boots A, B in the respective individual binding assemblies 2,3, wants to engage these binding assemblies, he acts on the energizing mechanism 6 so to move the shoeing and heaving plate 22 in translation, from the position illustrated in FIG. 5, parallel to the axis yy 'and in the direction of the large base 7a of the locking and unlocking plate 7, according to thearrow C in FIG. 5. As a result of this displacement of the plate 22, the lugs 8, 9 are pushed back, by the fitting ramps 22a, 22b towards the notches 7e, 7f, along the inclined ramps 7c, 7d of the plate 7, causing a progressive extension of the tension spring 11. This movement takes place until the two lugs 8.9 arrive in front of the entries of the notches 7e, 7g and at this time the two lugs 8.9 are pulled towards and in the bottoms of these notches under the action of the tension spring 11 partially relaxing, coming to occupy the position indicated in phantom in FIG. 6.

 If, the two individual fastening assemblies 2, 3 being engaged, the skier wishes to take off the shoes, he causes the shoe and shoe release plate 22 to move in the opposite direction to the previous one, that is to say according to the arrow D on FIG. 5, in the direction of the small base 7b of the locking and unlocking plate 7. During this movement, the release ramps 22c, 22d come into contact with the pins 8, 9 then being in the bottoms of the notches 7e, 7f, and, because of their inclinations, they gradually push these lugs outwards, in their respective notches 7e, 7f, until these lugs come to bear on the inclined ramps 7c, 7d of the plate 7 and from this moment the pins 8.9 slide by themselves on these two ramps under the effect of the tension spring 11 gradually relaxing, to come to occupy their trigger position shown in solid lines in the figure 5.

 FIG. 7 illustrates an application of the device according to the invention to the fastening of two boots A, B, arranged parallel to one another and one next to the other on a gliding board which is made up of this case by a monoski 1. In this case the energization mechanism 6 is preferably placed in front of the two individual fastening assemblies 2, 3 holding the shoes A and B and it can act on heels and / or toes before two sets 2.3.

Claims (8)

 1.- Device for fixing a pair of shoes (A, B) on a snow gliding board (1), such as a surfboard or a monoski, comprising two individual fixing assemblies (2,3) holding the two shoes respectively (A, B) and each comprising a front stop (2a, 3a), maintaining the front end of the corresponding shoe (A, B), and a rear or heel stop (2b, 3b) now l rear end of the boot, one of the front and rear stops being mounted movable longitudinally relative to the other stop fixed to the gliding board (1), characterized in that it includes an energization mechanism (6 ) symmetrical about an axis (yy '), comprising two levers (12,13) arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry (yy'), articulated, at one of their ends, around pivots (14 , 15) of axes (Z) perpendicular to the plane of the gliding board (1) and connected at their movable ends (16 , 17), respectively with two flexible traction cables (4,5) extending up to the movable stops of the two individual fixing assemblies (2,3), and elastic means (11) for biasing the two levers (12 , 13) towards each other and exert, on the two cables (4,5), pulls transmitted to the two movable stops.  2.- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the energization mechanism (6) comprises a locking and unlocking plate (7), fixed to the gliding board (1), extending parallel to this board slides (1) and having the general shape of an isosceles trapezium symmetrical with respect to the axis (yy '), this plate (7) comprising a large base (7a), a small base (7b) and two inclined sides ( 7c, 7d), in which are respectively provided, near the large base (7a), notches (7e, 7f), serving as locking housings respectively for two lugs (8,9) to which the two ends d 'a tension spring (11), and these pins (8,9) extend respectively through longitudinal slots (12a, 13a) formed in the two levers (12,13) whose pivot axes (Z) are arranged in the vicinity of the ends of the small base (7b) of the plate (7).  3.- Device according to claim 2 characterized in that es two extreme positions (X, Y) of the axis of each lug (8,9) in its lumen (12a, 13a) and the axis (Z) of each pivot (14,15) of a lever (12,13) form an obtuse angle (XYZ) open towards the outside.  4.- Device according to any one of claims 2 and 3 characterized in that it comprises a shoeing and heaving plate (22), symmetrical with respect to the axis (yy '), which is superimposed on the plate locking and unlocking (7), and which is mounted movable in translation along the axis (yy ').  5.- Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the shoeing and heaving plate (22) has the general shape of two isosceles trapezoids, of different inclinations, converging towards one another and connected by an intermediate part rectangular connected to the small bases of the two trapezoids, the inclined sides of this plate (22) being in contact with the lugs (8,9) vis-à-vis which they act as ramps so that the plate (22) forms thus a trapezoidal boot cam delimited laterally by two sides (22a, 22b), inclined symmetrically with respect to the axis (yy ') and constituting boot ramps, and a release cam delimited laterally by two other sides (22c, 22d) inclined symmetrically with respect to 1 the axis (yy ') and constituting heaving ramps, these inclined sides (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) being connected to each other by sides (22e, 22f) parallel to the axis (yy ') and delimiting the rectangular intermediate part of the plate (22), the fitting ramps (22a, 22b) converging towards the large base (7a) of the locking and unlocking plate (7) while the release ramps (22c , 22d) are inclined in the opposite direction, that is to say that they converge towards the small base (7b) of the plate (7).  6.- Device according to claim 5 characterized in that each of the ramps (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) of the shoeing and heaving plate (22) is extended outwards by a small side (22g) perpendicular to the 'axis (yy') and the width of the plate (22) is slightly greater than that of the plate (7) so that the pins (8,9) are always in contact with the sides of the plate (22) whatever its position.  7.- Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the initial elongation of the tension spring (11).  8.- Device according to claim 7 characterized in that one of the lugs (9) also extends through a longitudinal lumen (18) of a tensioner (19) carrying, at one end, a finger (20) to which is attached one end of the. tension spring (11) and, at its other end, an adjustment screw (21) screwed into a tapped hole in the tensioner (19) and the end of which bears against the lug (9).