US2846232A - Safety device for securing a shoe upon a ski - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1958 E. SCHNELL 2,846,232

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SECURING A SHOE UPON A SKI Filed July 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig, 2)

L f/Z /3/ /33 /2/l 24a nu. v [Z y o 4 Aug. 5, 1958 Y E. SCHNELL 'SAFETY DEVICE FOR sEcURrNG A sHoE UPON A sx1 Filed July 19.11954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 5, 1958 E. SCHNELL 2,846,232

SAFETY DEVICE FOR sEcURINO A SHOE UPON A sx1 Filed July 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zig/@Fm nited Sm SAFETY DEVICE FOR SECURING A SHOE UPON A SKI Eugen Schnell, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, as-

signor to Reinhold Voster, Stuttgart-Degerloch, and Walter `Voster, Stuttgart, Germany The present invention relates to a safety appliance for securing sport implements on shoes 4or boots, and more particularly it relates to a new ski binding which automatically releases the foot of the skier when subjected to an excessive strain, for example, during a fall.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a safety device for a ski binding which is of very simple design, absolutely reliable under any circumstances, and relatively inc-onspicuous.

An essential feature of the invention consists in the provision of apair of supporting members or gripping jaws which normally abut against the forward edge or toe portion of the sole of the ski boot at different points thereof and are pivotable in opposite directions, and in means, preferably consisting of a single unit, for locking both jaws by spring action in a fixed position against the sole of the boot so as to prevent them under normal skiing conditions from pivoting laterally about their common or separate axes, and linally in means for releasing such locking unit when excessive forces arise either in longitudinal or transverse directions of the ski or foot, lor in any intermediate direction, so as to permit the supporting members or gripping jaws to lpivot outwardly Vfrom their normal position and release their gripping Vaction on the boot.

It is another object of the invention to provide yvery simple and reliablemeans for regulating thelocking action of the ski'binding which is maintained by spring pressure.

A further object of the invention is to `provide simple meansfor clearly and noticeably indicating the respective locking and releasing strength to which the new Ski binding has been adjusted inasmuch as the condence of the skier in its reliability depends thereon to the greatest Another object of the invention is to mount theshoe `supporting elements or gripping jaws of the new ski binding so as to obtain a favorable ratio of thelocking action thereof, that is,.of theforce with which the binding is to react against, or respond to, a pressure exerted vthereon both .in longitudinal and transverse directions.

A further object of the invention is topprovide a solegripping device which easily adapts itself to the ski boot so as to securethe ski safely thereon under normal skiing conditions and release the boot quickly and entirely from 'the locking lmechanism whenever unusual forces occur during falls either forwardly,.to the side, or toward the rear.

'lt is still another object of the invention to affordY simple, effective, as well as protective means jfor receiving .and transmitting the 'forces acting in different directions ,upon

`'the binding and the ski carrying the same, .andfor -providing a secure support 'for the foot .so thatA it will not be released from such binding unlessnecessary, .and toprovide` a mechanism whichl is foolproof and `safe from, jamming when. laquick release fromthe binding is required.

.A still further -objectof the, inventionis. to Adevise a safetycdeviceof the type as; described, the operationof which -is lsubstantially unaffected by friction, and the atent O 2,846,232 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 ICC gether.

A feature for attaining the latter object consists in providing the surfaces of the safety binding, which are designed to slide along each other when the binding is actu* ated to release the foot, with a coating or covering of friction-reducing and ice-repellent material, such as rubber, plastic, Celluloid, or the like. This applies especially to the surfaces of the gripping jaws which are adapted to pivotlaterally in opposite directions, or to the surfaces on the base plate or the cover plate between which these gripping jaws are designed to slide. The invention also includes the idea of making the respective parts of the binding which may be subjected to friction entirely of such friction-reducing or ice-repellent material, or of interposing a layer o-f such material between the respective surfaces.

Finally, it is another object of the invention to provide means for preventing the loss of a ski when disengaged from the foot due to a fall of the skier. An inventive feature for attaining this object resides in providing a safety strap which connects the ski with the foot so that, when the latter is released from the binding, the ski will not slide downhill alone but will hang onto the foot without, however, restricting its free movement relative ,to the ski.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 shows a top view :of the new gripping mechanism of a safety .binding according to the. invention, with the cover plate removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isa top View of a modified embodiment of .the invention;

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of another modified gripping mechanism according to the invention with an indicating device for showing the strength of the locking or releasing action, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a section along line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7is a rear view of the locking mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a section along line 8-8 of Fig. 5.,'

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the circle 9' shown in Fig. 6; while l Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a ski provided with the safety Vbinding according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 -of the drawings, the ski Z0 has mounted thereon a base plate 122 which is of inverted U-shape and secured to the ski, for example, by screws or `the like (not shown). The base plate `122, carries a strap 123 on which the gripping jaws 124 and 125 are pivotableabout vertical axes, relative to keach other, .on pivots 126 and 127, respectively. The strap 123 is provided .with an elongated slot through which a set `screw v146passes which is mounted at one end in the base plate 122 and at the other end in the cover plate 121 (not shown in Fig. l), which has substantially similar outer dimensions as the base plate 122. The slot 145 permits the strap 123 to be shifted in lateral direction so that the jaws 124 and 125, and hence the boot, may be adjusted to the longitudinal center of the ski a-.

Thebase plate 122 has a central opening in ywhich `a bolt A128 islinserted, each jaw 124 and'125 being provided `with a semicircular aperture 128 sofas to encompass the bolt 128 and abut against each other withtheir inner surfaces when in the locking position. The head 131 of the bolt 128 rests upon an annular locking member 132 whichvis tted into an aperture 121a in the cover plate-121 and engages by means of an `annular projection of wedgelike shape 133'in corresponding semicircular grooves 124a and 12501 in the upper surface of the jaws 124 and 125', respectively.

A spring 130, for example, in the form of a leaf spring, is mounted within the U-shaped base plate 122011 the lower end of the bolt 128 and loosely secured thereon by a nut 129 so as to press with its outer ends against the lower surface of the base plate 122. By loosening or tightening the nut 129, it is possible to adjust the tension of spring 130 so that the locking member 132 presses under such tension upon the jaws 124 and 125.

On their forward end, the jaws 124 and 125 are provided with inwardly directed teeth 141 so as to prevent the boot forced by the rear part of the binding to press against the jaws in the direction shown by the arrow A from slipping unintentionally from the jaws laterally thereof.

If a force exceeding the strength preset by the spring 130 should occur in the direction A, it will overcome the locking pressure with which the locking member 132 is retained on its seat, i. e. within the grooves 124.@ and 125:1, and the member 132 will be lifted from the grooves against the action of the spring 130 and permit the jaws 124 and 125 to pivot outwardly about their axes 126 and 127, respectively, to a position 125 as indictated, for example, in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l, thereby fully releasing the foot of the skier.

A similar effect will occur if excessive lateral forces act upon the ski or the boot, thereby forcing the boot against one or the other of the jaws 124 or 125 depending upon the direction of such force, and pivoting that respective jaw outwardly.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the jaws 224 and 225 are mounted by means of a strap 223 and a setscrew 246 upon a intermediate plate 247 which is slidable between the base plate 222 and the cover plate 221 is a longitudinal direction of the ski. In this embodiment, the cover plate 221 is of inverted U- shape and secured to the ski in any suitable manner, for example, by screws or the like, whereas the base plate 222 is mounted within the hollow space between the arms of the cover plate 221 and fixed thereto. Similarly as in the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the jaws 224 and 225 are locked in position by a locking member 232 which under the pressure of the spring 230 engages with its annular, wedgelike surfaces into correspending grooves in the jaws 224 and 225. Thus, in this embodiment a positive pressure is exerted by the spring 230 upon the jaws 224 and 225, that is, from above through the locking member 232 and from below through .the fixed base plate 222 and the intermediate plate For additional safety, the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is also provided with a second locking member 248 which is likewise mounted in an aperture of the cover plate 221 and the wedge-shaped surface 249 of which engages with a corresponding depression in the intermediate plate 247. The locking member 248 is retained in position by the head 251 of a bolt 250, the adjustable nut 252 of which supports a spring 253 which acts upon the lower surface of the base plate 222. By the action of the locking member 248 under the pressure of the spring 253, the intermediate plate 247 is thus pressed against the base plate 222 and retained in position between the latter and the cover plate 221, both the locking member 248 and the base plate 222 thus pressing upon the intermediate plate 247 from opposite sides thereof.

If an excessive force should become active in the direction rz-a, either upon die ski in a rearward direction or directly through the skiers boot in -a forward direction, the jaws 224 and 225, together with the intermediate plate 247 are pushed forwardly since the jaws are securely connected with the intermediate plate 247 through the bearing strap 223. Thus, both the locking members 232 and 248 are lifted in axial direction so that the jaws 224 and 225 will be able to pivot outwardly to release c2 the foot. The locking and releasing actions of the jaws in the direction of the longitudinal axis a-a of the ski are thus determined by the total of the force exerted by both springs 230 and 253.

lf, however, an excessive unilateral force is exerted upon the ski or the binding, the respective jaw 224 or 225 only has to overcome the locking action of the spring 230 by lifting the locking member 232. Thus, it is possible to regulate the releasing force required in the longitudinal direction a-a independently of the lateral releasing force directed about the pivoting axis of the pivots 226 and 227.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 9, the foot support mounted on the ski 23 again consists substantially of an upper cover plate 21 secured to the ski and forming a housing, a base plate 22 rigidly secured to the cover plate 21, for example, by being riveted thereto, and the bearing member 23 which is secured to the base plate 22 by a screw 23a. The jawlike gripping or supporting elements 24 and 25 are pivotally mounted in the bearing member 23 between the cover plate 21 and the base plate 22 by means of hingelike end portions 27a and 27 which are inserted in corresponding recesses in the outer ends of the bearing member 23 and thus do not assume any additional space in a vertical direction. An adjusting screw 23 connects a lower washer 29 pressing a rubber cushion 30 against the base plate 22, with the upper locking member 32 which is axially secured by the head 3i of the screw 28 and engages by means of a beadlike annular projection 33 with corresponding semicircular grooves 24a and a in the jaw supporting members 24 and 25 respectively. In order to avoid any possible jamming or binding in the cover plate 21, if tilted upwardly at one side only, the locking member 32 is provided with conical side walls fitting into an aperture 33a in the cover plate 22 of similar conical shape.

The head 31 of the adjusting screw 28 has a pointer 34 secured thereto which cooperates with a clocklike dial which carries numerals such as 1 to ll or l2. By turning the screw 28 in a clockwise direction, the two pressure members, i. e. the washer 29 and the locking member 32, are moved closer to each other so that the locking member 32 presses more tightly upon the jaws 24 and 25, with the annular projection 32 resting upon the upper surfaces of the grooves 24a and 241;, while compressing the rubber cushion 30 which acts as a spring and which, if desired, may be exchanged for a coil spring of suitable strength.

The pointer 34 is for instance colored and set on the adjusting screw 28 so that at a certain initial pressure between the locking member 32 and the jaws 24 and 25, it points to the number 1 on the dial. Each turn of lscrew 28 to the next higher number means a corresponding increase in the locking action until when the pointer 34 points to the highest number 11 or 12, the 'maximum locking action is reached.

The jaws 24 and 25 have pivotally mounted thereon the sole clamps 35 and 36 respectively, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. For this purpose, each clamp consists of two small angle irons 37 and 38, the horizontal arms of which encompass the respective jaw 24 or 25 on opposite sides thereof and are connected therewith by a rivet 39 to be freely pivotable about the vertical axis thereof so that each sole clamp 35 and 36 can automatically adapt itself to the respective shape of the boot sole 26. The upper end of the vertical part of the two angle irons 37 and 38 of each sole clamp has mounted thereon by a screw 40 a retaining member 41 which is preferably adjustable in a vertical direction and the free end of which is bent backward substantially in a V-shape as shown particularly in Fig. 8, so as to produce an inwardly inclined end portion 42 which rests upon the upper edge of the sole 26. Thus, if the skier should take a fall, for example, toward the rear, the -boot will -be -freedbypulling out of the `clamps 35 `and '36 `11p- -=ward1y and ,towardthe rear, the upper edge of i the' sole A26 then sliding off 'the inclined surface 42, even though the jaws 24 and25 have not been released by-pivoting -apart.

For increasing the ability of the jaws `24 and 25 to slide easily along between 'thebase plate 22and the cover plate 21 and also to prevent them fromicing together with either one of these plates, separatinglayers 43and -'44,of a smooth `and substantially frictionless rubber substancefber, plastic, Celluloid, or the like may be interposed.

Theheel of the boot maylbe supported onthe -ski in any suitable manner, provided the particular device or binding used will not in any way interfere with the quick release of the boot by the mechanism as described and will not inself hold the boot locked to the ski if an nexcessiveforce should `occur which requires animmedirate release therefrom. Preferably,,a` device may be used g-for this purpose `as has been described and shown in ,copending patent application Serial No. 447,739, filed ,August 4, 1954. However, even a support :bya simple heel binding alone, for example, by a strap or cable Apassing around the heeland drawnforwardly by a suit- `able tensioning device, such as a buckle or the like, may ybe -use dprovided.such strap or cable is secured to theeski .,-suflicient-ly far toward the rear by means of lateral hooks or clips on the ski.

Such a com-bination of the ,safetyrdevice according to -the invention with a simple heel binding mounted on the -ski near the toe portion is shownin Fig. `of the l,.drawings.

The 'boote11 of the skier is-secured to the ski 20-at the toe portion of the sole by the safety mechanism'lZ similarly as shown in Figs. 5 to 9, the two clamps 13 of which are pivotable about the forward axis and are retained in position by friction by means of a locking member, such as shown at 32 in Figs. 6 and 9. The heel portion of the boot is retained on the ski by the heel strap 14 which may be secured to the ski, for example, at the toe portion and -be tightened in any suitable manner or ,consist of a resilient element. The strap 14 may either extend along the sides of the ski to a point substantially midway of the boot by passing through lateral hooks 15, or it may be retained by a special supporting device, for example, by rear holding elements or the like which are adjustable about Vertical axes and are pivotable about a transverse axis below the foot. However, any such heel retaining device must be designed so as to permit the heel to turn sideways when the safety device according to the invention is released. In -this connection reference may =be had to the above mentioned copending application Serial No. 447,739, filed August 4, 1954.

In order to prevent the ski from being lost down a hill when the safety device is released, the ski is preferably attached to the boot by means of a safety Strap. It consists of a strap portion 16 which passes through a loop of another strap portion 17 the other end of which is connected by a buckle 18 or a snap hook or the like to the portion 16. For securing this strap to the heel strap 14, the end of the part 16 opposite the buckle 18 has a slit 19 through which the remainder of the strap is drawn so as to form a loop around the heel strap 14.

Since the safety strap is connected to the heel strap 14 only at one side, it will not tie the foot to the ski when the binding is released but it will still retain the ski loosely attached to the foot and prevent it from sliding away of its own accord even if the heel strap 14 should during the fall ybecome disengaged from the hook 15.

While the foregoing description sets forth in detail what I regard as the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit vin its normal position on said-ski, means lfor-mounting each of said members "onfsaidski infront of said boot s-o as to pivot about a vertical axis, `and common resilient means comprisingalocking member movable in `avertical "direction nfor simultaneously Imaintalning both of said clamping members `in their respective 'normal 'positions, and a spring member'pressingsaid locking member resiliently against bothofsaidclamping members so as to` restrain the same from vpivoting out vof vtheir normal position.

2. A Vdeviceforsecurin'g albootupon a skicompris'ing at least two clamping membersadapted to'abut against 'the front end ofsaidbootrand'at both 'sides of the central longitudinal vaxis of said skifor supporting said boot in its 'normal position von said ski, means lfor mounting eachof said members on s'aids'ki'so as vto'b'e pivotable about a vertical axis `located infront of Asaid bOot, a lower pressure member, an upperpressure member, at least one of the two last mentioned members being movable in a vertical direction whereby y'said two pressure members press simultaneously against said two clamping vmembers from opposite v-sides thereof, interengaging means betweenone offsaidpressure members'and kat least oneof said clamping members, said means comprising a projectionon one and a corresponding depression in lthe lother -of the Atwo last mentioned `-members, Yat least one of the two last mentioned members having an inclined surface so that, when a certain force substantially parallel with the upper surface of said ski is exerted upon said clamping member, -said force is transmitted through the wedging action on said inclined surface to the last mentioned pressure member so as to overcome the restraining action of said interengaging means and lift said pressure member out of the locking engagement with at least one of said clamping members to permit the same to pivot about its vertical axis.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the interengaging means are interposed between the upper pressure member and the clamping members and consist of an annular projection on the upper pressure member and a substantially corresponding semicircular depression in each clamping member, said depressions together forming a circular depression when said clamping members are in their normal position.

4. A device for securing a boot upon a ski comprising at least two clamping members adapted to abut against the front end of said boot and at both sides of the central longitudinal axis of said ski for supporting said boot in its normal position on said ski, means for mounting each of said members on said ski in front of said boot so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis located in front of said boot, a lower plate between said ski and y said clamping members, an upper plate above said clamping members, means for securing said lower and upper plates against being lifted from said ski and against being rotated relative to said ski, said lower and upper plates having superimposed openings therein, a tensioning element extending through lsaid openings, an upper pressure member on said tensioning element above said clamping members and resting substantially equally upon the same, a lower pressure member below said clamping members, and a resilient element intermediate said lower pressure member and said lower plate, so that said clamping members are locked in position between said upper pressure member and said lower plate through the action of said resilient element.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the resilient elementt consists of a ring of rubber-like material surrounding the tensioning element.

6. A device according to claim 4,` wherein the upper pressure member is placed within the opening in 'the upper plate and provided Within said opening with a conical peripheral surface decreasing in diameter in downward direction.

7. A device for securing a shoe upon a sport implement comprising a lower plate, a cover plate, each of said plates being non-rotatably mounted on said implement. an intermediate plate mounted between said lower plate and said cover plate and movable in a longitudinal direction of said implement, a pair of clamping members between said intermediate plate and said cover plate and adapted to abut against and support the toe portion of the shoe in a forward direction at opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of said implement, means for mounting said clamping members on said intermediate plate so as to be pivotable about vertical axes located in front of the shoe, a rst pressure member pressing from above upon said clamping members, resilient means for locking said clamping members between said first pressure member and said intermediate plate, a second pressure member pressing from above upon said intermediate plate, and further resilient means for locking the intermediate plate between said second pressure member and said lower plate.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein each of the resilient means comprise a vertical bolt passing through said plates, an opposed pressure member at the lower end of each of said bolts, and a spring member intermediate said last pressure member and the lower plate, each of the two rst mentioned pressure members having a beadlike projection, said clamping members facing said rst pressure member as well as the intermediate plate facing said second pressure member each having depressions corresponding with said beadlike projection and interlocking therewith.

9. A device according to claim 4, further comprising non-metallic means intermediate the-clamping members and the lower plate for reducing the friction between said members and said plate when sliding along each other.

10. A device according to claim 4, further comprising non-metallic means intermediate the clamping members and the lower plate as well as the cover plate for reducing the friction between said members and said plates when sliding relative to each other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,896 Walker Mar. 17, 1942 2,308,338 Mcllvaine Jan. 12, 1943 2,373,128 Mcllvaine Apr. 10, 1945 2,381,793 Wallace Aug. 7, 1945 2,383,064 Lanz Aug. 21, 1945 2,468,879 Hvam May 3, 1949 2,534,038 Lanz Dec. l2, 1950 2,686,039 Whitaker Aug. 10, 1954 2,698,757 Berlenbach Jan. 4, 1955 2,745,672 Meier May l5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,950 Austria May 10, 1950 844,838 France May l, 1939 77,976 Sweden Aug. 1, 1933 222,570 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1954

Images