FR2717091A1 - Lever to open clamp of ski binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The lever has an arm (30) which is articulated around a transversal axle (39). The arm is in two parts, with a base (31) and a mobile end part (32) which is articulated around a transversal axle (33). This is pushed down, with the ski stick, to open the clamp. A spring (40) pushes the end part upwards, while stops (38) limit the downwards rotation of the end part on the base. The space between the base and the end part can be filled with a block of deformable material.

Description

RETAINING ELEMENT OF A SHOE ON A SNOWBOARD
The invention relates to a shoe retention element on a gliding board, in particular, but not exclusively, a rear binding element for retaining an alpine ski boot on a ski.

 Such an element has in known manner a shoe retaining jaw which is carried by a body intended to be assembled to the ski. The jaw can pivot relative to the body about a horizontal and transverse axis between a closed shoe retaining position and an open position where the shoe is released by the jaw, and a locking member pushed back by a spring recalls the jaw towards its closed position.

 A heaving lever also makes it possible to cause a voluntary opening of the jaw in order to release the shoe. To operate the release lever. Many types of heaving levers exist. Usually, they act either on the jaw, or on its locking member, or on both. Most often, the release lever causes the jaw or the locking member to travel the same path as when it was triggered safely after a fall. In other words, with the release lever, the skier must overcome all the force that the return spring exerts on the jaw to keep it in the closed position.

 Generally, this force is variable, for example by a set of ramps that the jaw has, and the effort that the skier must provide passes through a maximum just before the jaw releases the shoe.

Such a device is for example described in the French patent application published under the number
FR 2 338 060. This document describes in particular a release lever which actuates the jaw from a movement from bottom to top or from top to bottom. Among these two solutions, it appeared more practical to actuate the heaving lever from top to bottom, because the skier can develop a higher force. In this case, the skier can actuate the release lever with the stiffness of his stick which he plants at the end of the lever, in a bowl provided for this purpose, or of his other shoe or his other ski.

 The problem posed by the invention is to improve the comfort of the skier by making it easier to maneuver.

 Another problem posed by the invention is to reduce the effort that the skier must exert on the lever to cause the jaw to open.

 It is certain that this problem can be solved in a simple manner by increasing the length of the lever.

However, this solution is not viable. Indeed, the length of the lever is generally determined by the length of the body. A longer lever poses cramping problems. It would present risks of hooking the ski when skiing, or maneuvering them. In addition, by increasing the size and weight of the binding, the inertia of the binding on the ski would be increased. Finally, from an aesthetic point of view, a very long lever is difficult to harmonize with the overall volume of the binding.

 There is another solution known for example from the German patent application published under the number 20 72 848. According to this application, the lever actuates a pawl which disengages the connection between the jaw and its return energy. However, this construction requires an extremely resistant pawl, because during the safe operation of the fastener, all the restoring force developed by the spring passes through the pawl. In addition, with this construction, it is difficult for the jaw to firmly apply the boot in abutment against the ski.

 One of the aims of the invention is to provide a fastening element which requires a reduced effort to actuate the heaving lever with a view to voluntary release of the shoe.

 A goal is also that the heaving lever has a reduced size while skiing.

 A goal is also that the different organs remain subject to tales of the same order of magnitude as the current constraints.

Another object of the invention is to propose a fiation element whose b lever cb WeXt is easy to operate.

 These goals are achieved by the heaving lever as defined below.

 The lever comprises an operating arm articulated around a transverse axis and movable up and down around this axis during an opening operation, under the action of an opening force directed downwards. It is characterized in that the operating arm has a base and a movable end part which deploys under the action of said opening force exerted downwards, so as to increase at least momentarily the lever arm with which the opening force is transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the release lever has a mobile extension which is deployed under the action of the opening force which the skier exerts towards the ski, so as to at least temporarily increase the lever arm with which the covering force is transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever.

Thus, the effort that the skier exerts naturally on the lever to open the jaw causes
Extension of the lever, hence an increase in the lever arm with which it transmits opening force, and a reduction in the intensity of this force The advantage of such a construction is that the internal construction of the element of fixing and its kinematics are not significantly affected by this temporary extension of the lever.

 The lever is extended when the skier has to develop maximum effort. By decreasing the intensity of this maximum effort, the comfort of the skier is improved because he must provide a more regular effort to open the jaw.

 According to a first embodiment of the invention, the lever is constructed in two parts hinged together.

 According to a second embodiment, the lever is in two parts mounted telescopically, and it is the effort made by the skier, due to its direction, which causes the lever to unfold.

 According to a third embodiment, the lever is in two sliding mounted parts, the end part being resiliently returned to its deployed position, but kept folded up during skiing by a movable pawl.

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

 Figure 1 illustrates the prior art, as well as the usual operation of a fastener.

 Figure 2 shows a side view of a rear fixing element according to a first non-limiting mode of implementation.

 FIG. 3 represents in perspective the lever for removing the fixing element shown in FIG. 2.

 FIG. 4 illustrates the operating mode of the fixing element of FIG. 2.

 Figure 5 shows a side view in partial section of a fastening element according to a second non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 6 represents in perspective a part of the lever of FIG. 5.

 FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the fixing element of FIG. 5.

 FIG. 8 represents a fastening element seen from the side in partial section according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 9 shows a fastening element seen from the side in partial section according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.

 FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the operating mode of the fixing element of FIG. 9.

 FIG. 12 represents a fastening element seen from the side in partial section according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 13 illustrates the operating mode of the fixing element of FIG. 12.

 Figure 1 illustrates, without limitation, the prior art. It represents a rear fastening element 1 comprising a body 2 slidably mounted along a base plate 3 shaped as a slide. The body carries a jaw 4 which is articulated around a transverse axis 5. The jaw allows the retention of the shoe.

 On its rear face, the jaw carries a succession of two ramps 6 and 7. A piston 8, guided in translation in the body, is pushed against one or the other of the ramps 6 and 7 by a spring 9 whose initial stress is adjustable by means of a threaded plug 10 which is screwed into the body. By its compression, the spring resists elastically the movement of the jaw.

 When the jaw 4 is in the low shoe retaining position, the piston is in abutment against the upper part of the ramp 6. This ramp is a compression ramp, that is to say that following an upward movement of the jaw, the ramp 6 pushes the piston back to the quarry, hence compression of the spring 9, and an elastic return of the jaw downwards.

 The ramp 6 ends with an angular edge 1 1 which corresponds to the triggering threshold. Beyond this edge begins the other ramp 9 which is a decompression ramp.

 If the stress exerted by the shoe on the jaw is sufficient for the piston to cross the edge 11, the piston then describes the ramp 7. This ramp allows the decompression of the spring, which then drives the jaw towards its high position where it releases the shoe. The high position is a stable position of the jaw.

 During a new engagement of the shoe, the jaw is driven downward, the piston crosses in an opposite direction the edge 11, from where a compression of the spring, and then describes the ramp 6, from where a decompression of the spring which returns the jaw to its low position for retaining the shoe, and retains it elastically in this position.

 A release lever 15 makes it possible to open the jaw voluntarily. The lever has a large operating arm 16 which extends from bottom to top and from front to back above the body.

 In the illustrated embodiment, the lever is articulated in rotation about an axis 18 carried by the piston. In its lower part, it has two small arms 20 parallel, slightly curved, which form a sort of fork and which bear under two side cheeks 21 on the rear face of the jaw.

 A downward force exerted on the upper end of the operating arm, and shown diagrammatically by the arrow 22, tends to tilt the lever around its axis 18, while its lower part bears on the cheeks 21. The lever drives simultaneously the piston backwards, and the jaw upwards, until the piston crosses the edge 11 and accesses the ramp 7.

 The intensity of the effort that the skier must provide to tilt the lever depends on the resistance that the spring opposes to the movement of the jaw, and the inclination of the lever relative to the direction of the effort provided.

 Of course, this construction is not limiting, and there are many other constructions. What must be emphasized is that the effort required to open the jaw goes through a maximum which, in this case, corresponds to the crossing of rarity 11. This maximum is found even in devices without security to which the invention s 'also applies and where the lever operates like a toggle. Such unsecured levers are used for example in surf bindings to retain the ends of the shoe in a stirrup.

 FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention.

 According to this embodiment, the fixing element has a release lever, the operating arm 30 of which is in two parts, namely a lower part 31 which forms the base of the arm and which is in one piece with the rest of the lever, and an end portion 32 which is movable. It is on the end portion 32 that the skier exerts the heaving effort, for example by planting his stick in a bowl 35.

 In the illustrated embodiment, the end part 32 overlaps the upper end of the base 31 and it is articulated to this base 31 around a transverse and horizontal axis 33 located at the end of the base 31.

 The end part 32 can oscillate angularly with respect to the base 31 between a position where its bearing face 36 is located above the general direction defined by the base 31, and a position where the part 32 approaches this general direction, or exceeds this direction, so as to increase the lever arm with which a downward force applied for example on the bowl 35 is transmitted to the axis of rotation 39 of the lever.

 In the embodiment shown, stops 37 and 38 delimit these positions. In addition, a spring 40, for example a pin spring, resiliently recalls the part 32 upwards, bearing against the stop 37.

 If necessary, the space between the base 31 and the end portion 32 can be filled with a block of material that is compressible.

 The operation of the device is as follows. When a downward heaving force is exerted on the part 32, for example a force directed along arrow 42, this force is transmitted to the base of the lever and to the jaw.

 Furthermore, this effort causes the deployment of the lever, that is to say that the end part rocks around the axis until it is in abutment against the stop 38. This deployment of the lever increases the lever arm with which the force is transmitted to the axis, and drives the lever in rotation.

 Such a configuration of the lever is shown in Figure 4. The effort required to open the jaw is then reduced.

 As soon as the effort ceases, the spring 40 recalls the part 32 in its high position.

 The amplitude of the rotational movement and the position of the axis 33 on the base 31 which defines the relative length of the base 31 and of the part 32 are not limiting.

 Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. According to this construction, the lever has an operating arm 43 in two parts, that is to say a base 45 and an end part 46, which are slidably mounted one relative to the other in the general direction defined. by the lever.

 The part 46 overlaps the base 45, and it can slide along its upper face 48. Any sliding means can be added at this level, such as sliding pads or an anti-friction plate.

 A means also retains the part 46 assembled at the base 45. This means is represented in the form of lugs 49, 50, which are engaged in lateral openings 51, 52, of the base 45. The lugs are for example engaged by elastic deformation of the part 46. In addition, a return spring 53 exerts on the end part an elastic return force downwards. The spring extends for example between a transverse pin 54 carried by the base and a pin 55 carried by the part 46, which also passes through one of the openings (b light 52 in this case).

 The operation of the device is as follows. For a heaving effort having a component tending to slide the part 46 outwards, the operating arm 43 is deployed, which increases the lever arm with which the force is transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever. The effort required to overcome the resistance to opening the jaw is therefore reduced in intensity.

 It should be noted that during the operation of the lever, the orientation of the lever changes relative to the direction of the force. The resistance of the jaw is maximum while the lever has already pivoted about half of its angular travel. It may be sufficient that the deployment of the lever occurs during its movement, and that it is carried out at the moment when the resistance is maximum. It is not necessary for the deployment to take place from the start of the tilting of the lever.

 As soon as the effort ceases, the spring 53 resiliently recalls b end portion 46 folded over the base 45.

 Figure 8 shows another embodiment. According to this variant, the end part of the operating arm 54 is connected to the base 56 by two sets of slots 57 and 58 located on the lateral sides of the base. The assembly is for example carried out by two pins 59 and 60 carried by the base 56, which pass through the openings 57 and 58. A spring 61 exerts on the part 55 an elastic return action towards the folded position, that is to say - say to the left of the lights for the lever shown in Figure 8.

 The lights 57 and 58 are oriented obliquely to the general direction defined by the base, so that a force directed downwards and exerted on the end part 55 tends to move this part away from its folded position. The maneuvering arm 54 is deployed, hence an increase in the lever arm with which the heaving force is transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever, since the slots 57 and 58 are oriented obliquely with respect to a direction perpendicular to the general direction of the the sink.

 According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the end part 63 of the operating arm 62 is slidably mounted along the base 64. A spring 70 exerts an elastic action on the part 63 to drive it towards its position deployed, but a pawl 66 retains the part 63 in the folded position as long as it has not been subjected to a vertical downward force.

 As can be seen in the figure, the end portion 63 is mounted on the base 64 in a sliding manner in the manner of a movable sleeve. The recess 68 of the sheath thus formed is slightly flared from bottom to top, so that there is play in the plane of FIG. 9 between the base 64 and the part 63, at their upper end, when the part 63 is folded back onto the base 64.

 The pawl 66 is located towards the upper end of the part 63, on its lower face. It is intended to engage under rextrémlé of the base 64, in an opening 67.

 A tension spring 70 connects a transverse pin 71 carried by the end portion 63 to the end of a rocker 72 articulated around an axis carried by the base 64. The branch Ibre of the rocker 72 can pass through the opening 67 from the base and push back the part 63 to keep the pawl engaged in the opening 67.

 The pin 71 passes through a set of slots 73 located on the lateral flanks of the base 64 and parallel to the general direction defined by the lever. The length of the lights delimit the movement of the part 63 along the base 64.

 In the folded position shown in Figure 9, the spring is stretched. A downward force exerted on the end of the part 63 releases the pawl 66 from the opening 67. The spring recalls the part 63 in a deployed position. There is an increase in the lever arm with which the force applied to the part 63 will be transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever. FIG. 10 illustrates such a configuration of the lever.

 In contrast to the previous embodiments, the deployed position of the lever is a stable position.

 The fastening element however has means for returning the part 64 to its folded position.

 Thus, the figures show that the body 75 has in its rear part a hump 76 which forms a ramp 77. At the end of the heaving movement, the lever 62 is folded against the rear part of the body, as shown in FIG. 11.

 The pin 71 is then forced to describe the ramp 77, which brings it towards the other end of its lumen, against the return force of the spring. Part 63 then returns to the folded position. As the spring 70 is tensioned, it exerts on the rocker 72 a force which tends to engage the pawl 66 again in the opening 67 as soon as the part 63 is folded over the base 64.

 The lever is therefore folded, and remains folded at the time of a new engagement of the shoe.

 According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the lever has an operating arm 80 with an end part 81 slidably mounted along the general direction defined by the base 82. The sliding means are for example the same as lime which have been described in relation to FIG. 5.

 The base and the end part are connected by an extensible means represented in the form of a small cylinder 84. The cylinder is actuated by a fluid, for example oil, or any other fluid suitable taking into account conditions d use of fastening element.

 Preferably, the rod of the jack is connected to the base 82, for example at the level of a transverse pin 85, and the body is connected to the end part 81 for example at the level of a transverse pin 86. Lights are provided for the passage of this pin.

 The lever is also equipped with a fluid reserve which is capable of actuating the jack, and therefore of deploying the lever when a force directed downwards is exerted on the end part. For example, the end portion 81 has a cavity 90 filled with fluid with a movable piston 89 accessible from the outside. The fluid reserve is connected to the blind chamber of the jack 84 by a pipe 91.

 A force directed downward and exerted on the bottom 89 of the bowl causes the movement of the piston 89, which drives the fluid towards the blind chamber of the jack 84. The rod of the jack is deployed, from which a sliding of the part end 80. FIG. 13 represents the lever in this deployed position.

 Any suitable means, for example a spring 93 located in the front chamber of the jack, resiliently recalls the jack and the end part 81 in the rest position of FIG. 12 as soon as the force applied ceases.

 Preferably, the effort which empties the fluid reserve is the same effort as the effort exerted by the skier to actuate the lever in order to voluntarily open the jaw.

 This embodiment of the invention is not limited to the construction described, and many variants are possible. In particular, the fluid reserve could be placed in another position, and be actuated by means other than those which have been described.

 It goes without saying that the present description is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described. It includes other constructions and technical variants which are defined according to the following claims. In particular, the invention can also be applied to levers which are integrally connected to the jaw, or levers which are associated with jaws which cannot be triggered in safety, for example levers which form with their jaw a monobloc assembly carried for example by a stirrup.

Claims (11)

 1- Lever for voluntary opening of a jaw intended to ensure the retention of the end of a shoe resting on a sliding board, comprising an operating arm (30, 43, 54, 62, 80) articulated around a transverse axis movable from top to bottom around this axis during an opening operation, under the action of a downward-oriented opening force,  characterized by the fact that the operating arm has a base (31, 45, 56, 64, 82) and a movable end part (32, 46, 55, 63, 81) which is deployed under the action of said force opening exerted downward, so as to at least temporarily increase the lever arm with which the opening force is transmitted to the axis of rotation of the lever.  2- lever according to claim 1, the resistance force which the jaw opposes to its opening varies over the travel of movement of the jaw, characterized in that the end portion (32, 46, 55, 63, 81) is deployed at least when the resistance to opening of the locking member is maximum.  3- lever according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating arm (30) is in two parts, a base (31) and an end portion (32), hinged together around a median transverse axis (33), that a return spring (40) exerts on the end part an elastic return force upwards, and that a stopper (38) limits the downward rotation of the end part relative to the base.  4- Lever according to claim 3, characterized in that a block of deformable material fills the space between the base (31) and the end portion (32).  5- lever according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating arm (43, 54) is in two parts, a base (45, 56) and an end part (46, 55), slidably mounted the one relative to the other, and that a return spring (53, 61) resiliently recalls the end portion in the folded position on the base.  6- lever according to claim 5, characterized by the fat that the end portion (46) is slidably mounted parallel to the general direction defined by the base (45).  7- lever according to claim 6, characterized in that the end portion (55) is slidably mounted along a direction more indented downward than the general direction defined by the base (56).  8- lever according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating arm (62) is in two parts, a base (64) and an end part (63), slidably mounted, that a spring ( 70) resiliently recalls the two parts of the lever in a deployed position, and that a pawl (66) keeps the two parts folded until a force directed towards the ski has not been exerted on the end part (63).  9- lever according to claim 8 associated with a fastening element comprising a body (75) extending rearward, characterized in that the body has on the rear a bump p6) forming a ramp (sorting) the along which a movable element (71) of the end portion (63) comes to bear at the end of the rocking movement of the lever in the direction of the body.  10- lever according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two parts, a base (82) and an end part (81), that the two parts are connected together by a cylinder (84) denied to a compressible reserve of fluid (90) which is situated towards the end of the movable part (81).  11- Fastening element intended to be assembled on a gliding board and to retain the boot bearing on the board, characterized in that it has a voluntary opening lever according to any one of the preceding claims.