US3643977A

US3643977A - Ski boot heel binding

Info

Publication number: US3643977A
Application number: US57696A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard E Berlenbach
Original assignee: MA Miller Manufacturing Co; SKI FREE CO
Current assignee: MA Miller Manufacturing Co; SKI FREE CO
Priority date: 1970-07-23
Filing date: 1970-07-23
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

In a heel binding of the type having elongated body member having a forward heel boot holding means, a body member swingable relative to a base member about a rearward horizontal pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner substantially parallel to the top face of the runner, whereby the heel boot holding means is pivoted from a holding position in which the heel holding means is substantially abutting the top face of the runner, to a release position in which this heel holding means is raised from and inclined relative to the top face of the runner, the improvement including: (a) a single coil spring carried by one of the body members and the base member operating along a zone of action; (b) a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate the rearward pivot axis of the binding and the heel-holding means in operative contact with the single coil spring, and including first and second leg means carrying cooperative broad-contacting, complementary surface means at their swingably engaging surfaces to each other, one of the leg means also carrying thereto a substantially disconnectably connecting L-shaped cam surface aligned with the zone of action of the spring; (c) linking means for connecting the first and second leg means to the body member and the base member, respectively, a pair of horizontal pivot axes, and including a stationary pin means disconnectably positioned with respect to the disconnectably connecting L-shaped cam surface on the one leg means to normally prevent pivotal tilting of the body member relative to the base member, but being adapted to release from said cam surface allowing relative angular displacement of the first and second leg means when subjected to either of two load conditions corresponding to (i) an accident condition or (ii) a manual release condition above the operational release level of the binding; (d) the single coil spring adapted to undergo axial movement to release the stationary pin means of said linking means from the disconnectably connecting cam surface carried on the one leg means, by cooperative angular movement of said leg means in response to a load condition resolvable into an antibias component force acting along the zone of action opposite to the normal bias force of the single coil spring; (e) after release of the stationary pin means of the linking means from the cam surface, continued depthwise displacement of the horizontal pivot axis being aided, at least in part, by the normal bias force of the single coil spring until the release position of the heelholding means is achieved, after the release position is attained and the load condition acting on the binding is terminated, the release position being maintained by the normal bias force of the single coil spring.

Description

United States Patent Berlenbach [15] 3,643,977 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING [72] Inventor: Bernard E. Berlenbach, Mill Valley, Calif.

[73] Assignees: Ski Free Company, Mill Valley, Calif; M.

A. Miller Manufacturing Co.

[22] Filed: July 23,1970 [21] Appl.No.: 57,696

Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attomeyl-l. D. Messner 57 ABSTRACT In a heel binding of the type having elongated body member having a forward heel boot holding means, a body member swingable relative to a base member about a rearward horizontal pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner substantially parallel to the top face of the runner, whereby the heel boot holding means is pivoted from a holding position in which the heel holding means is substantially abutting the top face of the runner, to a release position in which this heel holding means is raised from and inclined relative to the top face of the runner, the improvement including: (a) a single coil spring carried by one of the body members and the base member operating along a zone of action; (b) a V-frarne connecting means positioned intermediate the rearward pivot axis of the binding and the heel-holding means in operative contact with the single coil spring, and including first and second leg means carrying cooperative broad-contacting, complementary surface means at their swingably engaging surfaces to each other, one of the leg means also carrying thereto a substantially disconnectably connecting L- shaped cam surface aligned with the zone of action of the spring; (0) linking means for connecting the first and second leg means to the body member and the base member, respectively, a pair of horizontal pivot axes, and including a stationary pin means disconnectably positioned with respect to the disconnectably connecting L-shaped cam surface on the one leg means to normally prevent pivotal tilting of the body member relative to the base member, but being adapted to release from said cam surface allowing relative angular displacement of the first and second leg means when subjected to either of two load conditions corresponding to (i) an accident condition or (ii) a manual release condition above the operational release level of the binding; (d) the single coil spring adapted to undergo axial movement to release the stationary pin means of said linking means from the disconnectably connecting cam surface carried on the one leg means, by cooperative angular movement of said leg means in response to a load condition resolvable into an antibias component force acting along the zone of action opposite to the normal bias force of the single coil spring; (c) after release of the stationary pin means of the linking means from the cam surface, continued depthwise displacement of the horizontal pivot axis being aided, at least in part, by the normal bias force of the single coil spring until the release position of the heel-holding means is achieved, after the release position is attained and the load condition acting on the binding is terminated, the release position being maintained by the normal bias force of the single coil spring.

23 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB22 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. BERNARD E. BERLENBACH ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEBZZ I972 3, 643,977

INVENTOR. BERNARD E. BERLENBACH ATTORNEY SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING INTRODUCTION This invention relates to a safety heel binding and more particularly to a heel binding of the type having an elongated body member having a forwardly positioned heel holding means swingable relative to a base member about a rearward horizontal pivot axis perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner but parallel to the top face of the runner. In that way, the heel-holding means is pivoted from a holding position in which the heel holding means is substantially abutting the top face of the runner, to a release position in which the heel-holding means is raised from and inclined to the top face of the runner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heel bindings of the type described, are designed to swing about the rear positioned pivot axis in response to upward forces acting on the skiers boot to releasein a controllable mannerthe boot heel from the binding. To provide a sufficiently wide release arc in the full release position, heretofore heel bindings have been characterized by multijointed cooperative lever elements having long spaced-apart pivot axes, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,823,922, entitled Safety Binding For A Ski, Bernard E. Berlenbach, issued Feb. 18, 1955, and 3,175,349 entitled Safety Heel Ski Binding," G. Schweizer issued Mar. I7, 1964. Not only are such bindings rather cumbersome in operation, they also may be difficult to maintain due to the accumulation of water, dust and grime at the small force accepting pivot areas of the levers. They also may have the following additional problems:

1. inaccuracy in release, especially where a combination of springs are used, much as a coil spring in combination with a leaf spring;

2. lack of vertical, angular play in the binding about its rear pivot axis prior to full release in direct proportion to an initially high angular rotation per low load conditions followed by low angular rotation per high load conditions until release of the heel from the binding;

3. use of spring combinations which under accident release conditions, in a matter of speaking, fight rather than aid in the release of the boot from the binding since, usually, the springs of such bindings exert a force which always tends to act in the direction tending to maintain the boot on the ski runner;

4. lack ofa properly engineered binding in which considerable time and bending acrobatics are required for the skier to effect detachment of the binding from the boot; although some prior heel bindings have been provided with release spurs, such spurs must be positioned at the rearward portion of the binding in order to have sufficient mechanical leverage to effect opening of the binding.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Although the objects of the invention are implicit from the foregoing, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a compact, low cost, yet easily maintained ski boot heel safety binding of the type described, for controllably anchoring the heel of the boot to a ski runner, the binding being releasable in response to upwardly directed forces thereto and having the following features, singly or in combination:

i. a single coil spring which under manual or accident operating conditions, after the operational release level of the binding is exceeded, does not fight the release of the ski boot relative to the runner, but in fact aids such release and, cooperates in the maintenance of the binding in the full release condition after external load conditions acting on the binding, are terminated;

ii. freedom of vertical play for normal skiing operations;

iii. capacity to provide complete release over a rather wide release are measured with respect to the rear pivot axis of the binding;

iv. accurate and crisp release characteristics when a preselected operational release level is exceeded; and

v. flexible operations such as having the capacity to be manually opened by slight pressure as by using the tip of a ski pole without bending acrobatics or direct manual manipulation of the binding combined with the capacity to be automatically opened only when abnormal external leg stress conditions occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a heel binding of the type having elongated body member having a forward heel boot holding means, a body member swingable relative to a base member about a rearward horizontal pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner substantially parallel to the top face of the runner, whereby the heel boot holding means is pivoted from a holding position in which the heel holding means is substantially abutting the top face of the runner, to a release position in which this heel holding means is raised from and inclined relative to the top face of the runner, the improvement including:

a. a single coil spring carried by one of the body members and the base member operating along a zone of action;

b. a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate the rearward pivot axis of the binding and the heel-holding means in operative contact with the single coil spring, and including first and second leg means carrying cooperative broad-contacting, complementary surface means at their swingably engaging surfaces to each other, one of the leg means also carrying thereto a substantially disconnectably connecting L- shaped cam surface aligned with the zone of action of the spring;

c. linking means for connecting the first and second leg means to the body member and the base member, respectively, a pair of horizontal pivot axes, and including a stationary pin means disconnectably positioned with respect to the disconnectably connecting L-shaped cam surface on the one leg means to normally prevent pivotal tilting of the body member relative to the base member, but being adapted to release from said cam surface allowing relative angular displacement of the first and second leg means when subjected to either of two load conditions corresponding to (i) an accident condition or (ii) a manual release condition above the operational release level of the binding;

d. single coil spring adapted to undergo axial movement to release the stationary pin means of said linking means from the disconnectably connecting cam surface carried on the one leg means, by cooperative angular movement of said leg means in response to a load condition resolvable into an antibias component force acting along the zone of action opposite to the normal bias force of the single coil spring;

e. after release of the stationary pin means of the linking means from the cam surface, continued depthwise displacement of the horizontal pivot axis being aided, at least in part, by the normal bias force of the single coil spring until the release position of the heel-holding means is achieved, after the release position is attained and the load condition acting on the binding is terminated, the release position being maintained by the normal bias force ofthe single coil spring.

In accordance with the present invention, the body member is further characterized by the provision of a vertical bore fitted with plunger means, said vertical bore being at a position along the body member adjacent to said boot holding means forward of the horizontal pivot axis of the binding so that when the plunger means is actuated, as under manual load operating conditionssuch as by manipulation of a ski poleto contact, after downward movement, the remote end of one of the leg means of the V-frame connecting means to cause rotation thereof, the rotation in turn causing corresponding directional rotation of the other leg means whereby disengagement of said linking means from the cam surface of the other leg means can be achieved.

In accordance with a principal embodiment of the present invention, the linking means for attaching the first and second leg means to the body member and the base member and to each other, comprises at least a stationary pin means and a pair of movable pin means. One of the movable pin means adapted to define, in cross section, an arcuate travel path as said binding moves from its holding to its release position having a center of formation coincident with the rear pivot axis of the binding; the other movable pin means adapted to defined, in cross section, a complex arcuate pathway having a first travel segment having a center of formation coincident with the stationary pin means and a secondary said travel segment having a center formation coincident with the rear pivot axis of the binding. Accordingly, the complex arcuate path of the other movable connecting pins resembles the letter S in cross section.

Thus, during the relative angular movement of the leg means, the direction of angular movement of one of the leg means with respect to its horizontal pivot axis, reverses and undergoes opposite angular movement immediately after the stationary pin means is released from disengagement with the cam surface carried on the other leg means, the reversing angular movement aided in part by the biasing force of the single coil means.

Under all load conditions, the stationary pin means is fixed a constant distance with respect to the top face of the ski runner. Under accident conditions, as the first and second leg means of the V-frame connecting means rotates with respect to said stationary pin means, tangential contact between the stationary pin means and the cam surface ofthe linkage means can vary not only with load but also with angle of inclination of the cam surface from horizontal since the cam surface itself is undergoing rotation. Under load conditions associated with the manual release condition, the amount of angular rotation of the leg means relative to one another is dependent only upon the magnitude of the load condition. Accordingly, use of a dual response binding allows release of the stationary pin means relative to the cam surface under two distinct load conditions: a rather high operational release level involving accident load conditions and, a rather low threshold release level involving a manual release condition.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, stationary first pin means can be associated, depthwise, with a given elevation above the cam surface, at least in the holding position of the binding. Thus, initial movement of the leg means prior to tangential contact between the cam surface and the stationary pin means is directly in dependence upon the magnitude of the load condition acting on the binding irrespective of whether that load condition is associated with a accident or manual release condition. That way the skier, as during a downhill descent, can have a feeling of the release condition-strong or weakof his binding.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the linking means includes arcuate wall means in particular positional relationship-angularwisewith the stationary pin means so as to allow relative rectalinear movement therebetween. Preferably, the arcuate wall means is integrally formed as a slot within one of the leg means in capture relationship about the stationary pin means. However, only when a particular angular position has been achieved by said one leg means, does the slot become aligned so that relative movement between the slot and stationary pin means can occur. As depthwise displacement of the horizontal pivot axes occurs, aided in part by the bias force of the single coil spring, there is thus created a rather wide, release are for the binding even though relative angular rotation of the leg means with respect to the stationary pin means has been terminated, and even though the first and second horizontal pivot axes of the linkage means are closely spaced relative to one another.

In another aspect, the arcuate wall means is not formed within said one leg means but comprises a pair of matched arcuate slots formed in a pair of support members attached opposite on side walls of the base member in capturing relationship about the stationary pin means. The matched arcuate slots are adapted to allow angular rotation of the V-frame connecting means about a semistationary pin to define a first travel pathway but then allow the semistationary pin to rectalinear travel along the slots to define a second arcuate pathway.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the complimentary operative surface means at the engaging surface of the first and second leg means is further characterized by wall means forming a central cavity having at least a curved end wall formed on one of the leg means and a bulbous surface on the other of said leg means adapted to broadly contact the curved end wall. The surface complimentary operative means is adapted to interchange force initiating-force follower functions in dependence upon the direction of relative angular movement of the one leg means relative to the other, i.e., as the one leg means undergoes reversal of angular rotation with respect to its pivot axis, so does the force initiatingfollower functions of said complimentary operative surface means. Further, the complimentary operative surface means also form a stabilizing base for transfer of motion from either one of the leg means to the other under load conditions either produced and corresponding to an accident or manual release condition. Such stable linking of forces can occur irrespective of the fact that dirt and grime may be caked on portions of the adjacent surfaces.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, pivot terminating means is carried on at least one of the leg means for terminating simultaneous rotation of the leg means with respect to the stationary pin means. The termination occurs, in cross section, prior to having the three pin means comprising the linking means pass into an overcenter, togglelocking condition.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an improved heel holding means carried at the forward end on the body member comprises:

i. a ruggedly constructed flange projection fixedly attached to the body member having a top surface adapted to form a floor for the heel of the ski boot and ii. a less ruggedly constructed laterally flared bridging means attached by pivot allowing connecting means at the forward terminus of the flange projection. The bridging means has a top surface horizontally aligned, in the holding position of the binding, with the top face of the fixed flange projection, at least in the vicinity of the connecting means, but, is positioned in a slightly inclined orientation over its remaining length with respect to said ski runner. As the binding of the body member tilts about the rear axis to achieve a more inclined position with respect to the ski runner, the connecting means is adapted to allow the bridging means to oppositely pivot, by gravity, about a horizontal axis parallel to the rear pivot axis of the binding. In that way, the top face of the support projection becomes more exposed as the bridging means pivots away to a more inclined position whereby when external forces are applied at the boot holding means, as when the skier steps into the bindings to reconnect his boots to the runners, the entire load can be directly applicable to the more rugged flange projection.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the single coil spring is attached within an almost horizontal inclined bore formed within the body member, and is provided with a spring biasing means movably attached within the bore in contact therewith adapted to adjust the operational release level of the binding. Included therewith is indicating means carried on the spring biasing support means having an indexing pointer exposed to and visible at the exterior of the body member, to indicate the operational release level generated by the spring biasing support means.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to have a clear understanding of the invention and the manner in which it is carried out, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the ski binding of the present invention positioned upon the ski runner for release of the heel of the ski boot in an upward direction with respect to the top face of the runner;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of the body member of the ski binding of FIG. 1 illustrating, in detail, the V-frame connecting means which allows control pivoting of the body member relative to the stationary base member about a rear pivot axis perpendicular to the axis symmetry of the ski runner but parallel to the top face of the runner;

FIGS. 3a-3d are partial fragment views of the V-frame connecting means of FIG. 2 in various pivoting positions as the body member pivots relative to the. base member;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the V-frame connecting means of FIGS. 3a-3d illustrating the constructional details of one leg member comprising a three-elemented structure while the other leg means is illustrated as comprising a two-elemented structure;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the two-elemented leg means of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a new embodiment of the twoelemented leg means of FIG. 4 having integrally formed pin means attached nearits center of gravity;

FIG. 6a illustrated, in more detail, the pin means of the alternate linkage element of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation of one of a pair of support members which connect to the alternate two-elemented linkage member of FIG. 6;

FIG.7a is a section along the line 7A-7A ofFIG. 7 and;

FIG. 8 is a side elcvation-ofa V-frame connecting means of FIG. 2 in its full release position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting a ski binding 10 adapted to disconnectably connect a ski boot (not shown) relative to a ski runner (also not shown) and comprises a base member 11 adapted to be fixedly connected to the top face of the ski runner and a body member 12 carrying, at its forward end, a boot-holding means 13. Body member 12 is pivotedly connected to base member 11 at a rear end, as by pivot pin 14. Such attachment permits pivoting of the body member 12 about the pin 14 to release a ski boot from the ski runner, i.e., to release the ski boot from a holding position in which the boot holding means 13 is adjacent to the top face of the ski runner to the release position in which the boot holding means 13 is elevated from the runner. In order to become better acquainted with the binding of the present invention under all operative conditions associated with the controlled release of the ski boot relative to the ski runner, a description, in sequence, of the aforementioned elementsbase member 11, boot-holding means 13, and body member 12is set forth below.

BASE MEMBER 11 Slide bar 15 of base member 11 is seen in FIG. 1 to include a planer base 17 fitted with

upright projections

19a and 19b at its forward end, provided with horizontal bores 20 to accommodate pivot pin 21. Rearwardly located on planer base 17 are

upright projections

22a and 22b. Horizontal bores 23 are there provided to accommodate the pivot pin 14 parallel to pivot pin 21. The forwardly positioned

projections

19a and 19b attach, by pin 21, the slide bar 15 to one end of V-frame connecting means generally indicated at 24 within a cavity 25 of body member 12. The manner of attachment is described hereinafter. At a more elevated extremity, the V-frame connecting means 24'is connected to the body member 12 by pivot pin 18. The purpose of V-frame connecting means 24 is to effect controlled release of the body member 12 with respect to base member 11 so as to permit rotation-tilting of the body member 12 about pivot pin 14. It is evident that control characteristics of the binding are enhanced by the fact that the cavity 25 of the body member 12 is closed on five sides by the walls of the cavity and on the sixth side by the base member 11, at least in the holding position, so as to prevent easy intrusion of dirt, snow, grime in interior of the body member.

Side bar 15 is not to be firmly mountedlengthwisewith respect to the ski runner, but is arranged to slide rectilinearly therealong using stationary track 16 as a guidcway. As indicated, stationary track 16 is provided with C-shaped upright sidewalls 26 properly dimensioned in the lateral direction to slidably engage the sides of slide bar 15. Horizontal movement of the slide bar 15 along track 16 is provided by controlled rotation of plug 27 at the rearward end of the bar [5. Plug 27 is provided with threads which extend through central opening 28 in the planer base 17, into contact with rack 29 of track 16. Opposite the threads, the plug 27 is formed with a recessed head27a movably attachable within an opening (not shown) in end wall 22c of slide bar 15, attachment being by means of coil spring 30 in conjunction with retaining rod 31. Specifically, coil spring 30 is arranged to be positioned between the plug 27 and upward extending tab 34 at the forward terminus of opening 28 on planer base 17 in symmetrical position about guide rod 31. Since the threads of plug 27 engage rack 29 of track 16, rotation of the plug 27 is directly translated into rectilinear travel of the slide bar 15 along track 16. The track 16 can be affixed, semipermanently to the ski runner, using fasteners such as wood screws 35 extendable through openings 36.

It is evident that movement of the slide bar 15 with respect to stationary track 16 also carries the body member 12 and boot holding means 13 in corresponding rectilinear travel along the ski runner. Since the toe bindings attachable to the ski runner remain fixed during such movement, ski boots of different sizes can be easily accommodated.

BOOT-HOLDING MEANS 13 Boot holding means 13 is seen in FIG. I to include a bootretaining plate 37 having a forwardly extending upper arcuate cleat 38 adapted to fit in registration on the upper projection of the boot heel. Cleat 38 is supported by support block 39. The forward face of the support block 39 is curved to form a cavity, or pocket, below cleat 38 for accommodating the more bulbous portion of the boot heel.

In order to allow necessary vertical adjustment (so as to accommodate ski boots of different sole thickness) of the cleat 38 (and block 39) with respect to fixed flange projection 40 at the forward face of the body member 12, the block 39 is provided with side rails 41. During assembly, rails 41 are placed in mating engagement with vertically extending shoulders 42 on the forward face of the body member 12. The rails 41 and shoulders 42 have oppositely diverging vertical sidewalls which prevent their disengagement due to the action of horizontal forces acting on the binding, but allow vertical displacement therebetween. In order to control the vertical displacement of the cleat 38 relative to the flange projection 40 of the body member 12, the block 39 is also provided with a central fitted rack 43. Rack 43 is preferably parallel to rails 41. During assembly plug 44 is positioned within divided cavity 45 at the forward face of the body member 12 in threadable engagement with rack 43. As plug 44 is rotated, the cleat 38 and block 39 are caused to travel vertically with respect to the projection 40. Accommodation of any size depthwise of heel boot sole between cleat 38 and projection 40 is thus assured.

Since projection 40 may not be as wide in the lateral direction as the boot heel, a less rugged, but wider bridging support 46 is seen to be pivotedly attachable to the forward extending face of the projection 40 as by the accommodation of pivot pin 47 within aligned bores 48 and 49 of the bridging support 46 and the projection 40, respectively. The projection 40 is also provided at side surfaces with shoulders 51 dimensionally spaced with respect to bore 49 of the projection 40. After assembly, shoulders 51 form a stop to terminate pivotal rotation (clockwise, as viewed) of the bridging support 46 about pin 47. Specifically, upright surfaces 53 of tabs 52 make contact with the shoulders 51 after a selected degree of angular rotation has occurred.

It is evident from FIG. 1 that flange projection 40 is preferably constructed integrally with the forward face of the body member 12. And it should be of sufficient rugged design to withstand, without mechanical breakage, the impact of normal operating forces incident on projection 40, as might be generated by the heel of the ski boot as the skier steps into his bindings. On the other hand, the bridging support 46 is of less rugged construction than projection 40. As indicated, the bridging support 46 includes a top wall 54 reduced in thickness over that of projection 40, but has downwardly extending sidewalls 55 at its side and forward edges. In the lateral direction, the width of the bridging support 46 is seen to be greater than that of track 16. Thus, in the holding position of the binding such as indicated in FIG. 2, the bridging support 46 can assume an inclined position with respect to top face 60 of the ski runner 61 to comfortably accommodate the heel of ski boot 62. Further, as indicated in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of pivot pin 47, the bridging support 46 is alignedhorizontally-with the upper surface of flange projection 40. However, when the binding is in the open-releaseposition as indicated in FIG. 8, the bridging support 46 is seen to have been pivoted, by gravity, from the inclined position depicted in FIG. 2 through a selected arcuate angle a determined by the slope of the shoulders 51 with respect to surfaces 53 of tabs 52 (FIG. 1). In that way, forward extremity 63 of projection 40 seems to be exposed so as to accept the usual operating forces generated by a skiers boot as he places his boot into the binding. As previously indicated, projection 40 is capable of accepting such operating load conditions without mechanical breakage because of its rugged design; the less ruggedly constructed bridging support 46 is of course, removed from exposure to such load conditions.

BODY MEMBER 12 Body member 12 is seen in FIG. 1 to be of an elongated construction. As previously mentioned, at its forward end is located boot-holding means 13. At its rearward end, there is positioned a plug 65 in threadable compression with a single coil spring 66. In operation, the plug 65 varies the urging force of the coil spring 66 relative to the V-frame connecting means 24. Specifically, by rotation of the plug 65, forward end 67 is moved relative to the oppositely positioned captured end of the spring 66. In that way, the active coil length of the spring can be varied so as to vary the operation threshold release level of the binding. Of course, the relative magnitude of the operational threshold release level of the binding must be viewable by the skier in his upright skiing positions, For this purpose, guide pointer 68 is fixed in elevation within the body member 12 in contact with the threads of the plug 65, and is allowed to travel rectilinearly in response to rotation of plug 65. Indexing scale 69 is fixedly positioned above the travel of the pointer 68 to allow the skier to observe as through vertical slot 70, the position of the pointer 68 relative to the scale 69. Guide pin 71 fitted within a bore at the ends of the slot 70 guide and support the pointer 68 during travel.

The term operational threshold release level" of the binding refers to the magnitude of the urging force usually of a relatively high magnitude created by compression of the single coil spring 66 as by rotation of plug 65, so that force being used to resist extra upwardly directed forces acting on the binding as the skier tumbles from an upright position during a skiing accident. However, the present invention also contemplates release of the binding in an manual condition at a load condition of much lower magnitude, in the usual case, than that required to release the binding in an accident condition. Specifically, such release can be achieved by plunger 72 being downwardly depressed relative to vertical bore 73 as by use ofa tip ofa ski pole.

Operation of the V-frame connecting means 24 to achieve release of the binding under manual or accident conditions will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

V-FRAME CONNECTING MEANS 24 Reference is now made to FIG. 2. As previously mentioned,

V-frame connecting means 24 is positioned within central cavity 25 of the body member 12. As indicated in FIG. 2, it includes (i) first upright elongated leg means linkably attached to the body member 12 by the pivot pin 18, the leg means 80 carrying an L-shaped cam surface means 82 at its forward end, and (ii) second bulbous leg means 81 swingably and linkably connected to the first leg means 80 by pivot pin 84 and to the base member 11 by the previously mentioned pivot pin 21. Second leg means 81 is also provided with a slot 85 over its central portion. (In the present invention, the pivot pins 18, 21 and 84, as well as slot 85, aid in linking the first and second leg means 80, 81 relative to the body member 12 and base member 11 respectively as well as to each other. For these reasons, the function of these elements, collectively, can be referenced by the term linking means") In the normal holding position, depicted in FIG. 2, the coil spring 66 is operatively placed in contact with rear boss 87 at the rear surface of the first leg means 80, the operational threshold release level of the binding under accident conditions being determined, as previously mentioned, by the relative position of the plug 65 along bore 89. The generated spring bias force acts on the first leg means 80 at point 88. The bias force, in turn, is transferred via vertical cam surface 820 to stationary pivot pin 21 to also establish a minimum actuation level of the binding. In this regard, note that cam surface 82a is horizontal in FIG. 3a and is spaced, in elevation, a depth distance D from the stationary pivot pin 21. When external forces act on the binding above the minimum actuating level of the binding usually of a relatively low magnitude the body member 12 can undergo slight tilting above pivot pin 14. This causes coil spring 66 to undergo compressional axial movement to change the operating state of spring 66. Assuming that the external forces are above the progressively increasing responsive curve for the spring 66, the rate of change of curve can be relatively low during this phase of binding operation, i.e., high spring deflection per unit of external force applied. However, when cam surface 82b comes into tangential contact with the pivot pin 21, defining an intermediate threshold level, then progressively greater increasing magnitudes of external forces are required to continue the tilting of the body member 12 about the pivot pin 14 at least in the accident condition. Spring 66 is adapted to abruptly change at the intermediate threshold level as the cam surface 821: is placed in tangential contact with the stationary pivot pin 21. Equivalencywise, the operation of the binding between the minimum actuation and the intermediate threshold levels is initially governed by the response characteristics of spring 66 unaffected by the angle of inclination of the cam surface 82h as the cam surface 82!; travels the depth distance to contact the pivot pin 21 but, when cam surface 82b contacts pin 2], response characteristics of the spring are modified by the aforementioned angle of inclination to define a stiffer" response curve, i.e., lower spring deflections per unit of external force applied, terminating in the generational threshold level, or full release condition for the binding. However, because the external forces acting on the binding are above the minimum actuation or intermediate threshold levels does not mean the operational threshold release level will be achieved. But, in fact, such forces may disappear as conditions are corrected before the binding achieves its full release position. In any event, vertical play of the binding, i,e., travel along the vertical distance, produces a response condition indicative to the skier of the release characteristics of his bindingeither strong or weak-which is deemed to be valuable to all skiers. If the external forces acting on the binding are above the operational threshold level of the binding, however, the horizontal cam surface 82b will aid, ultimately, in the complete release of the binding, as explained below.

Consideration will now be given to the description of bulbous second leg means 81. As indicated in FIG. 2, the bulbous second leg 81 has a projection 86 at its free end which, in the holding position of the binding is positioned directly below bore 73 in alignment with the plunger 72. Accordingly, manual manipulation of the plunger to travel on bore 73 places it in contact with free projection 86 of the second leg 81 to also cause release of the binding, but using external forces which are substantially below that usually occuring in the accident condition, as explained below.

RELEASE OF THE BINDING Attention is now directed to the general nature of the initiation of release operation of the binding As previously mentioned, release of the binding is in response to one or two load conditions: (i) an accident load condition (which can be a relatively high amplitude, initiated by upward components of external force acting through the ski boot 62 onto the body member 12 which, in turn, act upon first elongated leg means 80 through pivot pin 21, and (ii) a load condition caused by manual depression of the plunger 72 in a downward move- I ment to contact projection 86 of the second bulbous leg means 81. Pivotal linking of the leg means 80 and 81 relative to the body member 12, base member 11, respectively and to each other, is by means of stationary pin 21,

movable pins

18 and 84, as well as slot 85. Under either load condition, however, note that the stationary pivot pin 21 is located within the zone of action of the single coil spring 66 and performs, during the initial stages of release, a latching function preventing full rotation of the leg means 80, 81 Thus, components of the external load established at pin 21 can be seen to be rotatable into components aiding along the zone of action of the spring 66 but opposite in direction to direction of its normal bias force. Movable pivot pin 84 is also closely positioned to the aforementioned zone of action of the spring 66. However, the load actuation points acting on the leg means 80 and 81 are seen to be more remotely spaced from the zone of action of the spring 66. Accordingly, mechanical leverage under either load condition can still be achieved without resort to use of long lever arms and pivot axes.

The actual operation of V-frame connecting means 24 is of a complexed nature, being for example in dependence upon the nature of the force initiating release of the binding. For convenience of description, a key to understanding the nature and features of the V-frame connecting means 24 is to follow, during release, the imaginary arcuate pathways of travel traced by the

movable pins

18 and 84. These arcuate pathways are depicted in FIG. 2 at

reference numbers

90 and 91, path 91 resembling an 8" in section.

As indicated, pathway 90 defines, in cross section, the arcuate travel pathway of pin 18 from its holding position (FIG. 2)

to its release position (FIG. 8). It is evident that pathway 90 has a center of formation concomitant with and coincident with the rear pivot pin 14. Note also that the angular direction of pathway 90 is constant. However, for the pathway 91, indicative of the travel of pin 84, a more complexed pathway has been traced. As indicated, a first segment 910 has a center of formation coincident with stationary connecting pin 21. While a second segment, 91b, has a center of formation concomitant with rear pivot pin 14.

Pins

18, 84 begin travel along the

pathways

90 and 91 corresponding to relative arcuate rotation of the leg means 80 and 81 when external forces above at least the minimum actuation level, act on the binding.

It is evident that during travel of

pins

18, 84 along

pathways

90,91, the first and second leg means 80, 81, undergo angular rotation with respect to each other, to wit: from a tight V-position imaginary lines through

pins

18, 21 and 84 establishing a V-orientation, (FIG. 3a) through an intermediate wide, V- position (FIG. to finally a full release position, slotted V- position (FIG. 3d). During such rotation, pins 18 and 21 are seen to undergo increasing depthwise displacement with respect to each other.

FIG. 3a illustrates the manner in which the stationary pin 21 is positioned, in elevation, with respect to the L-shaped cam surface means 82. In detail, FIG. 3a illustrates the binding prior to the occurrence of manual actuation forces by depression of plunger 72 and causing rotation of the bulbous second leg means 81.

As shown, the projection 19a of base member 11 extend upwardly into cavity 25 of the body member 12 to accommodate, in elevation, the stationary pin 21 parallel to pin 18. As indicated, pin 21 is fixed, in elevation, above the top face of base member 11, a constant distance L and, as previously mentioned above horizontal cam surface 82b, a distance Although the fact that the stationary pin 21 is not in tangential contact with the horizontal flat surface 82b does not prevent the establishment of a minimum actuation level for the binding through its contact with vertical cam surface 820, such level defining minimum actuation level of the binding which must be overcome by resolvable external forces acting opposite thereto before there can be upward rotation of the body member 12 with respect to base member 11.

Load conditions which allow for and cause movement of

pins

18, 84 with respect to stationary pin 21 are initiated at the remote ends of the first and second leg means and 81 in the manner previously described. Specifically, a high-load condition acting at pin 18 and, a usually lower load condition acting at the free projection 86 of bulbous leg means 81. In either condition, leverage position is created: (i) in the accident condition, the distance between

pins

18 and 21 serves as the lever arm, with the component of resolved external force being applied at pin 21 along the zone of action ofspring 66; and (ii) in the manual condition, the pin 21 serves as the leverage apex, with the movement due to the external force applied at projection 86 of leg means 81 multiplied by the distance between projection 86 ofleg means 81 and pin 21 being equal to an opposite but equal movement generated by composite forces at the intersection of complimentary operative surface means 93 (carried on the leg means 80,81) and the zone of action of the coil spring 66 multiplied by the distance between the pin 21 and the zone of action of the spring. Since the leverage position of pin 21 relative to the forces applied to leg means 81, is not equal therebetween, it is evident that the composite force will be greater than the external force applied to projection 86. Accordingly, in the manual release condition, even low forces applied at projection 86 can initiate release ofthe binding. Depthwise distance between the

movable pins

18 and 84 is fixed throughout operations of the binding. As movement of either

18 or 84 occurs, as due to either one of the two previously mentioned load conditions above the minimum actuation level of the binding, the first leg means 80 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction against coil spring 66 to cause compressional movement thereof until the operational release level is achieved.

It is evident in this regard that between the first and second means 80 and 81, reactive forces transferred therebetween are aided by complementary operative surface means 93 formed between the leg means 80 and 81. Complementary operative surface means 93 are seen in FIG. 3a to be centralized about the zone of action of the coil spring 66. When the stationary pin 21 reaches thd outer terminus 820 of the cam surface 82!) as shown in FIG 3b, however, the leg means 80, 81 are released for full angular rotation, since the forces that had previously acted on the coil spring 66 and caused compressional axial movement thereof in a direction opposite to normal bias force of the spring are released. Thereafter, the spring 66 undergoes opposite axial movement, in the direction of its bias force, continued rotation of the first and second leg means 80, 81 thus being aided in part, by the normal biasing force of the spring 66, unoppossed by the external load conditions.

FIG. 3b is the side elevation depicting release of cam surface 82b from stationary pivot pin 21. As previously indicated, prior to release, the first and second leg means 80, 81 rotate in a clockwise direction about

pins

18, 21, respectively, causing axial compressional movement of the coil spring 66 and carrying the pin 84 along imaginary first pathway segment 91a, whose center formation is coincident with stationary pivot pin 21. Thus, an imaginary plane C C through the

movable pins

18 and 84 is seen to be shifted from a vertical location (FIG. 3a) to a new oblique position (FIG. 3b) identified by the acute angle corresponding to the change in action coil length of the coil spring. Likewise, the point of tangential contact 94 between the stationary pivot pin 21 and the cam surface 82b has shifted from a vertical location to a like angular orientation. Accordingly, when the binding is subjected to high stress external load conditions at pin 18, as would occur during an accident condition, it is evident that the load condition acting at tangential contact point 94 to cause counterrotation of the first leg means 8-and axial compressional movement spring 66-and ultimately release the cam surface 82b therefromis a function of both the magnitude of the load condition at point 94 as well as the angle of inclination of the cam surface 82b from vertical. Prior to the cam surface 82b being placed in with the stationary pivot pin 21, i.e., intermediate threshold level, the fact that the stationary pivot pin 21 is positioned a vertical distance D above the cam surface 82b allows for generation of the initial angle of inclination depicted in FIG. 327. Accordingly, the urging force of the coil spring 66 creating the minimum activation level of the binding up to the intermediate threshold level (when the pin 21 contacts cam surface 82b) can be relatively-on an absolute scale-low. As previously mentioned, in the accident condition, after the cam surface 82b contacts the pivot pin 21, the resolved components of force causing impression of spring 66, are a function of the angle of inclination B of the cam surface 82b from vertical. Thus, the absolute magnitude of the external forces-in the accident conditionacting on the binding may be necessarily required to be quite high to achieve the threshold release level of the binding. Assuming the external forces are above that level, full rotation of the second leg means 81 about stationary pivot pin 21 always ensues.

On the other hand, in the manual release condition indicated in FIG. 3b, plunger 72, after being placed in motion, contacts the remote projection 86 of the second leg means 81 to cause rotation thereof about pivot pin 21. In turn, rotation of the first leg means 80 about pin 18 ensues in the manner of a teeter-totter" with pin 21 serving as the leverage apex in the manner previously described to release cam surface 82b from the stationary pin 21. Accordingly, the external load condition applied to the remote projection 86 is seen to produce angular movement of the first and second leg means against the bias force of the spring coil 66, independent of any angle ofinclination existing at the cam surface 82b.

FIG. 30 is another side elevation of the first and second leg means 80, 81 depicting termination of the relative angular rotation thereof after release of the cam surface 82b from the stationary pivot pin 21. During such angular travel, movable connecting

pins

18 and 84 trace different instantaneous positions along

imaginary paths

90 and 91, respectively. Specifically, pin 84 traces path segment 91a, while pin 18 traces path segment 90a.

Attention is now directed to the structure of bulbous leg means 81 for terminating relative angular rotatiop between the leg means 80, 81. As indicated in FIG. 30, bulbous leg means 81 is seen to be provided with a pivot terminating means 95, such as a flanged shoulder, aligned with complementary surface means 93. After release of the cam surface 82b from contact with stationary pin 21, rotation of the leg means 80, 81 are aided by the spring coil 66, as previously mentioned, until terminated by the shoulder 95 contacting undersurface 96 of the first leg means 80. Additional external forces may be applied to the binding at this time (other than by coil spring 66) to effect release, e.g., the skier may apply upward pressure through the heel of his ski boot.

Termination of the relative pivotal motion between the first and second leg means 80, 81, however, does not terminate relative angular movement of the binding. As indicated in FIG. 3d, tilting the body 12 relative to base 11 continues after the shoulder 95 of bulbous leg means 81 contacts the undersurface 96 of the leg means 80 by the fact that slot 85 has been angularly aligned with stationary pivot pin 21 to permit relative rectilinear travel therebetween. As indicated, the first and second leg means 80 and 81 have thus been moved upward,

i.e., depthwise displaced. Specially, movable pin 84 has moved along second segment 91b of the imaginary travel path 91; while pin 18 has moved along segment of imaginary path 90. With respect to the pivot pin 84, it should be noted that the center formation of the second segment 91b is coincident with the rear pivot axis of the binding, i.e., pivot pin 14 of FIG. 30, and is thus coincident with the center of formation generated by the travel of pivot pin 18. In this regard, movable pin 84 connecting the leg means 80 and 81 together, does not pass through a plane coincident with stationary pin 21 and movable pin 18, i.e., does not pass into an overcenter toggle locking condition. Thus, the skier can easily connect his ski boot relative to the runner after release assuming the binding is in the position depicted in FIG. 3d, by simply stepping down with his boot into the binding. I

In its final full open release position, the biding has achieved a wide-arc release angle without the use of long lever arms having widely spaced pivot axes. Further, even after external force load conditions have been removed relative to the binding, the normal biasing force of coil spring 66 is still operative to keep the binding in full open release position depicted in FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates first and second leg means 80, 81 in more detail. As indicated, the fist leg means 80 can be ofa multielemented construction, including a pair of spaced-

apart sears

97, 98 sandwiehing a central spacer 99 therebetween.

Sears

97, 98 and central spacer 99 are provided with bores 100 at their elevated extremities to accommodate the pivot pin 18. These bores are constructed such that when assembled together, the cam surface means formed at their forward extremities is aligned parallel to the horizontal pivot axes coincident with

pins

18 and 84.

Central Spacer 99 is provided with curved end wall 101 at its forward end, by reducing the width of the spacer between broad surfaces 102. When the

sears

97, 98 are placed in contact with the spacer 99, as by using pins 104 as guides, the curved end wall 101 forms a part of complementary surface means 93 of FIG. 2. After assembly of the spacer-sear subassembly has been completed, it is evident that end walls 101, broad interior surfaces 105 of the

sears

97, 98 together with broad walls 107 of spacer 99 form a cavity into which can he slidably mounted a pair of

Offcenter links

108 and 109 comprising leg means 81.

Offcenter links

108 and 109 are formed such that end surfaces 110 are matched-in curvature-with end wall 101 of the spacer 99 as can be seen when these elements are placed in the holding position of the binding (FIG. 2). Thus, irrespective ofwhich leg means 80 or 81 is undergoing initiating movement with respect to the other, there is sufficient area of contact between these aforementioned surfaces to allow force transference one to the other without high-stress points being developed between these units. The direction of the force transference, of course, depends upon which of the leg means has the force of action applied to it and which of the leg means reacts, in turn, to such application. During the initial state of release of the binding in the manual release condition, e.g., force is applied to

offcenter links

108, 109 which in turn transfer such force through surfaces 110 to end walls 101 of the spacer 99. (To be sure, a part of the load is also transferred via the pivot pin 84.) However, after the stationary pin 21 has been released from the cam surface 82b, the initiating force direction can reverse. That force in the reverse direction is applied at least in part through the end walls 101 to surfaces 110 of the Offcenter links 108, 109 in the complementary fashion previously described.

FIG. 5 is a detail of link 108 of FIG. 4. As shown, the link 108 includes central slot 85 having a longitudinal axis E-E formed to allow full relative rotation of the link with respect to the stationary pin 21. Link 108 has a second axis F-F which bisects projection 86 and intersects, tangentially, the pivot pins 21 and 84. Axis 15-15 is seen to define in conjunction with axis F-F the angle a identified with the full release position of the binding (FIG. 8).

In order to provide offcenter pivotal action, the links 108 does not establish pivot axis along the axis F-F, but to one side thereof. As the link 108 pivots with respect to pivot pin 21, the center of gravity 112 is thus positioned so as to aid in the full pivoting ofthe link.

Opposite the position of projection 86 is the bulbous end surface 110 previously mentioned as comprising, in part, complementary operative surface means 93 of FIG. 2. A arcuate segment 111 of the bulbous end surface 110 is depicted as terminating in pivot terminating flange shoulder 95. As-arcuate segment 111 is seen to be symmetrically located with respect to pin 84, there can be no relative camming motion between the contacting surfaces of the link 108 relative to the searspacer subassembly of FIG. 4 during operation of the binding. However, angular motion can be transferred by means of the contacting broad surfaces of these elements in the manner previously described.

MODIFICATION FIGS. 6, 6a 7 and 7a illustrate a modification of the link 108 of FIG. in which, among other things, slot 85 has been eliminated, but its equivalent operational functions have been retained.

As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 6a, modified link 108 has no central slot, but does include outwardly extending spindle 113 fixedly attached to the broad surfaces 116 of the link 108 at a location previously occupied by the stationary pin 21 of FIG. 2. Spindle 113 extends outwardly from broad surfaces 116 the entire width of the binding. As depicted FIG. 6a, each terminus section 117 of spindle 113 is provided with the transverse slot or keyway 118. To connect each link 108 relative to the base member 11 (in FIG. 1, pin 21 serves the aforementioned function), each terminus section 117 is rotatably attached to a bracket member 120 (FIGS. 7 and 7a).

As indicated in FIG. 7', each bracket member 120 is provided with a central arcuate slot 121 having one of its sidewalls 122 (FIG. 70) provided with an arcuately extending projection or key 123. The slot 121 is constructed to have a center of formation coincident with pivot pin 14 of FIG. 1 after assembly relative to base member 11. In this regard, each bracket member 120 is also provided with bores 124 to aid in attachment of the bracket member to the

projections

19a and 19b of the base member 11 (FIG. 1) as on the broad walls 125

ofthe projections

19a, 19b.

After attachment of the bracket members 120 to the base member 11 of FIG. 1, the terminus sections of the spindle 113 are located within the slots 121 of the bracket members, specifically, in the manner depicted in FIG. 7.

In operation, it is evident the modified links 108 positioned as described above are retained within the slots 121 by gravity during all initial release steps of the binding viz, release of the bindings in accordance with FIGS. 2,3a and 312. However, during such release conditions, it is evident that the links 108 undergo rotation, viz, spindle 113, relative to bracket members 120 until the pivot terminating shoulders 126 (FIG. 6) carried on link 108' contact the undersurface of the sear-spacer subassembly in the manner described with reference to FIG. 30. In that pivot terminating position, the slots 118 of the spindle 113 are positioned in axial alignment with keys 123 of the bracket members 120 to allow rectilinear travel therebetween in the manner depicted with reference to FIG. 3d. Emphasis should be made to the fact that the

imaginary paths

90, 91 traced by

pins

18, 84, respectively, (FIG. 2), remain the same for the above modificationsonly the operative function of pivot pin 21 (FIG. 2) has been modified: equivalencywise, instead of spindle 113 remaining stationary throughout the operations, the operations it is rectilinearly movable during the last phase of operations.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereof as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heel-binding of the type having forwardly extending heel-holding means releasably attached to a ski boot, an elongated body member attached to said heel holding means swingable relative to a stationary base member adapted to be attached to a top face of a ski runner about a rearward horizontal pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner but parallel to said top face of said runner, said body member carrying said heel holding means from a holding position in which said heel holding means is substantially abutting said top face of said runner, to a release position in which said heel holding means is raised from, and inclined with respect to said top face of said runner, the improvement comprising:

a. a single coil means carried on one of said body member and said base member, adapted to generate a biasing force, along a selected zone of action;

b. a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate said rearward pivot axis of said body member and said heelholding means in operative biasing contact with said single coil spring, said V-frame connecting means including first and second leg means carrying complimentary cooperative surface means at their swingable engaging surfaces to each other, one of said first and second leg means including disconnectably connected cam surface means carried on an exterior surface opposite to said single coil spring but in substantial positional alignment with said zone of action;

c. linking means for connecting said first and second leg means to said body member and said base member to the first and second horizontal pivot axis, respectively, substantially parallel to said rear pivot axis of the said body member, and including pin means coincident with said second horizontal pivot axis adapted to the position with respect to said disconnectably connecting cam surface means of said one leg means to normally prevent pivotal tilting of said body member relative to the said base member about said rear pivot axis, but being adapted to release when said binding is subjected to either one of two external load conditions corresponding to (i) an accident condition or (ii) a manual release condition;

d. said single coil spring means acting on said V-frame connecting means adapted to undergo axial compressing movement, in dependence upon the magnitude of one of said external load conditions applied at one or the other of said leg means to release said disconnectably connecting cam surface means from said pin means, by cooperative arcuate movement of said disconnectably connected cam surface means carried on said one leg means, said cooperative movement being in accordance with the magnitude of antibiasing forces resolvable from load condition along said zone of action of said single coil spring means, said cooperative movement also causing relative angular displacement of said first and second leg means relative to one another;

e. prior to full release of said binding, said angular relative displacement between said first and second leg means causing increasing depthwise displacement of said first and second horizontal pivot axes of said linking means corresponding to angular tilting of said body member relative to said base member about said rear pivot axis; after release of said disconnectably connected cam surface means from said pin means, continued depthwise displacement of said horizontal pivot axis being aided, at least in part, by said normal bias force of said single coil spring means.

2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1 with the addition of pivot terminating means carried on at least one of said leg means for terminating relative angular rotation of said first and second leg means after release of said pin means from operative contact .with said disconnectably connecting cam surface means.

3. vThe improvement in accordance with claim 2 in which said linking means includes arcuate wall means in positional relationship with said pin means and adapted to allow relative rectalinear movement between said wall means and said pin means after termination of said relative angular movement of said first and second leg means, whereby additional depthwise displacement of said horizontal pivot axis is achieved so as to provide a wide-release are for said boot-holding means, said additional depthwise displacement being aided, at least in part, by the normal biasing force of said single coil spring means.

4. The improvement in accordance with claim 3 in which said included arcuate wall means is an arcuate slot formed integrally within said other leg means in capturing relationship about said pin means.

5. The improvement in accordance with claim 2 in which said included arcuate wall means of said linking means is a pair of matched arcuate slots within support member means attached to opposite upright sidewalls of said base member between said boot-holding means and said rear pivot axis of said binding in capturing relationship about said pin means, said pin means being fixedly attached to said other leg means, said matched arcuate slots adapted to allow angular rotation of said pin means followed by rectalinear travel of said pin means with respect to said matched arcuate slots.

6. The improvement of claim 1 in which said linking means includes additional pin means substantially parallel to said first-mentioned pin means, said additional pin means adapted to pivotally connect said first and second leg means to each other at said swingable engaging surfaces thereof, and under manual and accident load conditions, adapted to undergo relative angular movement about said first-mentioned pin means in conjunction with relative angular rotation of said leg means about said first and second horizontal axes, said angular movement ofsaid additional pin means tracing from said holding to said release positions, a continuous arcuate imaginary pathway which, in cross section, resembles the letter S."

7. The improvement of claim 6 in which the direction of angular movement of one of said leg means with respect to its horizontal pivot axis reverses after said disconnectably connecting cam surface is released from said first-mentioned pin means, said reversed angular movement being aided, in part, by said biasing force of said single coil means.

8. The improvement of claim 6 in which said linking means includes yet another additional pin means positioned substantially parallel to said first-mentioned pin means and said addi tional pin means and coincident with said first horizontal pivot axis, said yet another additional pin means connecting said one leg means to said body member and operative to undergo angular movement defining a pathway centered at and coincident with said rear pivot axis.

9. The improvement of claim 8 in which, in said full release position, rotation of said additional pin means is terminated prior to passage through an imaginary plane connecting said first-mentioned pin means and said yet additional pin means, said binding being maintained in said full release positioned at least in part by said biasing force of said single coil spring means.

10. The improvement of claim 1 in which said pin means, coincident with one of said first and second horizontal pivot axes, remains stationary under all load conditions of said binding at a constant elevation above said top face of said ski runner.

11. The improvement of claim 10 in which, under an accident response condition, said cooperative arcuate movement of said disconnectably connected cam surface means on said one leg means changing the operative state of said single coil spring means for release of said cam surface from said stationary pin means is dependent, forcewise; on the product of the magnitude of an upward component of external force applied to said linking means and the instantaneous angles of inclination existing between said stationary pin means and said cam surface means during said arcuate movement thereof, said upward component of external force being resolvable into said antibiasing forces acting parallel to said zone of action of said single coil spring means having magnitudes above a selected operational release level for said linking means.

12. The improvement of claim 10 in which said disconnectably connected cam surface means is L-shaped in cross section and said stationary pin means, in the holding position of said binding, is displaced, depthwise, a vertical distance D" from engagement with a horizontal cam surface means of said cam surface means so that, in operation of said binding, small excursions of arcuate movement of said body member with respect to said base member, prior to engagement of said horizontal surface means with said stationary pin means, are allowed in dependence upon a load condition acting on one or the other of said leg means resolvable into said antibiasing forces acting parallel to said zone of action of said coil spring means, said resolved antibiasing forces being above at least a selected minimum activation level of said single coil spring means.

13. The improvement of claim 12 in which, after said stationary pin means contacts said horizontal cam surface means of said L-shaped disconnectable connecting cam surface means under a load condition corresponding to a manual release condition, continued relative angular rotation of said leg means for release of said horizontal cam surface means from said stationary pin means, is dependent upon the magnitude of the load resolvable into said antibiasing force acting parallel to the zone of action of said coil spring means at either one or the other of said leg means but independent of the angle of inclination existing between said stationary pin means and said disconnectable connected cam surface means, said antibiasing force resulting from a leverage condition utilizing said stationary pin means as a leverage apex so as to easily effect release of said horizontal cam surface means from said stationary pin means.

14. The improvement of claim 1 in which said complimentary operative surface means carried on said first and second leg means, although rotatable relative to each other, is further characterized by broad contacting, force accepting areas whereby high point stress conditions thereon due to impingement of said antibiasing and normal biasing forces during operation of the binding are avoided.

15. The improvement in accordance with claim 14, in said holding position, in which said zone of action of said coil spring means intersects said complimentary operative surface means in the regions of said broad contacting, force accepting areas as well as said stationary pin means.

16. The improvement in accordance with claim 15 in which said complimentary operative surface means includes slot means having on one of said leg means at least a curved end wall and a bulbous surface means on the other of said leg means adapted to broadly, but slidably, contact said curved end wall over at least a portion thereof and thereby permit broad contacting, force accepting areas therebetween.

17. The improvement of claim 1 in which said pin means coincident with one of said first and second horizontal pivot axes remains stationary at a constant elevation above said top face of said ski runner until said disconnectably connecting cam surface means is released from said pin means but thereafter is adapted to change elevation with respect to said top face of said runner corresponding to continued angular tilting of said body member relative to said base member.

18. In combination, heel binding for releasably holding a heel on a ski boot relative to a ski runner, comprising:

a. a substantially elongated base member;

b. an elongated body member having a boot-holding means, and swingably mounted to said base member at a rear pivot axis parallel to the top face of said ski runner but perpendicular to the axis of symmetry thereof, from a holding position in which said heel-holding means is substantially abutting said top surface of said runner, to a release position in which said heel-holding means is raised from and inclined with respect to the top face of said runner;

c. a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate said rear pivot point .of said body member and said boot holding means and including first and second leg means carrying complimentary cooperative surface means at their swingable engaging surface to each other, said first and second leg means being swingable with respect to each other along a first pivot axis substantially parallel to said rear pivot axis of said body member, one of said first and second leg means including a substantially L-shaped cam surface means;

d. linking means for swingably attaching said first and second leg means to each other along said first pivot axis, and for swingably attaching said first and second leg means to said body member and said base member respectively at second and third pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis, said three pivot axes being longitudinally oriented along the body member so as to form a V-orientation in cross section;

e. a single coil means being connected to at least one of said first and second leg means adapted to exert a biasing force on said first and second leg means to normally lock said first and second leg means relative to one another in a closed V-position.

f. said linking means also including latching connecting means connecting one of said leg means to one of said base member and said body member coincident with one of said second and third pivot axes, and movable connecting means connecting the other leg means to the other of said body member and said base member, as well as connecting said leg means together coincident with said first pivot axis, said latching connecting means normally adapted to be positioned with respect to said L-shaped cam surface means on said one leg means, to prevent large excursions of tilting of said body member relative to said base member about said rear pivot axis, but being adapted to release to allow angular tilting of said body member with respect to said base member about said rear pivot axis, when subjected to a preselected load condition corresponding to one of an accident condition or a manual release condition whereby said movable connecting means are carried in angular movement with respect to each other, initially causing said coil means to undergo axial compressional movement opposite to said normal biasing force but after said L-shaped cam surface means is released from said latching connecting means, said coil means undergoing reversed axial movement in the direction of said biasing force, said movable connecting means during bidirectional movement of said single coil means, defining a pair of arcuate travel, imaginary pathways (i) one of which, in cross section, forms the letter S in which a first segment or loop is spaced closest to the top face of the runner whose center formation is substantially coincident with said latching connecting means corresponding to said axial compressional movement of said single coil means, and in which a second segment or loop vertically is spaced a greater distance from the top face of the runner than said first segment whose center formation is coincident with said rear pivot axis of said body member corresponding to said reversed axial movement of said single coil means, and (ii) the other of which, in cross section, has a center formation coincident with said rear pivot axis of said body member;

g. said linking means also including pivot terminating means carried on at least one of said leg means to terminate angular movement of said movable connecting means coincident with said first pivot horizontal axis after its traversal of said first segment or loop of said one travel pathway;

h. after release of said cam surface carried on said one leg means, from said latching connecting means, movement of said movable connecting means along said pair of arcuate travel pathways being aided, at least in part, by said bias force of said single coil means.

19. The heel binding of claim 18in which said body member is provided with a vertical bore fitted with plunger means at a location adjacent to said boot holding means forward of said horizontal pivot axis, said plunger means adapted to undergo change in elevation with respect to said vertical bore, utilizing said stationary pin means as a leverage apex, to contact and create said cooperative arcuate movement of said cam surface means on said one leg means to cause said axial compressional movement of said single coil means and release of said disconnectably connected cam surface means from said stationary pin means.

20. The heel binding of claim 18 in which said body member if further provided with an inclined bore in which said single coil spring is slidably attached, a spring biasing plug means movably attached to said bore in contact with said single coil springadapted to contact said single coil spring to generate a preselected biasing force corresponding to a minimum activation level for said binding, and indicating means carried on said spring bias plug means, having an indexing pointer attached thereto exposed to the exterior of said body member through a vertical slot in said body member, said indicating means including a connecting pin slidably connected to a sidewall of said vertical slot means parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and a numbered indexing means attached to spot slot means, said indexing pointer being attached to the midpoint of said connecting pin and having a remote terminus in contact with said spring biasing plug means whereby movement of said spring biasing plug means with respect to said single coil spring means causes corresponding movement of said indexing pointer with respect to said slot means and said indexing means.

21. in a heel binding of the type having an elongated body member swingably mounted relative to a base member about a rearward horizontal pivot axis operative to angularly tilt from a holding position in which said binding is substantially abutting the top face of the ski runner, to a release position in which the body member is inclined with respect to the top face of the runner, an improved heel holding means carried at the forward end of said body member comprising (a) a ruggedly constructed flange projection extending from the forward end of said body member at a fixed location, in elevation, adjacent to the top surface of said ski runner, said projection, in holding position of said binding forming a support floor for the sole of the ski boot, (b) a heel-supporting cleat means positioned, in elevation, above said flange projection in slidable contact with the end wall of said body member, (c) a less rugged laterally flared bridging platform means attached to said flange projection, said boot heel bridging platform means extending from said flange projection and adapted, in the holding position of said binding, to have its top face alignable in elevation, with the top surface of said flange projection, but over its remaining region to be positioned in a slightly inclined relationship with respect to said ski runner, (d) pivotal connecting means for pivotally connecting said boot heel bridging platform means relative to said flange projection so as to allow said boot heel bridging platform means to pivot with respect to said flange projection, by gravity, as said body member tilts with respect to said base member, the direction of rotation of said boot heel platform being opposite to that of said body member during tilting thereof, to a final position wherein said top face of said flange becomes the principal support area for said heel of said ski boot.

22. The heel boot holding means of claim 21 with the addition of pivot terminating means carried on said flange projection adjacent to said pivotal connecting means to limit rotation, by gravity, of said boot heel bridging platform means relative to said flange projection.

23. The heel-holding means of claim 22 with the addition of vertical elevating means connected between said end wall of said body member and said heel supporting cleat means to provide controlled vertical movement of the latter, in elevation, with respect to said flange projection to thereby accommodate ski boot heels of different thicknesses on said heelholding means.

Claims

1. In a heel-binding of the type having forwardly extending heel-holding means releasably attached to a ski boot, an elongated body member attached to said heel holding means swingable relative to a stationary base member adapted to be attached to a top face of a ski runner about a rearward horizontal pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ski runner but parallel to said top face of said runner, said body member carrying said heel holding means from a holding position in which said heel holding means is substantially abutting said top face of said runner, to a release position in which said heel holding means is raised from, and inclined with respect to said top face of said runner, the improvement comprising: a. a single coil means carried on one of said body member and said base member, adapted to generate a biasing force, along a selected zone of action; b. a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate said rearward pivot axis of said body member and said heel-holding means in operative biasing contact with said single coil spring, said V-frame connecting means including first and second leg means carrying complimentary cooperative surface means at their swingable engaging surfaces to each other, one of said first and second leg means including disconnectably connected cam surface means carried on an exterior surface opposite to said single coil spring but in substantial positional alignment with said zone of action; c. linking means for connecting said first and second leg means to said body member and said base member to the first and second horizontal pivot axis, respectively, substantially parallel to said rear pivot axis of the said body member, and including pin means coincident with said second horizontal pivot axis adapted to the position with respect to said disconnectably connecting cam surface means of said one leg means to normally prevent pivotal tilting of said body member relative to the said base member about said rear pivot axis, but being adapted to release when said binding is subjected to either one of two external load conditions corresponding to (i) an accident condition or (ii) a manual release condition; d. said single coil spring means acting on said V-frame connecting means adapted to undergo axial compressing movement, in dependence upon the magnitude of one of said external load conditions applied at one or the other of said leg means to release said disconnectably connecting cam surface means from said pin means, by cooperative arcuate movement of said disconnectably connected cam surface means carried on said one leg means, said cooperative movement being in accordance with the magnitude of antibiasing forces resolvable from load condition along said zone of action of said single coil spring means, said cooperative movement also causing relative angular displacement of said first and second leg means relative to one another; e. prior to full release of said binding, said angular relative displacement between said first and second leg means causing increasing depthwise displacement of said first and second horizontal pivot axes of said linking means corresponding to angular tilting of said body member relative to said base member about said rear pivot axis; f. after release of said disconnectably connected cam surface means from said pin means, continued depthwise displacement of said horizontal pivot axis being aided, at least in part, by said normal bias force of said single coil spring means.

2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1 with the addition of pivot terminating means carried on at least one of said leg means for terminating relative angular rotation of said first and second leg means after release of said pin means from operative contact with said disconnectably connecting cam surface means.

3. The improvement in accordance with claim 2 in which said linking means includes arcuate wall means in positional relationship with said pin means and adapted to allow relative rectalinear movement between said wall means and said pin means after termination of said relative angular movement of said first and second leg means, whereby additional depthwise displacement of said horizontal pivot axis is achieved so as to provide a wide-release arc for said boot-holding means, said additional depthwise displacement being aided, at least in part, by the normal biasing force of said single coil spring means.

6. The improvement of claim 1 in which said linking means includes additional pin means substantially parallel to said fiRst-mentioned pin means, said additional pin means adapted to pivotally connect said first and second leg means to each other at said swingable engaging surfaces thereof, and under manual and accident load conditions, adapted to undergo relative angular movement about said first-mentioned pin means in conjunction with relative angular rotation of said leg means about said first and second horizontal axes, said angular movement of said additional pin means tracing from said holding to said release positions, a continuous arcuate imaginary pathway which, in cross section, resembles the letter ''''S.''''

8. The improvement of claim 6 in which said linking means includes yet another additional pin means positioned substantially parallel to said first-mentioned pin means and said additional pin means and coincident with said first horizontal pivot axis, said yet another additional pin means connecting said one leg means to said body member and operative to undergo angular movement defining a pathway centered at and coincident with said rear pivot axis.

11. The improvement of claim 10 in which, under an accident response condition, said cooperative arcuate movement of said disconnectably connected cam surface means on said one leg means changing the operative state of said single coil spring means for release of said cam surface from said stationary pin means is dependent, forcewise, on the product of the magnitude of an upward component of external force applied to said linking means and the instantaneous angles of inclination existing between said stationary pin means and said cam surface means during said arcuate movement thereof, said upward component of external force being resolvable into said antibiasing forces acting parallel to said zone of action of said single coil spring means having magnitudes above a selected operational release level for said linking means.

12. The improvement of claim 10 in which said disconnectably connected cam surface means is L-shaped in cross section and said stationary pin means, in the holding position of said binding, is displaced, depthwise, a vertical distance ''''D'''' from engagement with a horizontal cam surface means of said cam surface means so that, in operation of said binding, small excursions of arcuate movement of said body member with respect to said base member, prior to engagement of said horizontal surface means with said stationary pin means, are allowed in dependence upon a load condition acting on one or the other of said leg means resolvable into said antibiasing forces acting parallel to said zone of action of said coil spring means, said resolved antibiasing forces being above at least a selected minimum activation level of said single coil spring means.

18. In combination, heel binding for releasably holding a heel on a ski boot relative to a ski runner, comprising: a. a substantially elongated base member; b. an elongated body member having a boot-holding means, and swingably mounted to said base member at a rear pivot axis parallel to the top face of said ski runner but perpendicular to the axis of symmetry thereof, from a holding position in which said heel-holding means is substantially abutting said top surface of said runner, to a release position in which said heel-holding means is raised from and inclined with respect to the top face of said runner; c. a V-frame connecting means positioned intermediate said rear pivot point of said body member and said boot holding means and including first and second leg means carrying complimentary cooperative surface means at their swingable engaging surface to each other, said first and second leg means being swingable with respect to each other along a first pivot axis substantially parallel to said rear pivot axis of said body member, one of said first and second leg means including a substantially L-shaped cam surface means; d. linking means for swingably attaching said first and second leg means to each other along said first pivot axis, and for swingably attaching said first and second leg means to said body member and said base member respectively at second and third pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis, said three pivot axes being longitudinally oriented along the body member so as to form a V-orientation in cross section; e. a single coil means being connected to at least one of said first and second leg means adapted to exert a biasing force on said first and second leg means to normally lock said first and second leg means relative to one another in a closed V-pOsition. f. said linking means also including latching connecting means connecting one of said leg means to one of said base member and said body member coincident with one of said second and third pivot axes, and movable connecting means connecting the other leg means to the other of said body member and said base member, as well as connecting said leg means together coincident with said first pivot axis, said latching connecting means normally adapted to be positioned with respect to said L-shaped cam surface means on said one leg means, to prevent large excursions of tilting of said body member relative to said base member about said rear pivot axis, but being adapted to release to allow angular tilting of said body member with respect to said base member about said rear pivot axis, when subjected to a preselected load condition corresponding to one of an accident condition or a manual release condition whereby said movable connecting means are carried in angular movement with respect to each other, initially causing said coil means to undergo axial compressional movement opposite to said normal biasing force but after said L-shaped cam surface means is released from said latching connecting means, said coil means undergoing reversed axial movement in the direction of said biasing force, said movable connecting means during bidirectional movement of said single coil means, defining a pair of arcuate travel, imaginary pathways (i) one of which, in cross section, forms the letter ''''S'''' in which a first segment or loop is spaced closest to the top face of the runner whose center formation is substantially coincident with said latching connecting means corresponding to said axial compressional movement of said single coil means, and in which a second segment or loop vertically is spaced a greater distance from the top face of the runner than said first segment whose center formation is coincident with said rear pivot axis of said body member corresponding to said reversed axial movement of said single coil means, and (ii) the other of which, in cross section, has a center formation coincident with said rear pivot axis of said body member; g. said linking means also including pivot terminating means carried on at least one of said leg means to terminate angular movement of said movable connecting means coincident with said first pivot horizontal axis after its traversal of said first segment or loop of said one travel pathway; h. after release of said cam surface carried on said one leg means, from said latching connecting means, movement of said movable connecting means along said pair of arcuate travel pathways being aided, at least in part, by said bias force of said single coil means.

19. The heel binding of claim 18 in which said body member is provided with a vertical bore fitted with plunger means at a location adjacent to said boot holding means forward of said horizontal pivot axis, said plunger means adapted to undergo change in elevation with respect to said vertical bore, utilizing said stationary pin means as a leverage apex, to contact and create said cooperative arcuate movement of said cam surface means on said one leg means to cause said axial compressional movement of said single coil means and release of said disconnectably connected cam surface means from said stationary pin means.

20. The heel binding of claim 18 in which said body member if further provided with an inclined bore in which said single coil spring is slidably attached, a spring biasing plug means movably attached to said bore in contact with said single coil spring adapted to contact said single coil spring to generate a preselected biasing force corresponding to a minimum activation level for said binding, and indicating means carried on said spring bias plug means, having an indexing pointer attached thereto exposed to the exterior of said body member through a vertical slot in said body member, said indicating means including a connecting pin slidably connected tO a sidewall of said vertical slot means parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and a numbered indexing means attached to spot slot means, said indexing pointer being attached to the midpoint of said connecting pin and having a remote terminus in contact with said spring biasing plug means whereby movement of said spring biasing plug means with respect to said single coil spring means causes corresponding movement of said indexing pointer with respect to said slot means and said indexing means.

23. The heel-holding means of claim 22 with the addition of vertical elevating means connected between said end wall of said body member and said heel supporting cleat means to provide controlled vertical movement of the latter, in elevation, with respect to said flange projection to thereby accommodate ski boot heels of different thicknesses on said heel-holding means.