US2789827A - Heel release ski binding - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 N. T. KNAUF 2,789,827

HEEL RELEASE SKI BINDING Filed May 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 37 3 INVENTOR NICHOLAS TKNAUF ATTORNEYS April 23, 1957 -N. T. KNAUF ,7

HEEL RELEASE SKI BINDING Filed May 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patento HEEL RELEASE SKI BINDING Nicholas T. Knauf, Chilton, Wis.

Application May 16, 1955, Serial No. 508,541

2 Claims. (Cl. 28011.35)

My invention appertains to ski bindings, and more particularly to a safety heel release for the ski binding that will hold the boot and heel firmly to the ski but will automatically release upon strains or stresses which are greater than those'which can be safely borne by the skier.

In recent years there has been a series of developments in safety ski bindings due to the fact that the conventional fixed type bindings, while being ideal for the various maneuvers required in good skiing, are extremely dangerous when spills and falls occur. Therefore, attempts have been made in the past to provide for releasable bindings so that the skier may free himself from a ski in a spill and thus avoid serious injury.

In my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,682,416, issued to me June 29, 1954, I have shown and described an excellent means for firmly securing the boot to the ski but also providing for the release of the boot when sulficient force is exerted upon my safety binding. .This particular binding is of the front assembly type and releasably secures the toe of the boot to the ski, and while this binding will release upon sufficient force in almost any direction, it is conceivable that it might not release quick enough upon a direct upward movement of the heel of the boot away from the ski. While the straight upward movement of the heel away from the ski would rarely occur without other movement of the boot, 'it has, nevertheless, been found desirable to provide some sort of a release that would release and free the boot from the ski when force is applied to the heel in an upward direction.

tlt is, therefore, a primary object of my present invention to provide a ski binding having a safety heel release that will operate to release the boot from the ski when the skiers heel is raised beyond a predetermined amount from the ski with a force that would otherwise prove serious or cause injury.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide a safety heel release having a movable tripout piece that will free the boot from the ski when the heel is also dangerously and forcibly moved laterally in relation to the ski.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a safety heel release which is adjustable to a fine degree of precision so that it will not release under the usual forces encountered in the normal skiing procedure and minor spills, but will immediately and automatically release when stresses and strains are encountered of sufficient force to injure the skien,

-A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatically releasable heel ski binding which is incorporated in the heel tensioning strand or cable and which can be used, not only with present safety devices associated with the toe irons or the toes of the boots without interference, but which also can be easily used with the majority of conventional type fixed ski 'bind ings and toggle mechanisms located forward of the toe of the boot without alteration thereof.

2,789,827 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 A salient object of my invention resides in the fact that I have provided a releasable heel ski binding of comparatively simple construction which can be simply and inexpensively made and incorporated in presently used tensioning strands or heel cables, and which is simple and easy to use by skilled skiers or novices alike and is dependable when used for downhill skiing, racing, jumping or the like.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

One preferred and practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

'Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my novel heel release shown in conjunction with my safety front assembly which is more fully shown and described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,682,416,. the ski boot being shown firmly but releasa'bly held to the ski;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of my novel safety heel release similar to Figure 1 of the drawings but showing the release adjusted so that the heel may be raised slightly before it is released;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating details of my heel release binding;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view simi lar to Figure 3 of the drawings 'but showing the tripout piece in its released position and about to free the heel tensioning strand or cable;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken through my novel heel release, the section being taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 of the drawings and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view in perspective of the body piece and trip-out piece of my heel release;

Figure 7 is a top plan View of the preferred form of my adjusting means for the release cable, certain parts being broken away and in section to illustrate various details of construction, the section being represented by the line 7-7 of Figure 2 of the drawings and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 8 is a top plan view similar to Figure 7 of the drawings but illustrating a modified form of my adjusting means for the cable and the heel release.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter H generally indicates one type of my improved safety heel release bind ing and the same is shown associated with a safety front release assembly F to hold the boot B firmly but releasably to the ski S.

As previously explained, my heel release binding H may be utilized either with safety front assemblies or with the conventional fixed type assemblies, but I prefer to utilize the same in conjunction with my safety front assembly F shown and described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,682,416. Obviously, the construction of the front assembly F forms no particular part of my present invention and any means may be utilized to hold the toe 10 of the boot B to the ski S. Y

My novel heel release binding H includes, broadly, the release mechanism 11, the torsion spring and latch assembly 12, a release cable 13 having one end 14 looped about the spring 12 and having itsother end 15 adjustably secured to the ski 5.. The release mechanism 11 firmly and releasably holds the ends of the heel tensioning strands or cables 16 and 17 together.

When my novel heel release H is utilized with a safety front assembly such as the one illustrated, the heel cables 16 and 17 are adjustably secured to the sides of the ski S, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and this is accomplished by means of a bracket 18 which receives the threaded member 19 which is attached to the end of the cable 16 and the cable and threaded member is adjusted by means of the Hex. bolt head 20. The cable 17 is secured to the other side of the ski S in exactly the same manner and both may be provided with a cable holddown 21. if my heel release H is to be utilized with a conventional fixed type binding, it is obvious that the inner ends 19 of the cables 16 and 17 may be extended forward of the toe to be secured to a toggle arrangement or the like without affecting my heel release assembly in any manner. However, regardless of the type of bindings used, the ends 22 and 23, respectively, of the cables 16 and 117 have swedged or otherwise secured thereto the end balls 24 and 25. Although not necessary, I may provide a number of additional balls 26 which are loosely secured to the cable ends inwardly of the balls 24 and 25, respectively, and this arrangement merely provides an additional adjusting means between the cables and the release 11 as will be readily apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6 of the drawings, it can be seen that the release mechanism 11 includes the body piece 27 and the trip-out piece 28 which is pivotally secured at one end to the body 27 by means of the shouldered rivet 2?. The body 27 may be stamped from a single piece of metal and the lower tab 30 is bent upward U-shaped as shown and is provided with a central longitudinally extending slot 31. I also provide an upstanding lug 32 which receives the main body portion 33 of the spring 12. One side of the body piece 27 is provided with a small notch 34 which is adapted to receive the offset end 36 of the spring 12. The lower leg 37 of the spring extends laterally across the slot 31 within the U-shaped tab 30, and it should be here noted that the leg 37 of the spring 12 is urged towards the leg 33 and that the looped end 14 of the release cable 13 extends into the slot 31 and is fitted over the leg 37 of the spring. The other side of the body 27 is formed with an enlarged cutout or slot 39, the lower end of which slants angularly and downwardly as at 40. Trip-out piece 28 is provided with a keeper notch 41 which receives the upturned latch end 42 of the spring leg 37 and this piece is normally held in the position illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. It should be noted that the inner end of the trip-out piece 28 is provided with a cooperating angularly and downwardly extending surface 43 which, in the normal operative position, is opposite the angular extending end 40 of the body 27 and the two cooperate to act as camming surfaces to facilitate the quick movement of the trip-out piece 23 from its closed full 'line position to its released dotted line position as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 of the drawings.

A salient feature of my invention resides in the novel means for adjustably securing the trip-out cable 13 to the ski so that it may move a pre-determined distance before the trip-out mechanism 11 can be actuated, thus allowing some freedom and upward movement of heel if desired. This adustment includes a longitudinally extending bracket 4d which is firmly secured to the ski S in rear of the heel release mechanism 11. One end of the bracket 44 is provided with a vertically extending piece 45 which is provided with a threaded hole to adjustably receive an externally threaded tube 46, and the tube may be moved backward and forward in relation to the piece 45 and secured in place by the lock nut 47. The cable 13 is passed through the hole 48 provided in the angularly extending piece 4-9 back through the tube as and the cable end 15 is provided with a button or abutment which is swedged or otherwise secured thereto. Thus the distance between the tube 46 and the cable end 15 may be adjusted as desired.

Obviously, this adjustment of the release cable 13 may be accomplished by any number of ways and I have illustrated one modified form in Figure 8 of the drawings. In this arrangement the cable 13 is received in the brackof 4-4 in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 7. However, the tube 46 is eliminated and an adjustable device 51 is substituted therefor. This device includes an internal member 52 threadably received in the outer member 53, and by threading the member 51 in one direction it will grip the cable 13, while turning the member 52 in the opposite direction will loosen the device on the cable 13, and, therefore, an adjustable stop may be had at any desired spot between the vertical plate 45 and the button 54.

in utilizing my novel heel release binding H, the toe 10 of the boot B is firmly secured to the ski S by means of my front assembly F and the cables 16 and 17 are adjusted in the present instance by means of the Hex. Sill so that the ball ends may be brought together as bet- 1%)! shown in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings. Again it is to be remembered that the cable 16 and 17 may extend entirely forward of the toe as in the conventional type of fixed binding. In any event, the ball ends 22 and 23 of the cables 16 and 17, respectively, are received in the slot 39 of the body piece 27. It makes no difference whether the heel cables 16 and 17 are adjusted so that the balls 24 and are received in the slot or so that any one of the loosely fitted balls 26 are received in the cutout or slot 39. However, with the ball ends in place the trip-out piece 28 is pivoted downwardly until the keeper 41 is caught by the latch end 42 of the spring 12. As the spring 12 is of the torsion type, the trip-out piece 28 will normally be held in the position illustrated in Figure 3, and inasmuch as the upper portion of the slot 39 is of a smaller Width than the diameter of the balls, the cable ends 22 and 23 will be firmly held in the release mechanism 11. The loop 14 of the release cable 13 is, of course, secured over the leg 37 of the spring and the cable extends downwardly therefrom through the slot 31 of the tab to the bracket 44. The tube 44 is then adjusted to allow for the desired movement of the heel 55 before the release mechanism will operate. Obviously, the distance between end 15 of the release cable 13 and the tube 46 may be adjusted so that when heel 55 of the boot B is held in firm contact with the ski S by the ten sion strand or cables the end 15 will abut the tube 46 and the release will operate immediately, or it may be adjusted as shown in Figures 1 and 2 to allow for a slight upward movement of the heel 55.

In any event, should the forward movement of the ski be abruptly stopped, such as may be caused by digging in of the ski tip due to soft heavy snow and the like, the forward motion of the skiers body will cause the heel 55 to be raised in the direction of the arrow of Figure 2 of the drawings until the button on the end 15 of the release cable 13 strikes the tube 45. Further dangerous and excessive force will then cause the release cable 13 to pull downwardly on the latch leg 37 of the spring 1?. where the latch 42 will be disengaged from the keeper 41. Additional movement then causes the cable end 23, aided by the camming surfaces 4 b and 53, to pivoi the trip-out piece 28 to its dotted line position in the direction of the arrow of Figure 4 of the drawings and the cable 17 will free itself from the release mechanism 11. Obviously, it is not necessary that cable 16 free itself from the release mechanism 11, but it is free to move out of slot 39 when necessary. Although I may, if

- desired, fix the end 22 of the cable 16 to the body piece 27, I would prefer, for adjustment pulposes, that both ends 22 and 23 of the cables 16 and 17 be free to move in and out of the slot 39.

From the foregoing it is believed that the features and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ski-binding of the type wherein a tensioned strand member anchored to the ski encircles the heel of the boot, a safety heel release mechanism comprising; a divided heel element formed in said tensioned strand member including, an identical abutment formed on the end of each portion of said divided heel element, a body piece having one end secured to the ski, said body piece being formed with an elongated transverse slot opening out on one side thereof, said slot being defined by parallel surfaces one of which extends angularly away from the other surface adjacent the open end thereof, said end strand portions of said divided heel element being received in said slot adjacent said boot heel, the end abutment of each end portion being of a larger diameter than the inner width of said slot, a trip-out piece pivoted at one end to said body piece adjacent said slot, said trip-out piece having the surface adjacent said open end of said slot formed as a cooperating angle surface with said angle surface of said slot, and latching means for said trip-out piece adapted in one position to hold said tripout piece over the open end of said slot and to secure the said strand end portions therein and adapted in another position to release said trip-out piece upon a pre-determined force to allow said piece to pivot away from said slot opening and to release said strand end portions.

2. In a ski-binding of. the type wherein a tensioned strand member anchored to the ski encircles the heel of the boot, a safety heel release mechanism comprising; a divided heel element formed in said tensioned strand member including an identical abutment formed on the end of each portion of said divided heel element, a body piece being formed with an elongated slot opening out on one side thereof, said end strand portions of said divided heel element being received in said slot adjacent said boot heel, the end abutment of each end portion being of a larger diameter than the width of said slot, a trip-out piece pivoted at one end to said body piece adjacent said slot, a latching means for said trip-out piece including, a torsion spring having one leg received in a keeper formed in said trip-out piece a release cable having one end secured to said ski and the other end secured to said spring leg, said latching means torsion spring being so constructed and arranged as to hold said trip-out piece in one position over the open end of said slot and to secure the said strand end portions therein and adapted in another position to release said trip-out piece upon a pre-deterrnined force or pull of said release cable on said spring leg to allow said piece to pivot away from said slot opening and to release said strand end portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,604 Ruggles Mar. 22, 1927 2,323,723 Mushet July 6, 1943 2,517,486 Hewett Aug. 1, 1950 2,618,487 Gould Nov. 18, 1952 2,673,743 Gould Mar. 30, 1954 2,682,416 Knauf June 29, 1954 2,722,449 Harley Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 843,364 France Mar. 27, 1939 37,983 Sweden Mar. 5, 1913

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