FR2672507A1 - SAFETY FRONT STOP FOR SKI BINDING. - Google Patents

Abstract

This front stop is of the type comprising a jaw consisting of a pair of independent wings which are both movable laterally outwards against a calibrated elastic system, a disengaging mechanism being provided which ensures unlocking of these wings relative to the rest of the front stop beyond a certain lateral displacement stroke; in accordance with the invention, the front stop is provided with a voluntary release member (6) capable of acting on this declutching mechanism, which allows the skier to effortlessly release his boot from the ski binding.

Description

i

  SAFETY FRONT STOP FOR SKI BINDING

  The present invention relates to a front stop of

safety for ski binding.

  It relates more precisely to a front stop of the type

  comprising a fixed body mounted on the ski and a jaw

  killed by a pair of independent wings which serve to retain the front part of the boot on the ski, each of these wings being movable laterally outwards against a calibrated elastic system when it is subjected to a lateral force of predetermined value, a disengaging mechanism being provided which ensures the unlocking of these wings relative to the rest of the front stop, and their free movement towards the outside, without action

  on this elastic system, beyond a certain displacement stroke-

lateral.

  Front stops belonging to this category make

  the subject of documents DE-A-3 539 969 and DE-A-3 905 445.

  More specifically, the front stops described in these two documents comprise two longitudinal arms articulated in the fixed body of the stop and on a cross member so as to form an articulated quadrilateral, the axes of articulation of the arms on the cross member also constituting axes articulation for the wings, while the declutching mechanism comprises at least one lock carried by the cross member, but movable relative to it, this lock serving as support for the wings to prevent their pivoting around

their axis in the disengaged state.

  According to DE-A-3 905 445, the declutching mechanism comprises a pair of locks in the form of levers which are articulated on the

  crosses like a pair of scissors.

  We also know, from document FR-A-1 562 027, a safety front stop which is equipped with a voluntary heaving mechanism allowing the skier to release his shoe practically without effort, that is to say without having to overcome the resistance of the elastic system which ensures the triggering of

safety of the front stop.

  An arrangement of this kind has the advantage that the release of the binding is easier because the front stop is directly visible to the skier and it is more easily accessible to him, by hand or using the stick, than the heel piece. that is to say the retaining element of the rear part of the

  shoe to which the heaving function is traditional-

little devolved.

  A front stop fitted with a voluntary heaving mechanism can be advantageously associated with a heel piece devoid of such a mechanism, but whose heel retaining member opens automatically when the shoe has left the binding, whatever was the voluntary triggering or safety mode of the binding This directly allows the relaunching

subsequent fixation.

  Such a stop can also be associated with a traditional heel piece, also provided with a voluntary release mechanism. In this case, the release of the binding by the front stop can be useful in an emergency, especially after a

  fall resulting in an injury to the skier without the

  the binding has intervened, or also when the skier

  is immobilized in an unfortunate and dangerous position.

  The front stops according to document FR-A-1 562 027 are

  stops with a monobloc jaw, and not with independent wings

  such as those described in DE-A-3 539 969 or

DE-A-3 905 445 already mentioned.

  The present invention proposes to equip a stop

  before of the same general type as those described in these documents

  Germans, whose jaw consists of two independent wings

  dantes, a voluntary heaving mechanism.

  According to the invention, this result is achieved thanks

  to the fact that the stopper is provided with a voluntary release member

  shut up capable of acting on the release mechanism mentioned above,

  which allows the skier, by actuation of this release device

  wise, effortlessly release your shoe from the binding. In the case where the front stop is of the type mentioned above, with articulated deformable quadrilateral, and the disengaging mechanism comprises a lock or a pair of locks in the form of

  levers, carried by the crossbar of the quadrilateral, it is advantageous-

  ment provided on the (or) lock (s) a ramp which cooperates with a complementary counter-ramp secured to a control part

articulated on the crosspiece.

  In one embodiment of the invention, this part

  control is secured to the heaving member.

  In another embodiment, the release member

  sage is carried by the fixed body, and a part of this member is opposite the control part when the jaw is

in position centered on the ski.

  As is known in itself by certain provisions of document DE-A-3 905 445 (variant of FIGS. 5 to 8) this control part can be made integral with an element capable of serving as a support above the rim of the front of the sole, if the front part of the boot is raised relative to the ski,

  so as to also ensure in this configuration the unlocking

lage of the wings of the jaw.

  Advantageously, the heaving member assumes the general shape of a lever whose arm extends longitudinally

above the fixed body.

  The heaving member preferably has a

  bowl for the support of a ski pole, which facilitates clearance

  wise from the front stop using the stick.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear from the description and attached drawings which show

  try a preferred embodiment.

  In these drawings: FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a front stop according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial top view in section of the front stop of Figure 1;

  Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illus-

  trant the movement of the wings during a safety release of the front stop; Figure 4 is a partial view, intended more particularly to show the heaving mechanism, of the stop-front of Figures 1 and 2, this stop being cut by the longitudinal vertical plane referenced IV-IV in Figure 5; Figure 5 is a detail view in cross section corresponding to the plane V-V of Figure 4; Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to those of Figures 4 and 5 respectively, illustrating the operation of the heaving mechanism; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3

  also intended to illustrate the voluntary heaving operation

  keep silent about the stop; Figure 9 is a detail view similar to Figure 4 showing a possible variant of part of the heaving mechanism; Figure 10 is a side view, cut by a longitudinal vertical plane, of a second embodiment of the front stop according to the invention, only certain components of the heaving mechanism having been shown in this figure so as not to not weigh it down unnecessarily; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10

  intended to illustrate the principle of operation of this mechanism.

  The front stop represented in FIGS. 1 to 8 is of the same general type as that which is the subject of the variant of FIGS. 5 to 8 of document DE-A-3 905 445. This stop has a symmetrical shape and functioning

  relative to its longitudinal axis and can therefore be mounted indi-

  fiercely on the left or right ski.

  This stop comprises a fixed body 1 secured to a base 10 and a sliding plate 11 intended to support the

front part of the sole.

  The front of the ski, not shown in the figures, is

  to the left of Figures 1 and 2.

  The safety mechanism of the fastening is of the deformable quadrilateral type, comprising a pair of longitudinal arms 2 a and 2 b which are articulated at their front end on axes.

  vertical 20 mounted in the abutment body.

  The side faces of the body 1 are open, to

allow arms to pass 2.

  At the other end (rear end) the arms 2 a and 2 b are articulated by vertical axes 21 on a crosspiece. This is formed by two parallel flat rods, a high rod 23 and

a low rod 24 (see Figure 4).

  The axes 21 also serve to articulate two wings 3 a, 3 b which constitute the retaining jaw of the front part of the shoe, their shape being adapted to the shape of

  the front of the sole, as is well known.

  The wings 3 a, 3 b are independent of each other, that is to say can pivot each independently of the other

around their axis 21.

  These wings are formed of two parts, one 30 directed towards the rear which will serve to retain the shoe, and the other, in the form of an appendage 31, directed towards the front, the role of which is to immobilize the wing in rotation around

  axis 21 under certain conditions, as will be seen later.

  The two transverse parts 24, 23 carry in their central region a vertical axis 25 on which are articulated two parts 4 a, 4 b in the form of levers, which as will be seen later

  act as locks for the wings 3 a, 3 b.

  These two parts are articulated on the axis 25 in the manner of a pair of scissors They each carry on their upper face an element 41 a, 41 b whose upper ends arrive at the same level and have walls which, in their region directed towards the back of the ski, are profiled to form ramps

  inclined (see in particular figure 5).

  The free ends of the levers 4 a and 4 b have a wall in an arc of a circle, the fictitious axis of which coincides with the axis 25 These cylinder portions, referenced 40, constitute locking facets which normally bear against parts of

  complementary walls formed on the appendages 31 of the wings 3.

  In the normal position, which is that of FIG. 2, each part 4 a, 4 b therefore locks a wing 3 a, 3 b in order to prevent its

  pivoting towards the outside of the ski around its axis 21.

  Above the pair of levers 4 a, 4 b, also articulated

  abutment on the axis 25, a lifter is mounted 5 This is a part having the general shape of a "T" whose main branch extends longitudinally along the axis XX 'of the front stop (and of the ski) and with its tip directed towards the front The end of the branch 50 is located opposite two fixed stops 9, in the form of columns,

carried by the fixed body 1.

  The two stops 9 are arranged symmetrically on the side

  and on the other side of the axis XX ', at a certain distance from each other.

  Each of the transverse branches 51 of the lifter 5 is positioned at the rear of one of the ramps 41 of which are

fitted with parts 4 a, 4 b.

  The central zone of the upper cross member 23 has an extra thickness which carries a transverse axis 75 On this is articulated a piece 63 which has the general shape of a horizontal plate whose front longitudinal edges are folded down to form two inclined wings 64 The latter have a shape complementary to the ramps 41 Each wing 64 therefore plays the role of a counter ramp used to control the rotation of one of the locking levers 4a, 4b respectively,

  when it is moved down.

  The part 63 forms an integral part of a heaving member 6 This takes the general shape of a bent lever, composed of an arm 60 which is connected to the part 63 by an arcuate area 62 The arm 60 extends obliquely upwards and forwards above the stop body 1 Its front end carries a lining 61, for example made of plastic overmolded on the arm 60 The lining 61 has, on its upper face, a recess, or bowl , 610 intended to receive the tip of the stick

  ski to allow the release of the stop using the stick.

  This front stop is also equipped, of course,

  of an elastic system arranged to maintain the quadri- normally

  deformable laterer in its position centered on the ski (position in FIG. 2) It is for example, as is well known, a helical compression spring, or a set of springs, acting on a piston which cooperates with a profiled housing formed in a part integral with the cross-member 23, 24 Appropriate adjustment members make it possible, as is also well known, to adjust the setting of this spring, or of these springs, to adapt the trigger hardness of attachment to some

  specific characteristics of the skier.

  Other springs, of lesser hardness, are also provided in order to recall the locking levers 4 a and 4 b, as well

  that the wings 30 a and 30 b in their normal position in FIG. 2.

  All of these elastic means have not been shown

  felt here so as not to unnecessarily burden the description and the

  drawings, because these elements are well known to those skilled in the art.

  We will now explain, with particular reference to Figure 3, how this front stop

  provides the torsional safety function.

  When the skier's leg is subjected to a torsional force (substantially around the axis of the tibia) the front of the boot will exert a transverse force towards the outside of the ski

  on either of the two wings 3 a, 3 b.

  In FIG. 3, such an effort has been symbolized by the arrow

  Fl which represents a force applying to the wing 3 b.

  If this force exceeds the calibration of the elastic safety system, the articulated parallelogram 2 a 23, 24 2 b is deformed,

  as illustrated in FIG. 3, on the side of arrow Fl.

  During part of this movement, the position of the wings 3 a and 3 b relative to the cross-member 23-24 is not modified,

  the latches 4 prohibiting their rotation about their axis 21.

  After a certain stroke, the branch 50 of the lifter 5 meets one of the stops 9, which causes the pivoting of the

  spreader bar around its axis 25 (arrow F 2, Figure 3).

  As a result of this pivoting, one of the arms 51 of the lifter comes to rest against the ramp 41 which is opposite it, in turn causing the lever to pivot.

  corresponding lock 4 (arrow F 3, figure 3).

  If this pivoting is sufficient, the facet 40 which blocked the wing 3 b deviates completely from the appendix 31 b The wing 3 b is then free to pivot towards the outside of the ski, as

  shown in dashed lines (arrow F 4, Figure 3).

  The operation of the front stop is therefore such that, during skiing, when torsional forces appear which induce a limited displacement of the jaw, the boot is not released, the front stop refocusing the boot on the ski from cessation of these efforts On the other hand, if these efforts cause a significant lateral displacement, which happens in particular when we are dealing with high efforts and of relatively long duration (dangerous for the leg), the wing which is stressed is found sort of disengaged from the rest of the stopper, and allows the front part of the shoe to escape,

  performing the safety release of the binding.

  According to the invention, it is possible to control the disengagement of the wings, and therefore allow an effortless release of the binding by a lateral movement of the foot, of a c 8 tee.

  or the other, by simple action on the heaving member 6.

  We will explain, with particular reference to

  In figures 6, 7 and 8, how does this clearance work?

wise volunteer.

  When the skier wishes to leave his ski, he presses the lever arm 60 downwards, either by hand or with his stick, the tip of which he has previously positioned in the bowl 610 It therefore causes the tilting of the 'member 6 around its transverse articulation axis 75, as symbolized by the arrow Gl in Figure 6 This pivoting lowers the wings 64 which form counter-ramp (arrows G 2, Figures 6 and 7) It follows a pivoting of the two locking levers towards the inside of the ski

  4 a, 4 b (arrows G 3, figures 7 and 8).

  The blocking facets 40 therefore deviate from the appendages 31 of the two wings 3 a, 3 b, so that they are free to rotate about the axes 21 It is then sufficient for the skier to pivot his foot in torsion, substantially along the axis of its tibia, to effortlessly push one of the two wings 3 a or 3 b outward, which has the effect of releasing the boot relative to the ski This release is symbolized by the arrow G 4 at

  Figure 8, the open position of one of the wings, in this case

  rence 3 a, being shown in broken lines and referenced 3 a.

  When the boot has left the ski, the various elastic systems mentioned above automatically bring all of the constituent elements of the heaving mechanism back to their initial position corresponding to FIG. 2 To raise the binding, it is sufficient for the heel piece to be open. In the variant of Figure 9, the control part referenced 63 'does not form an integral part of the

  heaving 6 This part is fixed under the horizontal bent part

  zontale 67 of the member 6, for example using rivets.

  The part 63 ', which as in the previous example is articulated around a transverse axis 75 on the cross-member, is provided at its front part with counter-ramps 64' used to actuate the levers 4 a and 4 b At its end rear, the part 63 ′ is bent downwards to form a vertical rim 65 On this rim is overmolded a lining 66 with a low coefficient of friction The latter is shaped and positioned in the front stop, between the two wings 3 a and 3 b, so as to form a bar overhanging the front edge of the sole Thus, in the event of lifting of this edge during skiing, in particular as a result of an imbalance in rear fall of the skier, it is exerted on the lining 66 an effort directed from the bottom up, symbolized by the arrow G'1 in FIG. 9 This effort causes the tilting of the

  piece 63 'around its axis of articulation, so that the counter

  ramps 64 'bring the two locking levers together

  lage 4 a, 4 b, disengaging the wings 3 a, 3 b The shoe is therefore free to escape laterally from the stop, which compensates for the parasitic friction generated by the imbalance in rear fall. Such an arrangement is already known per se, in particular by

  document DE-A-3 905 445 already mentioned.

  It Of course, in accordance with the invention, and as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8, it is also possible

  to cause a voluntary release of the front stop when maneuvering

  on the heaving member 6 (arrow Gi, FIG. 9).

  The front stop which is the subject of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 comprises an unlocking control part referenced 7 This affects the shape of a bent plate whose front end carries the inclined wings 71 forming counter-ramps The rear angled part 70 has lateral cheeks notched in an arc of a circle engaging on the rounded rear edge of the cross member 23 The part 7 can therefore tilt around this rear edge, the latter playing so

the r 8 the of an articulation axis.

  The heaving member, referenced 8, is constituted by a spring steel blade Its front end 80 is embedded and fixed in the internal face of the upper wall of the abutment body 1 This blade is slightly bent so as to have a concavity 81 directed upwards The blade 8 extends under the upper wall of the body 1, towards the rear of the ski, and its free end 82 is positioned above the part 7, substantially in line with the counter-ramps 71 The elastic blade 8 is flexible,

but relatively rigid.

  In the upper wall of the body 1, above the recess

  cement 81, an opening 100, for example circular, is pierced, the diameter of which is sufficient to allow the free passage of

the tip of a ski pole.

  When the skier wishes to release his shoe, he intro

  duit the end of his ski stick B in the opening 100, so that the tip of the stick comes to rest against the top of the member 8, in the recess 81 He then uses his stick to pressure directed from top to bottom, pressure symbolized by the arrow II in FIG. 11 The elastic blade 8 flexes and, by its end portion 82, causes the control part 7 to tilt (arrow 12), the counter- ramps 71 then control the pivoting inwards of the two locking levers, which has the effect of disengaging the two wings constituting the jaw The skier can then release his boot from the ski, by a simple lateral movement of the tip of the shoe, on one side or

on the other of skiing.

  Of course, the bent portion 70 of the control piece 7 can be provided with a support element adapted to come into contact with the upper face of the front edge of the sole, so as to also cause the unlocking of the wings in the event of

  pronounced imbalance of the skier in rear fall.

  Note that in the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the part 7 is movable transversely (with the cross 23-24) while the blade 8 is fixed The voluntary heaving is therefore only possible when the jaw is in position centered on the ski, position in which the end 82 of the blade is plumb with the counter-ramps 71 This characteristic is in no way annoying, since voluntary heaving takes place

  naturally always at rest, not while skiing.

Claims (8)

  1 Safety front stop for ski binding, of the type comprising a fixed body (1) mounted on the ski and a jaw made up of a pair of independent wings (3 a, 3 b) which serve to retain the front part of the boot on the ski, each of these wings (3 a, 3 b) being movable laterally outwards against a calibrated elastic system when it is subjected to a lateral force of predetermined value, a declutching mechanism (4, 31) being provided which ensures the unlocking of these wings (3 a, 3 b) relative to the rest of the front stop, and their free movement towards the outside, without action on said elastic system , beyond a certain lateral displacement stroke, characterized in that it is provided with a voluntary release member (6, 8) capable of acting on said declutching mechanism (4, 31), which allows the skier, by actuation of this heaving member, to   effortlessly release the boot from the ski binding.   2 front stop according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two longitudinal arms (2 a, 2 b) articulated in the fixed body (1) and on a crosspiece (23, 24) so as to form a quadrilateral articulated, the axes (21) of articulation of the arms (2 a, 2 b) on the crosspiece (23, 24) also constituting articulation axes for the wings (3 a, 3 b), and that said mechanism declutching comprises at least one lock (4) carried by said cross member, but movable relative to it, this lock (4) serving to support the wings (3a, 3b) to prevent their pivoting around   their axis (21) when the front stop is in the disengaged state.   3 front stop according to claim 2, characterized in that the declutching mechanism comprises a pair of latches (4 a, 4 b) in the form of levers, which are articulated on the cross-member   (23, 24) like scissors.   4 front stop according to one of claims 2 or 3,   characterized by the fact that said lock (4) carries a ramp (41) which cooperates with a complementary counter-ramp (64; 64 '; 71) secured to a control part (63; 63'; 7) articulated on the crosspiece (23, 24). Front stop according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said control part (63, 63 ') is integral with the heaving member (6).   6 front stop according to claim 4, characterized in that the heaving member (8) is carried by the fixed body (1), a part (82) of this member (8) being located opposite screw of the control part (7) when the jaw (3 a, 3 b) is in position centered on the ski.   7 front stop according to claim 4, characterized in that said control part (63 ') is integral with an element (66) capable of serving as a support above the edge of the front of the sole, in the event of lifting of the front part of the boot relative to the ski, so as to also ensure in this   configuration of unlocking the wings (3 a, 3 b).   8 front stop according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said heaving member (6) has the general shape of a lever, the arm (60) of which extends   longitudinally above the fixed body (1).   9 front stop according to one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized by the fact that said heaving member (6, 8)   has a bowl (610, 81) for supporting a ski pole (B). Ji