US2655386A - Ski binding - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 v. v. KUTSCHERA SKI BINDING w 1 an m a M% .w m mx fl r q. mw /M A m K m e s w 4 c m V ll'lllllll lllbll w Filed May 6, 19 9 Oct. 13, 1953 v. v. KUTSCHERA 2,655,386

SKI BINDING Filed May 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. V/GO V/croe KuTscHsEn Byf flrTO/P/VEY dli i Get. 13, 1953 v. v. KUTSCHERA SKI BINDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 6, 1949 IN VEN TOR. V/60 Wcme KUTSCHERH ml and a w HTTOg/VEY Oct. 13, 1953 v. v. KUTSCHERA 2, ,3

SKI BINDING Filed May 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. V/s0 V/croe AurscflE/m H TTOENE Y Patented Oct. 13, 1953 2,655,386 SKI BINDING Vigo Victor Kutschera, Spillmacheen, British Columbia, Canada Application May 6, 1949, Serial No. 91,675 V This invention relates to ski-bindings and has as one of its principal objects to reduce the hazards involved in the more venturesome forms of skiing, and, a an incident thereto, affording facility in operation of the bindings and minimizing the muscular demand in skiing. Another object is to provide a binding which is readily adaptable for both cross-country and down hill skiing. Other objects are dependability in operation, strength and durability of the parts, the inspiring of confidence in the wearer and facilitating the acquisition of skiing technique.

One of the characteristics of the present invention is the fact that the toe fastening and the heel fastening means are entirely independent of each other, with the result that the heel attachment may be disconnected during idling or cross-country skiing without in anywise affecting the security of the toe fastening means, and when a situation is reached where down hill skiing is to be employed and it is desirable to have the ski more completely attached to the shoe so that for ordinary stresses the shoe and the ski are in effect a unit, the heel fastenin means may be readily attached.

Another and important characteristic of the heel attachment is the fact that the heel tension is directly down upon the ski, or is 90' vertical, as it is known in ski parlance. This fact considerably augments the feeling of security and confldence on the part of the wearer and within operating limits effects relative immobility between the ski and shoe under ordinary stresses. Also the strain upon the leg muscles is thu brought within a minimum compass in down hill skiing.

Anotherfeature of the invention is the fact that the fasteningspermit a certain degree of lateral rotative play of the ski, thereby relieving the leg muscles of minor twisting effects, but they restore the ski to its proper relative position, the fastenings being self-alining and therefore operating to maintain the ski generally in axial alinement with the shoe.

Other features of the invention reside in spe-' cial improved heel plate constructions and in other details, all of which will appear in connectlon with the description of illustrated embodiments of the invention.

The heel fastening means are such that they automatically release if the toe escapes from its fastenings, thus minimizing the likelihood of injury. Specifically the invention contemplates a spur and chain attachment, the chain having a 90 down pull on a spur on the shoe heel. Spring means, which may be recessed in the ski 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) or may be external of the ski, apply a snubbing pull upon the chain when the heel is on the heel plate, to hold the spur hooked into the chain so long as the toe is in its fastening, but allowing ready escape of the heel attachment if the toe is released, and offering greatly increased. pull if the heel leaves the heel plate. As will be later. explained, the spring means may be of the coiled, telescopic leaf spring type or of the double coiled spring type with the weak or snubbing spring contained within and somewhat longer than the strong or power spring.

The spur extends rearwardly of the heel and is preferably contained within a recess in the removable heel, extending radially therefrom and pivoting at its inner end so that the exposed end has a limited lateral play, thus to accommodate itself to the lateral movement of the ski.

The invention also contemplates a special heel plate construction in which the angle of the sup porting plate for the heel is variable about a horizontal axis at its front end, thus determining the normal forward attitude according to the preferences of the skier.

Other features of the invention will appear from the following particular description of the constructions illustrated in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a fragment of a ski and of a binding embodying the invention, showing a shoe secured in the binding.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the shoe removed, as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the heel fastening portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, as indicated by line 3-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the heel as indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan of the rear portion of the heel plate of Fig. 3 as indicated by line 1'! of that figure.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

the heel supporting section of a ski and of a modified form of heel plate and of heel tension means.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

V Fig. 10 is a plan with parts broken away of the heel plate construction of Fig. 8 with a fragmentary part of the ski indicated.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 8 with the shoe removed, the tension means relaxed and the hinged heel plate partly open.

Fig. 12 is a, longitudinal sectional elevation of a modified form of heel plate construction.

Fig. 13 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section on the line l4--l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective of some of the parts of Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there are shown all the elements of a heel-binding embodying the invention. Heel fastening means, one of which is indicated generally by the numeral 3 in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown in alternative forms on sheets 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. In whatever form embodied, it will be seen that the heel tension is at right angles to the plane of the ski or is 90 vertical. In other words, the heel tension has no forward component, as do many conventional forms of heel bindings which function incidentally to urge the shoe forward and hold the toe in the customary toe strap.

A roller link chain under tension is guided so as to effect a pull straight down toward the ski 5, that is at 90 to its plane, and considering the plane of the ski as horizontal, the pull is vertically down.

To attach the chain to the heel of the shoe, the heel is provided with a rearwardly projecting spur. An example of such a spur is shown in Figs. 3 and 6. A heel member 43 of leather or plastic or other composition is removably attached to the shoe sole by screws 44, and in its upper face is provided with a rearwardly open recess 45 that is enlarged and circular at its inner end with the sides of its rearward. extension flaring out. A spur 46 fits in this recess. It has a, head of proper size which is secured by a screw to the shoe sole and a rearwardly extending arm with a projection of reduced size outside the heel shaped to catch into the chain between two rollers. The spur can rotate in the rounded part of the recess as a bearing as far as the flaring sides of the rearward extension of the recess 45 will permit, thus accommodating the attachment to the lateral play of the ski and relieving the leg muscles of strain from that cause.

The chain which has a downward tension applied to it, comes up through a hole in the heel plate directly underneath the spur when the shoe is disposed on the heel and toe plates with the toe in its fastener. The form of heel plate and tensioning means shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and is known as the recessed or mortised type and will now be described.

The top of the ski underneath the heel plate construction is longitudinally recessed. The front and major portion 4'! of the recess is relatively large and deep to receive the spring means, and is continued rearwardly in a narrower and shallower recess portion 48 for the accommodation of the chain.

The recess 41 is covered for the greater portion at its forward end by a plate 49, attached by screws to the ski and having down turned longitudinal edge flanges so that the plate is raised somewhat from the face of the ski. If desired, internal sealing strips 50a may be provided along the inner sides of the flanges. At the rear end of the plate 49, the flanges are discontinued and the plate is somewhat narrower and constitutes a guide tongue for the adjustable heel plate, as will appear.

The recess 48 and the rear portion of the recess 4'! are covered by a plate which is secured in contact with the face of the ski by screws 5| and has its longitudinal edges turned up and flanged outward to provide guides for the adjustable heel plate in the plane of the tongue extension of the plate 49. In the construction shown the plates 49 and 50 do not quite meet, although obviously they may do so if desired.

The heel plate 52 slides on the flanges of plate 50 and on the tongue of plate 49 as guides, to adjust it to shoe size, and is locked in adjusted position to the plate 50, as by a screw. This heel plate for this purpose has its sides flanged downward with the extreme edges of the flanges turned inward, and is of the proper size to fit upon its guides. The space between it and the ski may be closed at the rear end by a down turned flange, as shown.

The plate 50 is provided on its upper face with a series of internally screw threaded bosses 53, and a screw 54 engages in one of these bosses and secures the heel plate 52 in adjusted position. Directly at the rear of the heel position on the plate 52, this plate is provided with an opening or a hole 55 through which the chain is threaded. This opening 55 is therefore always directlyundcrneath the projecting end of the spur 46, irrespective of the adjusted position of the heel plate.

Disposed in the larger recess 41 is the spring device. This spring may take any one of several forms and two forms will be shown and described. In any event, it should operate first to exert a relatively weak, snubbing tension on the chain to maintain the engagement between the spur and chain so long as the heel remains in contact with the heel plate, and to exert a considerably stronger tension as the heel tends to leave the ski, although resiliently permitting such separation.

The form of spring shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is a well known type of coiled leaf spring 56. Such a spring is formed by coiling up two tapering branches of an original flat, sheet spring material, so that the spring is largest at the center and tapers toward each end, the successive coils telescoping. This makes a closed coil spring and excludes snow and ice. The initial spring action is relatively weak and increases in strength as the spring is compressed. As shown, the size of the spring is such that it is accommodated in the recess 41 but cannot enter recess 48, hearing against the adjacent end of recess 41 when pulled toward recess 48.

A roller chain 51 of conventional roller and link construction is passed through the spring 56 and has a, washer 58 secured by a cotter pin to its forward end of a size to bear against the forward end of the spring. The chain lies in the recess 48 and passes up through opening 55 and is provided with a hand grip 59 on its outer end.

The operation of this heel attachment and tension means is thought to be apparent. When the skier is traveling over level country, for example, he may prefer to have his heels detached from the skis. But when, for example, he comes to a down hill run, he may find it preferable to have the heel as well as the toe attached to the ski. All that he has to do is to reach down and grasp the handle 59 and pull the chain up until it is under sufficient tension, and then hook it on to the spur 46. The rotative movement of the spur will allow it to follow the side play of the ski relative to the heel, and the spring will allow the heel to get off the heel plate, though resisting it with increasing resilient force as the sep- 5. antlonincreases and restoring. the contact when the stress that caused the'separation is elimi-. nated. When. need for attachment of the heel ceases; it is a. simplematter to unhookx. the chain from the spur. It lSJ also. evident that if an entraordinary condition has caused the toe to escape: from the welt springs, the'spur will simultancously unhook from the chain. and release the heel. The hazards of skiing, involving the possibility of bone fractures, are: thus substantially reduced Ate-previously stated, the spring means, instead of being: recessed into the ski, may be externally disposed, and such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 8 to it, inclusive, which at the: same time show an alternative form of spring construction.

In these figures there is also shown a modified form of heel plate construction. This is known as the hinged heel plate, as distinguished from the sll'dable heel plate above described. It will be obvious, of course, that the showing of the particular form of heel plate with the particular form of spring construction is incidental, since either form of spring construction can be recessed or external and can be used with any illustrated type of heel plate construction.

The heel plate construction of these figures consists of a bottom plate 60 that is secured by screws 6| on top of the ski, and heel plate 52 hinged at its front edge to the bottom plate and flanged to fit upon and cover the bottom plate. In its. closed position the heel plate is secured to the bottom plate by screws 63 that screw into houses on the bottom plate. Provision is made for axial adjustment of the heel plate assembly. As shown, a series of screw sockets are provided in theski for. the rear screws 6! and the plate 60 is slotted for reception of the forward screws 6 t.

The heel plate 62 is provided with an opening 55 for the reception of the chain, as is heel plate 52, and the bottom plate 60 has an axial chain receiving slot 64 in its rear end, the fi-ange of the heel plate being cut away in register with this slot. c i

The spring construction in this case is a dual spring unit, consisting of two coaxial coiled springs, an inner snubbing spring 65 contained within a somewhat shorter power spring 86. The two springs are shown as reversely wound, the inner spring being of smaller spring ire and considerably weaker than the outer spring. A roller link chain 61 passes through the inner spring 55 and is guided through the slot 64 and is threaded up through the opening 55. In the illustrated construction the spring end of the chain is attached to a bolt 68 on the rear end of which a washer 69 is secured between two nuts and is of a size to bear against the end of the outer spring 66. The chain is shown as continued on around with its other end connected to the rear end of the bolt beyond the washer, though it is optional whether the chain be thus made continuous or it be interrupted and a handle be provided corresponding to handle 59. If it be continuous, one of the roller bearings should be pro vided with a screw bearing and nut, as shown, instead of being riveted so that the chain may be opened up to thread through opening 55.

A ferrule 10, of plastic or other suitable material, surrounds the chain just in advance of the spring 65 and provides a compression bearing for the springs as it is pulled against the rear edge n H An) 5. orthe heel plate tocouple the heel tension means. Also, to prevent the spring tension unit: from flopping around, a surrounding stay ring or collar H may beprovided which is screwed or otherwise attached to the ski.

To operate this form of heel plate and heel tension device, the skier first adjusts the heel plate to his shoe size, and if. he desires to employ the heel attachment, he grasps the chain 61 and pulls upon it, thereby compressing the snubbing spring, until the power spring engagestheferrule Ill, The: chain which is thus placed under snubbing tension, is then hooked on to the spur and the action is the same as that previously described with reference to the recessed construction.

Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, show a modified form or heel plate construction, known as the wedge heel plate, which maybe used with either of the spring tensioning meansheretofore described. In this case the external construction of chain and spring is assumed. Also it is to be noted that anti-friction means are represented to guide the chain through the hole in the heel plate.

It will be noted, for example, that the opening is generally of H-shape, so as to provide a bearing both for the rollers and the side. links. In the construction of Figs. 12 and 13, the heel plate which is about to be described has, instead of the opening 55, a slot it open at the rear, in which there is secured by screws 13 a roller construction consisting of brackets 14 formingbearings for rollers 15 disposed underneath the heel plate and spaced apart to provide a chain receiving opening 16. These rollers have enlarged diameters at their middle portions to provide bearings for the chain rollers while the links ride on the smaller end portions of the rollers. Obviously these anti-friction guide means for the chain may be used with any of the types of heel plates shown in the drawings.

A characteristic of this wedge type of heel plate is the fact that it can be tilted up at more or less of an angle to the plane of the ski about a transverse axis. customarily heel plates are pitched up at a slight angle so as to cause the skier normally to lean forward which is a desirable attitude for many forms of skiing. However, the desirable degree at which the skier normally leans forward may vary with the skier and with the nature of the skiing. Hence for some purposes it may be desirable to change that angle.

In the construction of Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, the angle of the heel plate may be adjusted within a range, say, of 6 to 12. The bottom plate in this construction consists of two hinged plates,

a front plate ll which is secured to the ski by screws 18 which pass through elongated slots to permit of longitudinal adjustment for shoe size; and a rear plate 19 which is hinged to the front plate by hinge and is secured to the ski by screws 8| which also pass through elongated slots to permit of adjustment.

Back of the hinge the ski is recessed, the recess comprising a front relatively wide portion 82 and a rear relatively narrow extension 83 for the accommodation of the chain. The main recess 82 is underneath the plate 19 for the ac-- commodation of parts underneath the plate, as will appear, being long enough to permit of the longitudinal adjustment.

Also hinged on the hinge 80 so as to overlie the fixed bottom plate 19, is the heel plate 84 which, as above explained, has the open slot 12 7 at its rear edge and carries the anti-friction rollers 15.

The angle of the heel plate 84 is determined by the coaction between a screw stud 85 carried by the bottom plate 19, and a screw cap 86 that is carried by the heel plate 84 and engages the stud 85. The head of the screw cap is countersunk in the heel plate so as to be flush therewith, the head bearing on the outer side of the plate, while a bearing ring 81 is screwed on to the shank of the cap which is externally screw threaded for the purpose, and bears on the underside of the heel plate.

The screw stud 85 is so carried by the bottom plate 19 that it can maintain its axis normal to the plane of the heel plate and hence coincident with the axis of the screw cap 86 in all adjusted positions of the heel plate. For this purpose, the bottom plate 19 has a circular opening 88 and two depending lugs 89 in which bears a transverse swivel pin 90 underneath the plate 19 and within the recess 82. The screw stud 85 extends with its lower end through the opening 88 and swivels on the pin 98. The shank of the cap 86 is a hollow cylinder which is internally screw threaded and screws on to the stud 85, and consequently the screw cap travels up and down as it is turned on the stud and so adjusts the angle of the plate 84. The opening 88 is large enough to accommodate the lower end of the shank of cap 86, as is necessary in order to give the shank suflicient bearing on the stud. The ring 81 may be made short enough to avoid interference with plate 19. Due to the fact that considerable of the plate 19 is cut away, it may be desirable to make it thicker or wider than the other plates to afford sufiicient strength.

It will be understood, of course, that the particular constructions shown in the drawings and above described are illustrative, and while they represent present preferred constructions, the invention may well be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a ski having toe fastening means and having an axial open top recess of one width back of the toe fastening means and a rearward continuation of the recess of lesser width, a coiled spring disposed in the wider recess, a roller link chain laid in the narrower recess and passing through the spring and having engagement with its forward end, guide plates covering the recesses, a heel plate adjustable on the guide plates and means to secure it in adjusted position, the heel plate having a hole in its rear portion through which the chain is passed, and a handle on the outer end of the chain.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which the coiled spring is a spirally wound leaf spring with the spirals telescoping and progressively diminishing in size from the middle to each end, the diameter of the end spirals exceeding the width of the narrower recess.

3. A ski-binding comprising in combination with a ski having an open top recess, a heel plate secured on the ski and covering the recess and having a hole near its rear end, a coiled spring disposed in the recess and having its rear end fixed against rearward axial movement, a roller link chain passing through the spring and secured thereto at its front end and passing upward through the hole in the heel plate and adapted to catch with its links external of the recess on to a spur on the rear of a heel on the plate.

VIGO VICTOR KUTSCHERA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,983,226 Gretsch Dec. 4, 1934 2,100,666 Muller Nov. 30, 1937 2,152,181 Elli0tt Mar. 28, 1939 2,259,831 Pflugmann Oct. 21, 1941 2,433,161 Schwarze Dec. 23, 1947 2,438,623 Stanimir Mar. 30, 1948 2,441,113 Kinzl May 4, 1948 2,472,906 Kjellstrom June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 76,793 Austria June 10, 1919 169,738 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1934 188,355 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1937 191,873 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1937 227,994 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1943 366,241 Italy Dec. 22, 1938 648,702 Germany Aug. 6, 1937

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