US3625532A

US3625532A - Heel binding for ski

Info

Publication number: US3625532A
Application number: US876711A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward A Pauls
Original assignee: SPORTS Tech
Current assignee: SPORTS Tech; Sports Technology Inc
Priority date: 1969-11-14
Filing date: 1969-11-14
Publication date: 1971-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-07
Also published as: FR2069416A5; CA942337A; AT313760B; DE2055990A1; CH547649A

Abstract

A heel binding for holding a ski boot to a ski which includes high-energy storage spring means for permitting the heel to lift from the ski during high loads, and which when the heel has lifted a predetermined amount will release completely to free the ski boot from the ski. Torsion bar means are used for energy storage, during the lifting of the heel, and separate mechanisms are utilized for the release action after the heel has lifted a predetermined distance.

Description

United States Patent 3,442,525 3,481,616 l2/l969 Hatlapa Edward A. Pauls Excelsior, Minn. 876,7 1 1 Nov. 14, 1969 Dec. 7, 197] Sports Technology, Inc. South Edina, Minn.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee HEEL BINDING FOR SKI 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. ..280/l 1.35 T Int. Cl A630 9/084 Field of Search 280/l L35 Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/l969 Heckl 280/ll.35T

3,512,797 5/1970 Markeretal. 280/ll.35T

Primary Examiner- Leo F riaglia Assistant Examiner Robert R. Song Attorney-Dugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman ABSTRACT: A heel binding for holding a ski boot to a ski which includes high-energy storage spring means for permitting the heel to lift from the ski during high loads, and which when the heel has lifted a predetermined amount will release completely to free the ski boot from the ski. Torsion bar means are used for energy storage, during the lifting of the heel, and separate mechanisms are utilized for the release action after the heel has lifted a predetermined distance.

IIEEI. BINDING FOR SK! BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has with skis and ski boots.

2. Prior Art Many different types of boot'release bindings have been advanced for use in skiing. Part of the problem in bindings is to obtain a binding which will release positively at a present force, and not prematurely,'and still will absorb some shock loads during skiing. The problem involved includes the problem of storage of energy necessary to return the ski boot to the ski after it has once been litted off withouttaking excessive space on the ski. Another problem is to have a positive release not dependent upon near-center toggle links, which are unreliable unless very precisely made.

Desired properties are release reliability of the heel binding, low cost of manufacture, and keeping down the size of the binding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has relation to a releasable heel binding which utilizes torsion bars for upward movement of the heel from the ski, and has mechanical release mechanism for permitting the binding to release the boot once the unit has been raised from the ski a predetermined amount. Two separate actuating mechanisms are involved as shown. One includes an energy storage torsion bar for storing energy when the heel is lifted and the other a compression spring for holding the binding in a predetermined location. When the boot has lifted far enough, against the action of the torsion bar, the lifting member mechanically moves relative to the retainer for the compression spring and physically releases the binding so that the boot will be positively released once the heel has lifted a predetermined amount.

A very compact, high-energy storage unit is utilized and the torsion bar members permit the compactness to be achieved while storing a great deal of energy. The positive release after lifting the heel a predetermined amount is accomplished by physically moving members rather than by relying upon a near-center" or overcenter toggle arrangement.

The unit can be cocked manually and closes as a step-in binding. It can be manually moved to its closed position from its cocked position if desired.

The member is made largely of metal-stamped parts which do not require machining, and the geometry of the unit does not require precise center distances and pivot point for operarelation to heel bindings for use BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a heel binding made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing a heel in position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof showing the binding just at the time of release of the unit;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the internal working members of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially at the position shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A release heel binding, generally at 10 has a mounting member 11 that is mounted onto a ski I2 with suitable screws or other fasteners, and has a baseplate frame 13 that is slidably mounted in provided side grooves of the mounting member 11 and can be adjusted in fore and aft position with respect to the mounting member through the use a screw I4 acting through a lug 15 that is fixed to the mounting member. The screw 14 is threadably mounted through the lug l5, and is rotatably mounted in the upwardly extending end member I6 of the frame I3. The screw 14 is made so that it will not move in either axial direction, but will force the frame 13 to slide along the mounting member 11 when the screw 14 is rotated.

A ski boot 17 having a heel groove shown at I8 is mounted in the binding. The frame 13, adjacent the forward portions thereof, has a pair of spaced apart upstanding ears 2!. The ears 21 are used to pivotally mount a pivot frame 22. The pivot frame 22 is an inverted U-shaped structure having downwardly depending legs 23 on opposite sides of the pivot frame, and a top cross wall 24 joining the depending legs and extending therebetween. The forward and rear ends of this frame are open. At therear portions of the frame, a pair of upright spaced apart ears 25 are integral with the pivot frame 22. The pivot frame 22 is pivotally mounted with suitable pins or rivets 26 to the ears 2] for pivotal movement about the axis of these pins. I I

A retaincryoke 30 is pivotally mounted with suitable pins 31 to the cars 25 on the pivot'frame 22. The yoke 30 has a pair of

side legs

32, 32 joined together by a front wall 33. The front wall 33 has a lip 33A at the lower end thereof. The lip 33A fits between the

legs

23, 23 of the pivot frame 22. The legs 32 of the yoke fit on the outside of the legs 23 of the pivot frame. The front wall 33 of the yoke is used for mounting a heel cup 34. The heel cup is made so that it can be adjusted in vertical direction to get different height adjustments for difi'erent boots, and is held in place with suitable screws 35 as shown.

The pins 31 are short pins that merelyconnect two parts, namely cars 25 and the legs 32 together for pivotal movement about this axis.

The movement of the yoke 30 relative to the pivot frame 22 is restrained through the use of a hairpin-type torsion bar assembly. The torsion bar assembly 36 comprises a pair of elongated longitudinal side members comprising torsion bars 37 joined together at the rear portions thereof, and having

separate levers

38 and 39 connected to the torsion bars at the forward ends thereof. As shown, .the

levers

38 and 39 extend from one torsion bar 37 toward the other, and are offset in fore and aft directions. The torsion bar assembly 36 is of size so that it will fit between the ears .25, an between the

legs

32, 32 of the yoke 30. The torsion bar assembly is thus placed above the top wall 24 of the pivot frame. The outer ends of the

levers

38 and 39 are of length so that they extend outwardly beyond the walls 32 of the yoke. The torsion bar assembly is laid on top of the top cross wall 24 and an adjusting cover 42 is mounted over the torsion bar. The cover 42 has relief grooves 43 for receiving the torsion bars 37 on opposite sides thereof and is provided with anopening-through which an adjusting screw 44 is mounted. The adjusting screw 44 in turn is threadably mounted into an opening in the top wall 24. When the screw is threaded through this opening, the torsion bars will be held between the cover and the top wall.

The movement of the pivot frame 22 about the axis of pins 26 is controlled through the use of a spring and link arrangement. A yoke (U-shaped member) 45 is positioned between the

legs

23, 23 of the pivot frame and is fastened with a pair of pins 46 for pivotal movement with respect to the pivot frame 22. The pins 46 pass through provided slots 47 in the legs 23 of the pivot frame 22 and are. threaded into or otherwise fastened to the opposite legs of the yoke 45. The legs of the yoke are spaced apart in the center portions, and a spring 48 which is an extremely high-rate stiff spring is positioned between the legs of the yoke and is mounted over an adjustable screw 51. The screw 51 is slidably mounted through an opening in the upright wall I6 of theframe 13 at the rear portions of the frame, and threaded through an adjusting nut 54 which is slidably mounted between the legs of the yoke 45 and is threadably mounted through a crossmember- 52 of the yoke 45. A locknut 53 is provided for holding the screw in place. The adjusting nut54 is provided to permit adjustment of the spring force from the spring 48.

The opening in wall I6 for the screw 51 is made large so that the screw can pivot in this opening, and the wall 16 is deformed slightly to form a boss 55 which is used for keeping the spring 48 centered around the opening to fonn a pivot.

The relative movement between the yoke 30 and the pivot frame 22 is controlled by the torsion bar assembly 36. The outward extending head members of the pins 46 that are fastened to the yoke 45 are held in place with the yoke 30. When the pins 46 are in the rearward position of slot 47, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a cylindrical surface 56 cut into the legs 32 fits around the head of the pin and the edge surface 57 stops against the head of the pins under the force from the torsion bar assembly 36. The center of surface 56 is on the axis of pin 31.

The

levers

38 and 39 which bear against the top edges of the legs 32 of the yoke urge this yoke 30 downwardly about the axis of pins 31 with respect to the pivot frame 22. The amount of preload force from the torsion bars can be adjusted through the use of the screw 44. The screw 44 can be adjusted to force the cover plate and torsion bar assembly down farther toward wall 24 to increase the torsion stress in the bars 37. The force tending to pivot the yoke 30 about its pivot axis 31 relative to the pivot frame will force the yoke down so that the surfaces 57 of the legs 32 will rest against the heads of the pins 46. This will hold the unit with the pins 46 at the rearward portions of the slots 47. When the pins are at the rearward portions of the slots 47 the spring 48 is under compression and the force of the spring 48 acting through screw 51 and yoke 45 will tend to keep the entire binding assembly pivoted about pins 46 in direction as indicated by the arrow 60.

With the yoke 30 and the pivot frame 22 held in their position as shown in FIG. 2, the entire binding assembly can be cocked to an open position manually by pushing on the rear portions of lever 36 with a ski pole or by hand so that the unit goes to dotted position as shown in FIG. 2. The heel cup is then released and won't hold the boot heel. The pins 46 will be held in the rear portions of the slot 47 by the yoke 30 and the force application from the spring 48 will actually go overcenter with respect to the pivot of the spring on wall 16 and the pivot of pins 26, to hold the unit in its locked or open position.

In order to provide for a step-in action, a step-in plate 61 that has an actuator tab 62 and a pair of

upstanding legs

63, 63 is used. The

legs

63, 63 are pivotally mounted to the pins 26, and have rearwardly extending actuator portions with small lugs 65 that extend outwardly underneath the legs of the pivot frame 22, and when the unit is in its cocked position as shown in FIG. 2 in the dotted lines, the tab 62 will pivot upwardly. When a heel is stepped down into place on the tab 62 the lugs on legs 63 will create a force underneath the legs 22 tending to rotate the pivot frame 22 and the entire assembly in direction as indicated by the arrow 60 and will reset the binding automatically with the step-in action.

When the binding is in place, and the spring 48 is exerting a force against the heel groove 18 through the binding, and when the skier encounters load, the heel will tend to lift off the ski. When this happens, because of the geometry of the system there is very little force tending to rotate the pivot frame 22 opposite from arrow 60, and the spring 48, which is an extremely high-rate spring, resists this movement. However, the yoke 30 will tend to rotate about its pivots 31 against the action of the torsion bar assembly 36. The surface 56 is a part cylindrical surface that has its radius at the axis of pins 31 so that there isn't any hooking action tending to restrain the legs 32 from moving relative to the pins 46, but only the restraint force caused by the torsion stress in the torsion bars as the yoke 30 lifts. It can be seen that as the yoke 30 lifts, the upper edges of the walls 32 will continue to bear against the outer ends of the

levers

38 and 39 tending to cause these levers to rotate. Because the cover 42 fits between the

legs

32, 32 and is restrained by the screw 44, the yoke 30 can pivot about pins 31 as it overcomes the torsion stress exerted by the torsion bar assembly 36.

When the yoke 30 has pivoted to a position as shown in FIG. 3, which is a maximum heel lift, pins 46 will be released from the surface 56 and will slide in slot 47 toward the inner end under the force of spring 48. Because spring 48 is a very highrate spring, the small change in efiective length of the spring 48 caused by the movement of the spring yoke 45 in the slot 47 away from the wall 16, and also reduction in the effective lever arm of the spring 48 tending to rotate the pivot frame 22 about pivot 26, combine to reduce the holding force of the unit substantially percent of its initial holding force and as soon as the pins 46 drop into the bottom of slot 47, the pivot frame 22 pivots rearwardly on pins 26 and the boot will be released from the heel cup. When the pivot frame pivots rearwardly, the heel cup will no longer hold the heel. Because of the high-energy storage in the torsion bar assembly 36, and a slight rounding of the point portion 64 of the walls 32, the yoke 30 will reset itself, in most instances, by sliding back along the heads of the pins 46 and forcing the pins to the upper end of the slot 47 so that the unit will reset to its original position with the yoke 30 in position as shown in FIG. 2 relative to the pivot frame 22. Sometimes the unit will remain in position as shown in FIG. 3 even after release. The yoke can be set to position shown in FIG. 2 by pulling up on the rear part of torsion bar assembly 36.

The compact lever action torsion bars permit high-energy storage to return the heel to a position against the top surface of the ski (or actually resting on the frame as shown) independently of the force from spring 48. The release of the binding to a release position is done by mechanical movement of members that are dependent upon distance only (the legs 32 of yoke 30) which in turn release a release actuator or element, comprising the pins 46 in the slot 47, which change the force exerted by the spring 48 as well as the leverage of this force to insure that the binding will pivot to release the heel when a certain heel lift distance has been achieved. The pivoting of the pivot frame 22 in direction indicated by arrow 60 is limited by the head of screw 51 when there is no boot in the binding.

The

levers

38 and 39 fold back toward each other from their torsion bars to conserve space and to permit high-energy storage. Adjustments can readily be made by changing the setting on screw 44 and getting greater presets to the torsion bars. The heel is thus held down with a spring or bias force, and is also held forward into a toe binding, if desired, with a spring force exerted by the spring 48. This force will be tending to rotate the binding forwardly about the pivot pins 26, if desired. This can be set by changing the setting of the screw 51 and the nut 54.

A small depression at the rear end of cover plate 42 is provided to permit insertion of a tip of a ski pole so the pole can be used for manually cocking or releasing the binding. The unit can also be reset manually by lifting on the rear of torsion bar assembly 36.

What is claimed is:

l. A heel binding for use with ski boots comprising a base, a first member pivotally mounted on said base for movement between a ski boot holding position and a release position, first spring means for urging said first member about its pivot to ski boot holding position and resisting movement of said first member about its pivot to its release position, and a second member movably mounted on said first member and having boot engaging means thereon, second spring means mounted to act between the first member and second member to hold said second member in a first ski boot holding position, said second member having means for engaging the heel of a ski boot thereon and being positioned so that upon movement of said boot upwardly said second member will be moved relative to said first member against the action of the second spring means, and release means actuable to reduce the force required to move said first member about its pivot to its released position, said release means being actuated by said second member after said second member has been moved a predetermined amount upwardly by a ski boot heel held by the binding.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said second spring means comprises torsion bar means mounted on said first member and said torsion bar means including spring actuator lever means operated by movement of said second member to cause torsion stress in said torsion bar means.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said torsion bar means comprises a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member being mounted above said first member, and at least partially resting thereon, and a retainer plate overlying said U- shaped member, said U-shaped member having elongated legs with said actuator lever means at the ends thereof, said lever means each engaging said second member, an said retainer plate holding the legs of said U-shaped member with respect to said first member as said second member moves relative to said first member thereby to cause said second member to move said actuator lever means and stress said torsion bar means in torsion when said second member moves relative to said first member.

4. The combination as specified in claim 3 and an adjustable means for said retainer plate to change the position of the elongated legs of said torsion bar means relative to the portions of said actuator lever means which engage said second member to exert an initial torsion stress on said torsion bar means when said first and second members are in their ski boot holding position.

5. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said release means comprises a linkage member mounting said first spring to said first member, means on said second member to hold said linkage member in a first linkage position wherein said first spring means exerts a holding force on said boot, and to release said linkage member to permit said linkage member to move to a second position wherein said first member is released to its released position and the force from said first spring means acting on said first member is substantially reduced.

6. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said first spring is mounted for pivoting with respect to said base at a first end thereof, and means mounting a second end of said first spring on said first member about a pivot axis offset spaced from the pivotal connection of said first member and said base, and positioned so that said first spring exerts a moment on said first member when said first member is in said ski boot holding position.

7. The combination as specified in claim 6 wherein said release means includes means to permit the means mounting the second end of said first spring to move to position to substantially reduce the moment exerted by said first spring when said release means are released.

8. The combination as specified in claim 6 wherein said means to mount said second end of said spring includes a sliding connection to said first member, said release means being in a first holding position at one end of the sliding connection and in a second release position at a second end of said sliding connection.

9. The combination as specified in claim 8 wherein said sliding connection includes a sliding pin means and wherein said second member has a surface defined therein to retain said pin means in a first pin position when said second member is in its first ski boot holding position, and to release to permit said pin means to slide to a second position when said second member has moved to its release position.

10. The combination as specified in claim 9 wherein said first member is an inverted U-shaped member having a top wall lying generally in direction along and spaced from the ski top surface, and having opposite legs spaced apart and pivotally mounted to said base, said first spring being mounted between said legs, and said pin means being pivoted to said legs.

11. The combination as specified in claim 10 wherein said second member comprises a U-shaped member having side legs positioned on the outside of said legs of said first member, the side legs of said second member having retainer surfaces defined therein in position to retain said pin means in the first pin position when said second member is in its ski boot holding position, said retainer surfaces being part cylindrical formed around a center axis substantially coinciding with the axis of pivot of said second member relative to said first member.

12. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said lever means of said torsion bar means rest against the upper edges of said legs of said second member.

13. The combination as specified in claim 6 wherein the means mounting the second end of said first spring comprises a pivot, and wherein the first end of said first spring will pivot relative to said frame, and wherein the pivot of said means mounting the second end of said first spring passes on the opposite side of a line drawn from the pivot of the first end of said first spring and the pivot of said first member when said binding moves from its holding position to its boot release position.

14. The combination as specified in claim 3 wherein said retainer plate has side relief grooves of size to receive the elongated legs of said U-shaped member.

15. The combination as specified in claim 14 and actuator means for moving said first member from its release position to its ski boot holding position comprising a tab mounted on said base, said tab being positioned so once a ski boot is placed into said binding the heel of said boot will rest on said tab and actuate it to move said first member about its pivot to the ski boot holding position.

16. A heel binding for use with ski boots comprising a base, a first member pivotally mounted on said base on a first pivot for movement between a ski boot holding position and a release position, a spring retainer member mounted for limited movement on said first member, first spring means mounted between the base and said spring retainer member, said first spring means urging said first member about said first pivot to a ski boot holding position, and directly resisting movement of said first member about said first pivot to said release position, a second member pivotally mounted on said first member about a second pivot, said second member having boot engaging means thereon, second spring means between said first member and said second member to urge said second member about said second pivot to a first member position, said second member being held in its first member position by said second spring, said spring retainer member being movable on said first member from a first retainer position wherein the force from said first spring urging said first member about said first pivot is at a first force level, to a second retainer position wherein the force from said first spring urging said first member about said first pivot is substantially lower than said first force level, and means on said second member defining a spring retainer rest to normally hold said spring retainer member in said first retainer position, and to release said spring retainer member to permit said spring retainer member to move to said second retainer position after said second member has pivoted about said second pivot a preselected amount.

17. The combination as specified in claim 16 wherein spring retainer member includes a cylindrical support member slidably mounted in said first member, and said spring retainer rest comprises a part cylindrical surface mating with said cylindrical support, said part cylindrical surface having a central axis substantially coincidental with the pivot axis of said second pivot, whereby said rest does not substantially hold the second member from pivoting.

18. The combination as specified in said claim 16 wherein said second spring means comprises torsion bar means stressed in torsion when said second member pivots about said second pivot, and means to adjust the restraining force of said torsion bar means on said second member.

19. The combination as specified in claim 18 wherein said first pivot is adjacent the heel of the boot to be held, and wherein the second pivot is positioned substantially rearwardly of said first pivot.

20. The combination as specified in claim 19 wherein said torsion bar means has a portion thereof extending substantially rearwarclly of the first pivot to provide actuating lever means for manually moving said first member to its release position while retaining the spring retainer in its first retainer position.

OI i i '0 i

Claims

1. A heel binding for use with ski boots comprising a base, a first member pivotally mounted on said base for movement between a ski boot holding position and a release position, first spring means for urging said first member about its pivot to ski boot holding position and resisting movement of said first member about its pivot to its release position, and a second member movably mounted on said first member and having boot engaging means thereon, second spring means mounted to act between the first member and second member to hold said second member in a first ski boot holding position, said second member having means for engaging the heel of a ski boot thereon and being positioned so that upon movement of said boot upwardly said second member will be moved relative to said first member against the action of the second spring means, and release means actuable to reduce the force required to move said first member about its pivot to its released position, said release means being actuated by said second member after said second member has been moved a predetermined amount upwardly by a ski boot heel held by the binding.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said torsion bar means comprises a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member being mounted above said first member, and at least partially resting thereon, and a retainer plate overlying said U-shaped member, said U-shaped member having elongated legs with said actuator lever means at the ends thereof, said lever means each engaging said second member, an said retainer plate holding the legs of said U-shaped member with respect to said first member as said second member moves relative to said first member thereby to cause said second member to move said actuator lever means and stress said torsion bar means in torsion when said second member moves relative to said first member.

20. The combination as specified in claim 19 wherein said torsion bar means has a portion thereof extending substantially rearwardly of the first pivot to provide actuating lever means for manually moving said first member to its release position while retaining the spring retainer in its first retainer position.