FR2683457A1 - Device for adjusting the longitudinal position of an alpine binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for longitudinal adjustment of a binding element for an alpine ski, particularly a front binding element. The device comprises a bottom plate (9) on which are securely and removably assembled the base (5) of the binding and a slide securely attached to the ski along which the bottom plate (9) can slide in a longitudinal direction. The bottom plate (9) also has a bolt, for longitudinal positioning, and a control button (10) permitting the manoeuvring of the bolt and accessible on a lateral side of the bottom plate (9).

Description

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE LONGITUDINAL POSITION OF AN ALPINE FASTENING
The invention relates to an alpine binding element, which is intended to retain a boot bearing on a ski.

 More specifically, the invention relates to a device for adjusting the longitudinal position on the ski of such an alpine binding element.

 Generally, a shoe is retained on a ski by a front binding element, and a rear binding element. One of the elements, most often the rear element, is equipped with means allowing the adjustment of its longitudinal position, in order to allow the use of the ski with shoes of different length.

 In some cases, the two fastening elements have their own means for adjusting their longitudinal position. This is the case with certain rental bindings, which are intended to be used with a wide range of shoes which can have very different lengths. The longitudinal adjustment of the two fastening elements then makes it possible to adapt the ski to a determined length of boot, and to bring about, or almost coincident, the middle of the boot with the middle of the ski.

 Various devices are known which allow such a longitudinal position adjustment of the front fastening element. For example, patent application FR 2 578534 describes a front fastening element, the base of which is movable along a slide. The means making it possible to adjust the longitudinal position of the base include, for the base, lateral teeth which cooperate with orifices in the slide, and a sort of cam which forces the engagement of the teeth in the orifices.

A device of the same type is described in patent application FR 2 632200.

 These devices require a tool to achieve longitudinal adjustment. In addition, the base of the binding is specific for this use, that is to say it has special arrangements for this longitudinal adjustment.

 Also known, according to patent application EP 169 315, an adjustment device which is intended to equip a front fixing element. This device comprises an operating lever, the actuation of which controls the introduction of a rod into one of the orifices of a slide. As in the previous case, this device requires a specific arrangement of the attachment, that is to say that the attachment must be designed and produced as a whole taking into account the presence of this equipment.

 One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a longitudinal adjustment device for a fixing element which can be used with standard fixing elements, in particular front fixing elements.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows longitudinal adjustment to be made without having to use a particular tool.

 Another object of the invention is to propose a device whose maneuver is particularly simple, and requires on the part of the user natural gestures.

 Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, this description being however given by way of indication, and not limitation.

 The adjustment device according to the invention is intended to equip a binding which comprises a member for retaining one end of the boot, a body and a base by which the binding element can be assembled to a ski. The adjustment device also comprises a longitudinal slide secured to the ski, along which the fixing element can slide, and means for immobilizing the fixing element on the slide in at least two different longitudinal positions.

 It is characterized by the fact that it comprises a base plate on which the base of the fixing element is assembled in an integral manner, that the base plate is mounted in a sliding manner relative to the slide, and that the base plate is also equipped with a longitudinal positioning lock and a control button which allows the operation of the lock.

 The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below, as well as to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

 Figure 1 is a side view in partial section of the adjustment device, also equipped with a front fixing element.

 FIG. 2 is a view in section through a longitudinal and vertical plane of an adjustment device in FIG. 1.

 FIG. 3 is a top view of the slide which constitutes one of the elements of the device in FIG. 1.

 FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the slide shown in FIG. 3.

 Figure 5 is a bottom view of the base plate of the device shown in Figure 1, in one of its operating positions.

 Figure 6 is also a bottom view of the previous base plate, but in a different operating position.

 Figure 7 is a perspective view of the positioning latch and its control button.

 Figure 8 is a front view of the device of Figure 1, in section through a transverse and vertical plane, in one of the operating positions.

 Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, but in another operating position of the device.

 Figure 10 shows the same device as the previous two figures, but in a different operating position.

 There is shown in FIG. 1, partially, a ski 1 to which a fastening element 2 is assembled. The fastening element shown is a front fastening element, and as will appear below, this fastening element can be of any suitable type. Advantageously, it is a standard element, identical to elements which are assembled directly on a ski.

 In a known manner, the fastening element 2 has a retaining member 3 for the front end of the shoe, a body 4, and a base 5. The base 5 is extended towards the rear by a plate d 'support 6 on which rests the front end of the shoe. We find all these elements in almost all existing fasteners.

 Between the binding element 2 and the ski is a device 7 for the longitudinal adjustment of the binding element. The device 7 mainly comprises a slide 8 secured to the ski, which will be described in detail later, and a base plate 9 which is mounted on the slide 8 for a sliding movement in a longitudinal direction. The base plate has an upper surface of dimensions close to those of the base 5 and the support plate 6 of the attachment.

The base 5 is assembled to the base plate 9 in an integral manner, and preferably in a removable manner by any suitable means, for example screws.

 The base plate 9 is also equipped with a lock which cooperates with the slide to define at least two different longitudinal positions for the base plate 9. The lock makes it possible to immobilize the base plate 9 in each of these positions, and a button 10, preferably opening onto one of the lateral sides of the base plate 9, enables the lock to be actuated.

 It is thus understood that the adjustment device is made up of elements independent of the fixing element, and therefore that it constitutes an autonomous sub-assembly with respect to the fixing element itself. The fixing element can therefore be interchanged with another fixing element of the same type, and standard, without having to change the device. In addition, it is possible to mount on the adjusting device fixing elements of different type from the moment when the base plate 9 has assembly means suitable for each type of fixing, for example several sets of orifices. in correspondence with the assembly orifices presented by the different types of fastening.

 In a preferred embodiment, the slide 8 is extended towards the rear by an elongated tongue 13. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the tongue 13 is assembled in its front part to an interface plate 14, which is interposed between the slide 8 and the upper surface of the ski. The tongue 13 also extends backwards where it is engaged under the base plate, or the base of the fixing element behind, shown diagrammatically at 15. At this level, preferably, the end of the tongue 13 can slide freely in a longitudinal direction.

 As can be seen in FIG. 1, the base plate 9, in its rear part, covers the tongue 13. Advantageously, the tongue has successive marks 16 which each coincide with the rear end of the base plate 9 at each of the longitudinal positions that the base plate can occupy. The tongue and the marks 16 thus make it possible to identify very quickly and very easily the position in which the element before fixing is located.

 Figures 3 and 4 show in more detail the slide 8. This slide has an overall rectangular shape, it has a central part 19, equipped with holes 20 for ski assembly screws. Laterally, the slide has two raised longitudinal wings 21 and 22 along which the base plate 9 will be guided.

 In the central part 19, the base plate 8 has a plurality of teeth 23 to 31. These teeth are aligned along an axis directed longitudinally, and they define identical between-teeth between them.

 In Figure 3, there are shown nine teeth, thus defining eight between-teeth. This number, of course, is not limitative, and any other number may be suitable.

 As can be seen in Figure 4, preferably, viewed in a longitudinal direction, each tooth has a trapezoidal section with the large base located at the upper surface of the slide, and the small base in the upper part of the tooth. In this way, the teeth have laterally at least one inclined surface 32 whose role will be described later.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the teeth 23 to 31 are slightly offset with respect to the median longitudinal axis 33 of the slide 8, and the face 32 is oriented towards the side of the axis 33. This , however, corresponds to a preferred embodiment, and is not limiting for the invention.

 Also, according to a preferred embodiment, the first tooth, that is to say the tooth 23, has, in a longitudinal direction, a larger dimension than the other teeth.

Also, the last tooth, that is to say the tooth 31, extends more towards the axis 33 than the other teeth. The reason will be described later.

 Figures 5 and 6 show, in bottom view, the base plate 9 equipped with its latch 35. The base plate 9 has a longitudinal recess 36, which opens towards the rear, and which is limited laterally by two longitudinal grooves 37 and 38. The transverse dimensions of the grooves 37 and 38 are determined so that the base plate 9 can slide freely along the slide 8 while being held vertically downwards and upwards. Preferably, the base plate 9 has, on its two lateral edges, and on its front edge a flange 39, which descends as close as possible to the upper surface of the ski, so as to limit the introduction of snow or dirt to this level. The grooves 37 and 38 are hollowed out in the lateral parts of this rim.

 In the central part of the base plate 9, a latch 35 is guided for movement in a transverse direction against the restoring force of a spring 40. For example, as shown, the base plate 9 has a transverse housing 41 along which the latch 35 is guided. This lock 35 is extended laterally by a tongue 42, at the end of which is the actuation button 10. The button 10 opens onto a lateral edge of the base plate 9, and preferably, at its level, the base plate 9 has a lateral bulge 44, on either side of the button, which envelops the button in the outline of the base plate.

 In its central part, according to a preferred embodiment, the lock 35 has a set of three teeth 45, 46 and 47, the two end teeth 45 and 47 being aligned in a longitudinal direction, and the central tooth 46 being offset according to a transverse direction relative to the previous two in a direction opposite to the button 10. In the embodiment shown, the axis on which the two teeth 45 and 47 are aligned, is offset towards the button 10, relative to the longitudinal axis median 50 of base plate 9.

 The extreme teeth 45 and 47 have a width substantially equal to the width of the crossbeams of the slide 8. The width of the central tooth 46 is substantially equal to the width of one of the intermediate teeth 24 to 30 of the slide 8.

 Preferably, at least the central tooth 46 has, on the side of the button 10, an inclined face 48, the inclination of which is substantially identical to that of the face 32 of the teeth 24 to 30. From the above, it is understood easily that, when the base plate 9 is engaged on the slide 8, the spring 40 of the lock 35 biases the teeth 45, 46 and 47 in the direction of the teeth 23 to 31 of the slide 8.

The teeth 45 and 47 are provided to engage in the inter-teeth, and the central tooth 46 is provided to abut against one of the teeth 24 to 30 of the slide 8. The inclination of the faces 48 and 32 has so that when the tooth 46 is supported on one of the teeth 24 to 30, the transverse force of the spring 40 is transformed into an upward vertical force which is exerted on the base. This contributes to reducing the vertical clearance between the base plate 9 and the slide 8, at least in the absence of a shoe.

 It has been said previously that the first tooth 23 had a width greater than the other teeth of the slide 8, and therefore greater than the central tooth 46 of the latch. In this way, the latch 35 can not be positioned relative to the tooth 23. In this way, it is certain that the teeth 45 and 47 are always positioned between two teeth of the slide 8, whatever the longitudinal position taken by the base plate 9. The eight teeth therefore define seven different positions.

 When the longitudinal adjustment of the base plate 9 brings the teeth of the latch into the region of the first tooth 23, which corresponds to the retracted position of the base plate 9, the front part 52 of the flange 39 of the plate 9 comes abut against the front edge 53 of the slide 8, which limits the rearward movement of the base plate.

 This however is not limiting. We could as well limit the backward movement of the base plate 9 by extending the tooth 23 towards the median longitudinal axis 33, in the same way as the tooth 31.

 With regard to the forward movement, it has been said previously that the last tooth 31 extends more towards the axis 33 than the others. It is then understood that, to cross this tooth 31, the latch 35 will have to be moved laterally over a greater distance than for crossing the other teeth.

 FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment, according to which a pusher 55 is placed on the lateral edge of the base plate 9, near the button 10, with a possibility of sliding relative to the base plate 9, in an approximately longitudinal direction.

The pusher 55 has towards the button 10 a cleat 56 which, depending on the longitudinal position given to the pusher 55 limits or not the transverse movement of the button 10, and therefore of the latch 35. In FIG. 5, the cleat 56 is engaged behind the button 10, which limits the clearance of the latch 35 to an amplitude sufficient to pass through the intermediate teeth 24 to 30, but not the last tooth 31.

In parallel, in FIG. 6, the pusher 56 is shown in its position where the cleat 56 is released relative to the button 10. The button 10 and therefore the latch 35 have a maximum transverse clearance, which allows the crossing of all the teeth 24 to 31. The button 10 and the latch 35 are moreover shown, in FIG. 6, in the maximum insertion position. We can then slide the base plate out of its slide. However, it should be noted that this extraction requires the displacement of the pusher 55 beforehand, in order to release the cleat 56 from the button 10. Any means suitable for the person skilled in the art can, moreover, be added to the device. guiding between the pusher 55 and the base plate 9, so that the movement of the pusher is relatively difficult, in order to avoid inadvertent movement of the latter.

 Figures 8 to 10 illustrate the adjustment device in its different operating positions. FIG. 8 corresponds to the normal ski position with the lock 35 engaged on one of the teeth 24 to 30 of the slide 8. In FIG. 9, a transverse force "F" is exerted on the button 10, but the pusher 55 is in the position of FIG. 5. The teeth of the latch are then released from the teeth 24 to 30 of the slide, but their displacement is not sufficient to allow the last tooth 31 to be crossed.

 Figure 10 corresponds to the position of the pusher 55 illustrated in Figure 6. The same force "F" then allows maximum movement of the latch 35, and the teeth of the latch are then released from the teeth 24 to 31. The extraction of the plate base off the forward slide is possible. This is useful for example to exchange the complete product, or to disassemble the fixing element with respect to the base plate, in order to repair or replace it.

 Finally, it should be noted that, according to a preferred embodiment, the button 10 is located on the left side of the base, at the rear part of the body 4 of the fixing element.

 This takes into account the usual position of a ski during adjustment, that is to say the tip on the left side of the technician who performs the adjustment. With his left hand, he grabs the body of the fastener. His thumb then naturally occurs at the pusher 10 which he can operate in a very simple manner. Thus, the technician very naturally connects, and with his left hand, the movements necessary to actuate the lock 35, then move the base plate 9, then release the lock when the desired position is reached. The marks 16 of the tongue 13 which have been described in relation to FIG. I then help the technician to position the base plate 9 in one of the longitudinal positions defined by the teeth of the slide 8.

 Naturally, the present description is given for information only, and other implementations of the invention could be adopted without departing from the scope thereof.

 In particular, it goes without saying that the adjustment device which has just been described could be adapted for a rear fixing element. It would suffice to modify the horizontal dimensions of the base plate 9, so that it can receive the base of a rear fixing element.

Claims (10)

 1-Device for longitudinal adjustment of a fastening element for alpine skiing intended to retain a boot bearing on a ski, the fastening element comprising a retaining member (3) at one end of the boot, a body ( 4) and a base (5) by which the binding element can be assembled to the ski, the adjustment device further comprising a longitudinal slide (8) integral with the ski along which the binding element can slide, and means for immobilizing the fixing element on the slide in at least two different longitudinal positions,  characterized by the fact that it comprises a base plate (9) on which the base (5) of the fixing element is integrally assembled,  that the base plate (9) is slidably mounted relative to the slide (8),  that the base plate (9) is also equipped with a latch (35) for longitudinal positioning, and a control button (10) which allows the latch (35) to be operated.  2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (8) has, in its central part, at least three teeth (23-31) aligned in a longitudinal direction defining between them at least two teeth, and that the base plate (9) has a lock (35) movable in a transverse direction, provided with a control button (10) which opens on a lateral edge of the base plate, the lock having at least one tooth ( 45,47) which cooperates with the inter-teeth of the slide by an engagement in a transverse direction, in order to immobilize the base plate (9) in a longitudinal direction.  3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the latch (35) has three juxtaposed teeth (45,46,47) distributed in a longitudinal direction, two end teeth (45,47) aligned on a longitudinal direction, and a central tooth (46) recessed in a transverse direction, the two end teeth being intended to engage in two successive inter-teeth of the slide under the elastic force of a spring (40) for returning the lock, the tooth central (46) abutting against the tooth (24-30) of the slide (8) adjacent to the two between-teeth.  4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the side face (48) of the central tooth (46) of the lock and that (32) of the teeth (24-30) of the slide (8) which cooperate together are inclined in a vertical and transverse plane, and respectively have a substantially identical inclination.  5- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the last tooth (31) at one end of the slide has, relative to the other teeth, a larger dimension in a transverse direction so that the crossing of this tooth (31) by the latch (35) requires a displacement of the button (10) over an amplitude greater than the amplitude necessary for the crossing of the other teeth (24-30).  6- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a pusher (55) movable between two positions controls the maximum amplitude of movement of the latch (35) against the return force of the spring (40), a first position in which a stopper (56) of the pusher (55) is engaged behind the push button, which limits the amplitude of movement of the pusher to a value sufficient for the latch (35) to cross the teeth (24-30) of the slide (8) with the exception of the last tooth (31), and a second position where the cleat (56) is released from the pusher (10), which allows movement of the latch (35) over an amplitude sufficient for crossing teeth (24-30), including the last tooth (31).  7- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the base plate (9) has, at least at one of its ends, a front edge (52) which descends towards the ski, and which forms a stop in abutting against the corresponding end (53) of the slide (8).  8- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the slide (8) is extended rearward by a tongue (13) relative to which the base plate (9) is movable longitudinally, and that the tongue ( 13) carries markers making it possible (16) to identify the longitudinal position of the base plate (9).  9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the front end of the tongue (13) is secured to the slide (8), and that the rear end of the tongue is engaged under the base (15) of the other fastening element where it can slide freely in a longitudinal direction.  10- Alpine ski safety binding, intended to retain the end of a boot bearing on a ski, characterized in that it is equipped with a device for adjusting its longitudinal position on the ski according to the any of claims 1 to 9 above.