FR2936428A1 - FIXING TALONNIERE FOR MOBILE BODY SKI SHOE - Google Patents

Abstract

The heel-piece has a tubular mobile body comprising a compression spring for releasing ski boot through an opening of the heel piece during an effort greater than a preset threshold. The body is moved with respect to a carriage around a connecting axle. The carriage includes a lower base (3) and a fixed actuating body (4) comprising an actuating surface i.e. ramp (7). The ramp is connected to the base by a connecting unit formed by the actuating body and another connecting unit formed by the axle between the carriage and the mobile body and lateral arms (11). An independent claim is also included for a device for fixing a ski boot on a ski.

Description

The invention relates to a heel of a safety fastening device of the moving body type for a ski boot, that is to say a device intended to securely hold the back of a boot on a ski by exerting pressure on the ski boot. the heel of the shoe while pressing forward the entire shoe against a front attachment device, and ensuring an automatic release of the back of the shoe in case of skier's fall forward. It also relates to a fixing device comprising a stop and such a heel and a ski on which is fixed such a heel.

A first family of heels, said fixed body, rests on a fixed body comprising the trigger mechanism of the heel and a very simple separate element, rotatable relative to this body, of the lever type, comprising its front end a jaw to grab the heel of a shoe. The rotation of this jaw lever relative to the fixed body allows the heel to occupy two closed and open positions to fix or release a ski boot.

The present invention is concerned with a second family of heels, said moving body, which rests on a movable body that can occupy a closed position and an open position, comprising at its front end a jaw to grip the heel of a shoe in the closed position and in its rear part a mechanism to implement the trigger function that allows to release the back of the shoe in case of significant effort as is the case in a skier's fall forward. This body is generally rotatable about a carriage connected to the ski, and can occupy the closed position of skiing and the open position in which the skier can remove his shoe.

A first example of a heel piece according to this second patent family is described in the document FR2507095. However, this solution has the disadvantage of having a central body on which rotates the very large movable body, which causes difficulties in developing the tilting of the movable body and limits the amplitude of its rotation, which can not reach a maximum. position sufficiently high in the open position to make easy donning and can not reach a sufficiently low position in the closed position to exert a satisfactory forward thrust on the shoe, which induces a poor trigger performance during a fall in torsion and requires a precise longitudinal positioning of the adjustment to the length of the shoe. In addition, such a central body must be metal to withstand the high forces that may occur in an application with a high trigger, for example for the competition.

Thus, the previous approach has been abandoned for other heels of different design according to this second family, which are for example described in patents EP1745827, FR2765115 and EP0893146. These solutions describe a tubular cylindrical body comprising at one end a heel grip and a cam axis carrying a cam formed in a cylindrical piece connected to two lateral arms of the carriage forming a U-shaped stirrup. The cam axis represents the axis of rotation of the tubular cylindrical body and form a cam suspended between two lateral arms. This tubular body uses the triggering function, and generally comprises a helical spring, working in compression between a piston resting on the cam and a stop located towards the end opposite the cam. The shape of the cam is such that under the effect of spring pressure, the shoe once pavement is pressed forward against the binding before and down against the ski. Only a large effort can tilt the body around the cam by pushing the piston and compressing the spring, which triggers the opening of the heel. These heels, more expensive and more efficient than those of the first family with fixed bodies, rely on a single body combining all the essential functions of the binding, and have triggers that release a shoe during very high efforts, which is particularly suitable for ski racing. However, a disadvantage of these heels is their great complexity. In particular, the cam used undergoes very high forces by its positioning between two only lateral support points and is necessarily made of metal to support them. In addition, this cam generally has a shape with a flat portion, which allows stability to be achieved only in the closed position of the heel piece and not in its open position, while causing difficulties for fitting and loosening. of the heel

The object of the present invention is to provide a movable body heelpiece which is simpler and less expensive.

The invention achieves this object by providing an overall structure of the heel which allows good resistance to cam forces, adapted to a wide range of operation up to high trip thresholds, while providing easy donning and heaving and a push forward on the satisfactory shoe.

More specifically, the invention is based on a heel safety fastening ski boot that can occupy at least two positions, an open position and a closed position in which it is suitable for the secure maintenance of a ski boot for the practice of ski, the heel comprising a movable body comprising a release spring to allow the release of the shoe by the opening of the heel in case of effort greater than a predetermined threshold, the body occupying two different positions in each of the two positions of the heel, the body being movable relative to a carriage about a connecting axis, the carriage comprising a base and a trigger body comprising a trigger surface, characterized in that the trigger surface is connected to the base by a first connecting means formed by the trigger body and by a second connecting means formed by the connection axis e between the carriage and the moving body and at least one reinforcing arm,

The trigger body may also be connected to the axis of engagement between the carriage and the movable body and the triggering surface may be in cooperation with a piston of the movable body.

At least the part. the trigger body comprising the surface. trigger can be eh plastic material or eh. reinforced plastic material. by fibers.

The trigger body may be a monolithic body made of plastic material or fiber reinforced plastic material.

The movable body may have an open zone downwards between the jaw of its front end and a piston cooperating with the trigger surface of the carriage.

The release body may be a central body extending from the base of the carriage to the upper portion of the carriage. In addition, the safety attachment heel may comprise two lateral arms distributed on either side of the carriage. trigger body. These lateral arms may delimit a space between the trigger body and themselves so as to receive a portion of the movable body.

The trigger body may comprise a substantially cylindrical upper portion oriented transversely to the heel piece, comprising a transverse tubular opening intended to receive the connecting axis with the movable body, this upper part comprising the triggering surface.

The trigger body may comprise a lower connecting part of its upper part with the base, this lower part comprising a narrow portion, of dimension measured in the longitudinal direction of between 8 and 14 millimeters.

The movable body may have an amplitude of rotation greater than 70 degrees between two positions.

The trigger body and the at least one reinforcing arm may include openings for receiving the connecting pin with the movable body.

In an advantageous embodiment, the triggering surface may be a ramp.

The invention also relates to a device for attaching a ski boot to a ski, comprising a stop for receiving the front portion of a ski boot, and characterized in that it comprises a heel piece as described previously for receive the back part of the ski boot 25.

Finally, the invention also relates to a ski comprising a safety attachment heel for a ski boot as described above.

These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made in a non-limiting manner in relation to the appended figures among which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a heel piece with a movable body in the closed position according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of a heel piece with a moving body in the open position according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view along a longitudinal median plane of the heel in closed position according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view along a longitudinal median plane of the heel in the open position according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of the central body of the carriage of the movable body heel according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a side perspective view of the carriage of the movable body heel according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of the carriage of the movable body heel according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 shows a rear view of the carriage of the movable body heel according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a bottom perspective view of the movable body of the heel according to the embodiment of the invention.

10. To facilitate the understanding of the rest of the description, we define the longitudinal direction x. like the direction. horizontal extending from. the rear to the front of the heel, the transverse direction y the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x direction, the vertieale.z perpeindidulaire direction to the horizontal plane defined by the axes x 15 and oriented upwards.

The heel according to the embodiment of the invention comprises a tubular body 21 movable around a carriage, 1 adapted for mounting on a ski, via slides 2 provided on the side portions 20 of the base lower 3 of the carriage, to allow the adjustment of its longitudinal position on a ski to adapt it to different sizes of shoes. The movable tubular body 21 comprises in its front part a jaw or ((grasping heel 22 adapted for the right-of-way of the normalized sidewalk of a ski boot.) The movable body 21, more particularly visible in FIGS. 9, comprises within it a triggering mechanism which allows the automatic passage of the heel of the ski closed position configuration, shown in FIG. 1, to the open configuration represented in FIG. 2, in which the shoe ski can escape from the grip of the heel.This trigger is automatically implemented in case of dropping the skier causing a force on the jaw greater than a predefined threshold.The moving body 21 goes from the closed configuration to the open configuration by a rotational movement relative to the carriage 1, about an axis 1u.To implement the trigger function, the movable body comprises different s elements in its interior, including a compression spring 23 bearing against the abutment 25 in the upper rear part of the body 21 and bearing on a piston 24 at its other end. This piston 24 cooperates with a trigger surface provided on the carriage 1, detailed below. The triggering threshold can be modified in known manner by modifying the degree of compression of the spring 23 by a set screw 26 positioned at the rear end of the movable body 21 and able to move the abutment 25. In this solution, the moving body 21 thus has the particularity of having a large area open 29 down between its jaw 22 and the trigger piston 24, intended to receive the trigger surface of the carriage, as will be detailed later.

The concept of the invention is to reinforce the triggering surface or cam that supports the forces of the moving body. connecting it by two complementary connecting means. at the base of the carriage, including at least one reinforcing arm. and. the body that carries the cam. Ceie makes it possible to realize main structure of triggering surface receiving them. most important efforts in plastic, within a fixed body 4, which we will call fixed body trigger. 4. The fixed trigger body has an optimized volume, representing a compromise between a volume overall. sufficient to provide a sufficiently strong structure. with an economical material, ComMe. a simple plastic for example, possibly reinforced with glass fibers or any equivalent, and a volume minimized to allow a satisfactory tilting of the movable body and easy donning and a push forward of a satisfactory shoe. This solution is less expensive than the solutions of the state of the art that require the use of a metal part.

According to the embodiment shown, the carriage 1, particularly visible in Figures 5 to 8, comprises a fixed trigger body 4 which is a monolithic central portion, in a single body, which extends from the base 3 of the carriage near the surface of the ski to the highest part of the carriage, and a large width of the carriage, measured in the direction y. This central fixed body 4 comprises a substantially cylindrical upper portion 5 oriented transversely to the heel piece, comprising a transverse tubular opening 6 intended to receive the connecting pin 10 with the movable body 21. The upper part 5 comprises in its rear part a zone deviating from the cylindrical shape, forming a ramp 7 which performs the trigger function in cooperation with the piston 24 of the tubular body 21, as will be detailed later. The ramp 7 extends transversely over the entire width of the central body 4, parallel to the transverse opening 6 in the y direction, and has a substantially triangular section, with a vertex 8 surrounded by two slopes respectively upper 9 and lower 9 ' . This upper part 5 is directly connected to the base 3 by a lower portion of the fixed body 4, which extends over the entire width of the upper portion 5 and has a relatively narrow area of small dimension in the longitudinal direction x. By this means, the body 4 represents a first means of connection and support of the surface of the ramp 7, According to the embodiment, this narrower zone comprises a minimum dimension L of about 11 millimeters, illustrated in FIG. 5. Providing a narrow trigger body 4 in the lower part disposed under the triggering ramp 7 is advantageous since this has the effect of a small footprint facilitating the establishment of the movement of the movable body 21, allowing the definition of a tripping ramp favoring the booting and unhooking phases of the heel while fulfilling a high-performance tripping function. More generally, a minimum dimension of this body in the longitudinal direction x of between 8 and 14 millimeters is advantageous. With such a geometry, the moving body reaches an amplitude of rotation greater than 70 degrees. When in its closed position illustrated in Figure 1, it has a high position in which the axis of symmetry of the spring 23 has an angle of about 65 degrees above a horizontal plane including the axis of rotation 10, which allows the jaw 22 to exert a significant forward thrust on the ski boot floor to ensure the triggering by the rotation of the front stop in case of fall in torsion of the skier, When he is in his 2, it has a low position in which the axis of symmetry of the spring 23 has an angle of about 8 degrees below the horizontal plane including the axis of rotation 10, which allows the jaw 22 to achieve an upward orientation suitable for easy donning of a ski boot. In the embodiment shown, the moving body is therefore provided with a rotation amplitude of 73 degrees between its two extreme positions. Alternatively, a reinforcing rib, not shown, can be arranged between the lower slope 9) of the ramp 7 and the narrow part of the lower part of the fixed body 4.

The carriage 1 further comprises two lateral arms. reported 11 having in its upper part openings 12..for 3.0 receptbn of the connecting axis 10 which extends transversely of an arm. towards the other through the opening 6 arranged in the fixed central body 4 and through openings 27 arranged on two lower side wings 28 of the movable body 21, visible in Figure 9, which are positioned in the space 13 provided between the arms 11 and the central body 4 of the carriage 1, by this construction, a part of the triggering forces experienced by the ramp 7 of the central body 4 is transmitted via the connecting axis 10 to the arms These latter thus strengthen the entire structure by representing a second means of connection and support of the ramp 7 and allow the heel to operate at very high trigger levels, greater than 12, in the unit of values defined by the ISO standard of alpine fixtures, adapted to the competition. These attached arms 11 may be in the same material as the body 4, plastic, optionally reinforced with fibers or metal parts. In a variant, the arms 11 may be made entirely of metal. They are fixed to the base 3 of the carriage 1 in their lower part by screws. Alternatively, any fastening means may be suitable, as a clipping, gluing ... According to yet another variant, the arms could form the same element with the base and / or the trigger body, obtained by molding.

The operation of the heel is particularly visible in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, the heel is in closed configuration, the piston 24 is held in abutment on the upper slope 9 of the ramp 7, stably. In the event of a force greater than the predetermined threshold exerted by the boot on the jaw 22 of the heel piece, for example in the event of a fall towards the front of the skier, the piston 24 is pushed back until it reaches the top 8 of the ramp 7, to finally switch to the lower slope 9 'of the ramp 7, in the second open stable position shown in Figure 4.30 The trigger surface on the carriage has been illustrated via a ramp 7., which brings an advantageous behavior of the trigger, however ,. this surface could be different. could alternatively be more generally in the form of any surface. of cam. In addition, this triggering surface could present all. dimensions, for example, might not occupy the entire width of the trigger body.

In addition, this surface has been shown as extending over the entire width of a central body of the carriage provided between two arms reported. Alternatively, the trigger body comprising the triggering surface could have any other geometries, for example no longer be a central body. However, this body has a shape that allows to directly connect the trigger surface positioned in its upper part to the base of the carriage, by a connection means separate from the connecting pin 10 and / or reported arms. The trigger body may occupy more than half the width of the heel to present a volume to achieve great strength. In addition, the trigger body advantageously has a monolithic shape enabling it to be manufactured by injection or shaping of a plastic material and the triggering surface will occupy a large area so as to have sufficient strength. any rigid plastic, such as polyamide, possibly reinforced with a fiber-based structure. Alternatively, the trigger body may be an assembly of several distinct elements, possibly of different materials. For example, this body may comprise a high part of plastic material comprising the triggering surface, and a lower part disposed beneath this triggering surface so as to connect it directly with the base of the carriage, this lower part being able to be in all material.

Finally, the shape of the arms reported can be the same different.

In particular, the arms can be positioned in contact with the central fixed body, and no longer delimit a space 13 as in the embodiment shown, the movable body then being positioned outside these reported arms. Alternatively, a single reported arm could suffice. In this case, this arm could be centered, disposed through an opening of the trigger body for example. Ge at least one arm is in the form of a member connected to the base of the carriage and separate from the trigger body, so as to form a reinforcement of the trigger body by supporting a portion of the forces experienced by the surface of trigger and transmitted via the axis of the moving body. It can have all shapes and sizes allowing it to fulfill this function.

Thus, the concept of the invention can be summarized by the use of a carriage for receiving a movable body of a heel of the second family recalled in the preamble, this carriage comprising a construction in which a base forms its lower part, suitable for connection with a ski, and wherein the triggering surface is directly connected by the trigger body to this base, according to a first connecting means, and is connected in parallel to the base by at least one reinforcing arm, via the mounting axis of the movable body of the heel, according to a second connecting means, the trigger surface and the reinforcing arm being both connected to the axis of the mounting the movable body of the heel.

Claims (2)

Claims1 A heel for safety binding for a ski boot that can occupy at least two positions, an open position and a closed position in which it is able to securely hold a ski boot for the practice of skiing, the heel piece comprising a body ( 21) comprising a release spring (23) to allow the release of the shoe by the opening of the heel in case of effort greater than a predetermined threshold, the body (21) occupying two different positions in each of the two positions of the heel, the body (21) being movable relative to a carriage (1) around a connecting pin (10), the carriage (1) comprising a base (3) and a trigger body (4) comprising a tripping surface, characterized in that the tripping surface is connected to the base (3) by a first connecting means formed by the trigger body (4) and a second connecting means formed by the connection axis (1 O) between the carriage (1) and the movable body (21) and at least one arm (II) reinforcement. 2. Safety ski boot attachment heel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the trigger body (4) is also directly connected to the connection axis (IO) between the carriage (1) and the movable body (21) and in that the triggering surface is in cooperation with a piston (24) of the movable body (21). Ski boot safety attachment heel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least the part of the trigger body (4) comprising the triggering surface is made of plastic material or fiber-reinforced plastics material. 4. Heel of security binding for shoe according to the preceding claim. characterized in that the body of. trigger (4) is a monolithic body made of plastic material or plastic material reinforced with fibers. 5; Ski boot securing heel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that. that the movable body (21) has an open area (29). down between the jaw (22.) of his. anterior end and a piston (4) cooperating with the trigger surface of the carriage (1). 6. Ski boot safety heel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger body (4) is a central body extending from the base (3) of the carriage to the upper part. (5) of the carriage. 7, ski boot safety heel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises two lateral arms (11) distributed on either side of the trigger body (4). Ski boot safety binding heel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral arms (11) delimit a space (13) between the trigger body (4) and themselves so as to be able to receive a part of the ski boot. (28) of the movable body (21) .9. Ski boot securing heel according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the trigger body (4) comprises a substantially cylindrical upper part (5) oriented transversely to the heel piece, comprising a transverse tubular opening (6) for receiving the connecting pin (1 O) with the movable body (21), this upper portion (5) comprising the trigger surface. 10. Ski boot safety heel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the trigger body (4) comprises a lower connecting part of its upper part (5) with the base (3), this part lower part comprising a narrow portion, of dimension measured in the longitudinal direction of between 8 and 14 millimeters; and 11. The heel of safety binding for a ski boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable body (21) has a amplitude of rotation greater than 7o degrees between its two positions. 12. The heel piece for ski boots according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger body (4) and the at least one arm (11) comprise openings (6, 12) for receiving the pin. connecting (10) with the movable body (21). 13. Safety ski boot attachment heel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering surface is a ramp (7). Device for attaching a ski boot to a ski, comprising a stop for receiving the front portion of a ski boot, and characterized in that it comprises a heel piece according to one of the preceding claims for receiving the rear part of the ski boot, 15. Ski. comprising a fixing heel. ski boot safety device according to one of claims 1 a. 13. 10