FR2891467A1 - SECURITY FASTENING - Google Patents

Abstract

Safety binding (1) for holding a boot on a gliding board (4) comprising: a module for detecting (5) the forces to which said shoe is subjected, said detection module (5) producing a proportional analog signal (8) to those efforts; a decision module (6) integrating means for converting said analog signal (8) into digital information (22), and means for processing said digital information (22) according to a tripping law as a function of time and in functions parameters determined by the characteristics of the user and / or the snow conditions and / or the type of practice, said processing means generating a control signal (9); and further comprising an actuation module (7) mechanically controlled by said control signal (9) and allowing the release of the shoe.

Description

Security fastener

  The present invention relates to a safety fastening device of a boot on a gliding board.

  Various devices for securing shoe safety on a snowboard are already known, particularly in the field of alpine skiing and in the field of snowboarding, also called snowboarding.

  Traditionally, and for some years now, for the practice of alpine skiing, the safety bindings include a front stop and a rear heel. The front stop and the heel piece hold the ski boot together. The abutment and heel release and release the shoe when one or the other, they are subject to efforts exceeding a certain threshold. The trigger threshold can be adjusted by adjusting the preload of the springs which are placed in the stop and the heel. However, this setting is done once and for all, before each use and it is not possible to change it simply during practice without having to implement tools, such as screwdriver.

  Therefore, such a fastener can not be self-adjusting.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a safety fastening device for a boot on a gliding board which makes it possible to overcome the limitations posed by the devices known in the prior art.

  The object of the invention is obtained by the provision of a safety binding for holding a boot on a gliding board comprising: means for detecting the forces to which said shoe is subjected, said detection means producing an analog signal proportional to said forces, means for converting said analog signal into digital information, means for processing said digital information according to a tripping law as a function of time and as functions of parameters determined by the characteristics of the user and or the snow conditions and / or the type of practice and / or any other parameters such as speed, vibrations, etc., said processing means generating a control signal; mechanical actuation means controlled by said signal; control and allowing the release of the shoe.

  Preferably, said detection means are constituted by a detection module 5, in that said conversion means and said processing means are integrated within a decision module 6 and in that said actuating means comprise a actuating module 7.

  Advantageously, the analog signal supplied by the sensor is converted into a digital signal, which is processed by a digital decision module. Digital processing has the advantage of not being sensitive to temperature, being easily reprogrammable and allowing the storage and export of data. On the other hand, from an industrial point of view, the use of a digital module facilitates, while making it less expensive, the upscaling.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following description to which is appended the drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the complete device.

  Figure 2 is a block diagram of the decision module.

  Figure 3 is a view of a first embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 5 is a view of a third embodiment of the invention in a closed position.

  Figure 6 is a view of a third embodiment of the invention in the open position.

  Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the fixing device according to the invention. The attachment device 1 comprises a front stop 2 and a rear heel piece 3, both of which are fixed on the gliding board 4. It further comprises a detection module 5, a decision module 6 and an actuation module 7.

  The detection module 5, evaluates the forces to which the different parts of the binding are subjected. This evaluation is done through strain gauges placed on one or more instrumented bars. The (or) bar (s) instrumented (s) is (are) fixed (s) at one of its (their) ends on the binding and the other of its (their) ends on the board of gliding . The use of strain gauges is not limiting in the context of the invention and any other type of sensor could be used. On the other hand, it is also possible to fix the sensors inside the fastening elements, for example on the wings of the front stop, or on the jaw of the rear binding.

  The detection module 5 supplies one or more analog signals 8 in the form of electrical voltage, which voltage is proportional to the forces to which the fixing is subjected. In the case where the analog signals are coupled signals, a decoupling matrix will be integrated in the decision module 6.

  In a simple configuration, a single sensor, which will include several strain gages, will be used, but its positioning will be such that it will detect efforts in several directions. More complete configurations, will implement a larger number of strain gages, each of which generates an analog signal in the form of a voltage.

  The choice of strain gage as a sensor for the detection module is not limiting because they could be replaced by other sensors such as piezoelectric sensors.

  The analog signal 8 is supplied to the decision module 6 which generates a binary control electric signal 9, that is to say a two-state signal: up and down.

  The binary control signal 9 is transmitted to the actuation module 7, which controls the triggering of the attachment when the binary signal 9 is in the high state.

  The three modules, detection, decision and actuation can be powered by a common energy source, for example in the form of an electric battery, a solar cell or a piezo element.

  The decision module 6 is described in FIG. 2. It comprises an amplifier 10 which receives the analog signal 8, formats it and transmits it to the CAN 11 (analog / digital converter), which is placed downstream of a microcontroller 12.

  The CAN 11 provided to the microcontroller 12 a digital information 22, corresponding to the effort value detected by the detection module 5.

  The microcontroller 12 constitutes the central part of the decision module 6. It is connected to a memory 13, which contains, among other things, the mathematical trigger law. This law determines according to the effort to which the attachment 1 is subjected, the time of application of these efforts and other parameters, if it is necessary to trigger.

  The microcontroller 12 is also connected to a man / machine interface 14 which comprises a display and at least one button. This interface is used to allow the user or the technician to modify certain parameters such as the weight of the skier, his level of practice, the snow conditions, the state of the track, etc .... Of course, this man / machine interface may simply consist of a potentiometer.

  The microcontroller 12 can also be connected to a transmitter / receiver module to enable a wireless link with a computer. The wireless link can be used to modify the parameters or to update the triggering law.

  The wireless link may also be used for the transmission of the log of successive triggers from the microcontroller 12 to the receiving computer.

  The wireless link will also be able to transmit all the history.

  As a function of the analog signal 8 which enters the decision module 6, the tripping law, and certain parameters, the microcontroller 12 produces a binary signal which is amplified by a power amp 15, which is powered by a capacitor 23. .

  The binary signal, thus amplified, controls the actuating module 7, which will trigger the attachment 1.

  The driving energy of the actuating module 7 may be of the hydraulic type (pump), pneumatic (compressed gas cartridge), pyrotechnic (detonator cartridge), electric (motor, electromagnet) or mechanical (spring).

  Preferably, the actuation module also comprises recharging means that allow it, after a trip takes place, to reset them.

  FIG. 3 shows a first example of implementation of the invention on a fastener of the type comprising a releasable retaining element, in the form of a front stop 2 equipped with a pivoting jaw 17 actuated by pneumatic means.

  An instrumented bar 16 on which are placed the sensors of the detection module, is interposed between the gliding board 4 and the abutment 2. Thanks to this instrumented bar, all the forces transmitted between the gliding board 4 and the shoe 19, are detected to be then compared to the triggering law by the decision module 6.

  The decision module 6 and the actuating module 7 are both placed under a cover 18 of the abutment 2.

  FIG. 4 shows a second example of implementation of the invention on a fastener 1 of the type comprising two releasable retaining elements, that is to say a stop before 2 and a heel piece 3.

  The mechanical operation of the fastener is a widely known operation and it will not be detailed in this application. We can just remember that the stop before 2 triggers mainly when the efforts between the shoe and the gliding board have a component in a plane parallel to the gliding board which is greater than a first threshold. This threshold being determined by the adjustment of the spring located in the abutment 2. The heel 3 triggers mainly when the same forces have a component in the longitudinal vertical plane of the gliding board which is greater than a second given threshold, which is determined by adjusting a spring placed in the heel piece 3.

  The heel 3 is fixed on the gliding board 4 by means of a longitudinal slide 20. It is held in place in the slide with a latch which is visible on the lever 21 at the rear of the heel.

  An instrumented bar 16 on which the sensors of the detection module are placed, is interposed between the gliding board 4 and the abutment 2. Thanks to this instrumented bar 16, all the forces transmitted between the gliding board 4 and the shoe, are detected to be then compared to the triggering law by the decision module 6.

  The decision module 6, as well as the actuating module 7, are housed under a cover 18 at the rear of the heel piece 3. The actuating module 7 acts on the lever 21 of the catch so as to release the movement of longitudinal translation of the heel piece 3.

  Depending on the forces to which the instrumented bar is subjected and according to the triggering law stored in the memory 13 of the decision module 6, the heel can move away from the stop 2, which has the effect of releasing the shoe from fixation.

  In addition to the mechanical triggers of the stop 2 and the heel 3, the user also benefits from a trigger controlled according to a trigger law managed with digital electronics and therefore perfectly optimal and adaptable.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third example of implementation of the invention on a fastener 1 of the type comprising two releasable retaining elements, that is to say a stop before 2 and a heel piece 3.

  As for the example described in Figure 4, the mechanical operation of the attachment is a widely known operation and it will not be detailed in this application. We can just remember that the stop before 2 triggers mainly when the efforts between the shoe and the gliding board have a component in a plane parallel to the gliding board which is greater than a first threshold. This threshold being determined by the adjustment of the spring located in the abutment 2. The heel 3 triggers mainly when the same forces have a component in the longitudinal vertical plane of the gliding board which is greater than a second given threshold, which is determined by adjusting a spring placed in the heel piece 3.

  The heel 3 is fixed on a plate 25. It can slide with respect to this plate 25 to allow a length adjustment, but also to ensure the retraction of the heel when, during practice, the gliding board is bending It is held in place in the plate 25 with a latch which is visible on the lever 21 at the rear of the heel.

  The plate 25 is held on the gliding board via a slide 20, in which it can slide in a longitudinal direction.

  An instrumented bar 16 on which the sensors of the detection module are placed, is interposed between the gliding board 4 and the abutment 2. Thanks to this instrumented bar 16, all the forces transmitted between the gliding board 4 and the shoe, are detected to be then compared to the triggering law by the decision module 6.

  The decision module 6, as well as the actuating module 7, is housed under a cover 18 placed between the abutment and the heel. The actuating module 7 acts on a rod 26, which pushes the plate 25, thus generating the longitudinal translational movement of the heel piece 3.

  Depending on the forces to which the instrumented bar is subjected and according to the triggering law stored in the memory 13 of the decision module 6, the heel can move away from the stop 2, which has the effect of releasing the shoe from fixation.

  In addition to the mechanical triggers of the abutment 2 and the heel 3, the user also benefits from a controlled trigger according to a trigger law managed with digital electronics and therefore perfectly optimal and adaptable.

  The invention is not limited to the few examples described above and may be implemented for any security fastening device of a shoe on a gliding board.

NOMENCLATURE

  1- fixing 2- stop 3- heel-piece 4- gliding board 5- detection module 6- decision module 7- actuating module 8- analog signal 9- binary control signal 10- amplifier 11- CAN 12microcontroller 15 13- memory 14- man / machine interface 15- power amp 16- instrumented bar 17- jaw 18- cover 19- shoe 20refrigerator 21- lever 22- digital information 23- capacitor 24- transmitter / receiver module 25- platinum 26- rod

Claims (12)

  Safety binding (1) for retaining a shoe on a gliding board (4) comprising: means for detecting the forces to which said shoe is subjected, said detection means producing an analog signal (8) proportional to said forces, means for converting said analog signal (8) into digital information (22); means for processing said digital information (22) according to a trigger law as a function of time and as functions of parameters determined by the characteristics; of the user and / or the snow conditions and / or the type of practice, said processing means generating a control signal (9), - mechanical actuation means controlled by said control signal (9) and allowing the release of the shoe.   2- security fastening according to claim 1, characterized in that said detection means are constituted by a detection module (5), in that said conversion means and said processing means are integrated within a module of decision (6) and in that said actuating means comprise an actuating module (7).   3- security fastening according to claim 2, characterized in that said fastener (1) comprises at least one releasable retaining element and in that said detecting means comprise a first instrumented bar (16) fixed to one of its ends, on said releasable retaining element and at the other end thereof on said gliding board (4).   4- Security fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that said fastener (1) comprises a stop (2) front and a heel (3) rear and in that said detection means comprise a first instrument bar (16) fixed , at one of its ends, on said abutment (2) before and at the other end thereof on said gliding board (4) and / or a second instrumented bar fixed, at one of its ends, on said rear heel and, at the other end, on said gliding board.   5- security fastening according to claim 2, characterized in that said fastener comprises fastening elements consisting of a stop (2) before and a heel (3) rear and in that said detection means comprise sensors attached to the interior of said fastener (1).   6- security fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating means comprise a pneumatic energy source.   7- security fastening according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuating means comprise a source of mechanical energy.   8- security fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an interface module (14) for viewing and modifying the characteristics of the digital information processing means.   9- security attachment according to claim 8, characterized in that said interface module (14) comprises a display and at least one button.   10- security fastening according to one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that said interface module comprises a potentiometer.   11- safety fastening according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said interface module comprises a transmitter / receiver module (24).   12- security fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for recharging said actuating means.