US3689095A

US3689095A - Ski boot fixation device

Info

Publication number: US3689095A
Application number: US45783A
Authority: US
Inventors: Georges P J Salomon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-14
Filing date: 1970-06-12
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05
Also published as: AT311849B; AT310057B; DE2034124A1; JPS51895B1; DE2034124C2; JPS553950B1; FR2056249A5; JPS558186B1; CH512925A; CA923164A; AT316389B; DE2066178C2; AT309285B

Abstract

A ski boot fixation device comprises a lever pivotally mounted on a support about horizontal and vertical axes in relation to the plane of a ski. Boot holding means on one end of the lever can be releasably held in operative position by a pair of cooperating pieces on the lever and the support which are urged together by a spring. The lateral stress required to free the lever from operative position is made constant, i.e. independent of vertical displacement of the lever, by means compensating for the change in the pressure of the spring due to vertical displacement of the lever.

Description

United States Patent Salomon 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] SK] BOOT FIXATION DEVICE [72] Inventor: Georges P. J. Salomon, 34 avenue de Loverchy, Annecy, France [22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 45,783

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT A ski boot fixation device comprises a lever pivotally mounted on a support about horizontal and vertical July 14, 1969 Switzerland ..10727/69 axes in relation to the plane of a Boot holding means on one end of the lever can be releasably held 52 us. Cl. ..2s0/11.35 T in Operative Position y a P of cooperating pieces 51 Int. Cl ..A63c 9/00 the ever and the support which are urged together [58] Field of Search 280/11 35 T by a spring. The lateral stress required to free the lever from operative position is made constant, i.e. in- [56] References Cited dependent of vertical displacement of the lever, by means compensating for the change in the pressure of UNITED STATES PATENTS the spring due to vertical displacement of the lever. 3,326,567 6/1967 Pronzati ..280/l 1.35 T 19 Claims, 30 Drawing Figures l l l 4 ////V/////f//////// v 0 I vvxm 13 a w i I @u Hilly 4- J! p, I I 8 A 6 W7 Pahnhd Sept. 5, 1.72

ELQ-l INVENTOR ATTORNEY hunted Sept. 5, 1912 Y 3589.095

.8 Shoots-Shoot 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY MM Sept. 5, m2

8 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS IN VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1912 8 Sheds-Sheet 5 nu x 1 N VE NTOR 6202665 P J. SALa/H /v ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1912 3,689,095

8 Sheets-Sheet v 6 M Q FIG.22

FIG. 25

1 N VE NTOR 6502655 P (1. Slim/no I ATTORNEY Pabnhd Sept. 5,1912 I I 3,589,095

' a Sheets-Shoot v f INVENTOR 66026165 PJ JAM/ha I BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1972 3,689,095

a Sheets-Shut a INVENTOR ATTORNEY SKI BOOT FIXATION DEVICE This invention concerns ski boot fixation devices of the type comprising boot retaining means articulated in relation to a support about at least two axes. The boot retaining means are releasably fixable in an operative position by two cooperating pieces engaged one against the other by a spring, one of these pieces being rigidly attached to the boot retaining means and the other rigidly attached to the support. Means are provided for adjusting the pressure between the two pieces thereby setting the limiting resistance of the device to unlocking.

Many fixation devices of the above type are known. However, in the majority of known devices of this type, a lifting up of the skiers foot (and hence the boot) compresses the spring so that if a transversal stress occurs whilst the boot is raised, the lateral stress required to unlock the device and release the boot is increased, which can be dangerous.

In other known types of fixation device, a raised position of the boot causes modification of the engagement of one of the cooperating pieces on the other, in such a manner that a play may result and which allows the boot an unwanted freedom.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above-outlined drawbacks and to provide a ski boot fixation device of the above-mentioned type in which the limiting transversal stress to free the boot is independent of vertical displacement of the boot retaining member.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of several embodiments, made by -way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational axial cross-section of a first embodiment of the invention, shown mounted on a ski and operatively holding a boot on the ski;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale view of an element of the device cut in axial section and shown in perspective;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 for a modified element;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic views of the locking device of FIG. 4 in three positions;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 for a second modified element;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. I for a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-section along line X-X of FIG. 9, the device being in a position corresponding to a lateral displacement of the boot without lifting thereof;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the disposition of the cooperating locking surfaces of the second embodiment in a position corresponding to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partial axial cross-section, corresponding to FIG. 9, with the device in a position corresponding to lifting of the boot;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 showing the device after a lateral displacement subsequent to lifting;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for a third embodiment of a somewhat similar construction to the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-section along line XVI- XVI of FIG. 15 showing the device after lateral displacement of the boot without lifting;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the disposition of the cooperating locking surfaces of the third embodiment in a position corresponding to FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partial axial cross-section, corresponding to FIG. 15, showing the device after lifting of the boot followed by lateral displacement;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but after the above-mentioned lifting followed by lateral displace ment;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 17 for the position corresponding to FIGS. 18 and 19;

FIG. 21 is an axial cross-section of a fourth embodiment of the invention mounted on a ski in operative boot-toe maintaining position, but not showing a boot;

FIG. 22 is a view of a detail of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a view corresponding to FIG. 21, but with the boot retaining means raised;

FIG. 24 is a partial plan view and partial cross-section along line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23 after sub-.

sequent lateral displacement of the boot retaining means;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 26 is a view corresponding to FIG. 25 but afte lifting of the boot retaining means;

FIG. 27 is an axial cross-section through a sixth embodiment of the invention mounted on a ski and in operative boot-heel maintaining position;

FIG. 28 is a view corresponding to FIG. 27, but with the boot maintaining means raised; and

FIGS. 29 and 30 are views similar to FIGS. 27 and 28 for a seventh embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the device for releasably holding the toe of a boot 1 onto a ski 2 comprises a boot retaining member 3 able to grip the sole 4 of the toe of the boot when in an operative position. Gripping member 3 is pivoted on a support 5, itself fixed to the ski 2 by means not shown, about two axes in the manner of a cardan joint. One of these axes is formed by a horizontal axle 6 by which member 3 is pivoted to an intermediate part 7 pivotally mounted about a vertical axle 8 fixed to support 5. Member 3 can be releasably held in its operative boot-locking position (illustrated in FIG. 1) by a locking device comprising two cooperating pieces, namely a steel or similar ball 9 and a cooperating hollow 14. Ball 9 protrudes from a housing 10 in support 5 into which it can be retracted against the action of a compression spring 11. Spring 11 is also lodged in housing 10 which is internally threaded to receive an adjusting member 12 which can be turned by means of its knurled head 13 to regulate the pressure of spring 11 on ball 9. The hollow 14 is located on member 3 so as to receive the ball 9 when member 3 is in the operative position.

When a vertical or transversal stress is exerted on the toe of boot 1, this stress tends to displace member 3 upwards or sidewards, thereby forcing ball 9 into its housing 10 against the action of spring 11 until ball 9 is clear of the hollow 14 at which moment the fixation device is released, and the boot freed from the ski.

a given profile 16. In this first embodiment, the

generatrix 15 remains parallel to itself during displacement and forms an angle X with the median plane P of hollow 14. Thus, by construction, angle X is constant from one end E, of the hollow 14 to the other end E Such a hollow, formed by a series of parallel generating lines,'has constantly inclined planes of contact for ball 9. Therefore, up to the point of release, the angle X is constant whether ball 9 is centered in the median plane through point or in other planes such as those through points 0 and S.

The compression F of spring 1 l defined by the height of ball 9 being unchanged at the moment of release, and angle X being constant by construction, the lateral force D required to release the device is also constant and can be expressed by the relationship:

D=Fltanx It is to be noted that the surface 17 of member 3 consists of a portion of a spherical surface of radius R centered about the point of intersection of the axes of axles 6 and 8; hence, it can be seen that the compression F of the spring at the point of release, and after releasing, has a constant value.

In other words, with such a fixation device and notwithstanding that boot 1 has possibly been lifted by a certain amount, the limiting stress necessary to release the device by a transversal movement will always be the same, however much the boot 1 has been raised from ski 2 providing, of course, that the lifting is insufficient in itself to cause release of the device.

It is evident that the same effect can be achieved with various different shapesof hollow 14. FIG. 4 shows a first variant in which the hollow 14 is formed from a series of generating lines forming an angle X with the median plane P, this angle varying along the generating lines from the point 0 to one end E of the hollow; from point 0 to the other end E, of the hollow, the angle can remain constant at value X,,, as shown, or can vary.

.FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 schematically show, in plan view, the engagement of ball 9 in hollow 14 in three positions along the hollow corresponding to varying degrees of lifting of member 3, namely the positions s, t uUU. It can be seen from these figures that the force F of the spring 11 increases from a value F, to F, between positions s and u The surface is therefore constructed such that for a given spring of known characteristics the releasing stress D remains at a constant value:

FIG. 8 shows a second variant of the first embodiment, in which the hollow 14 is generated by a series of curved generating lines. Preferably, the angle X formed by each generating line with the median plane P of the hollow is only constant along the line B, A E In effect, it is along this line that the angle is determined to fix the desired releasing stress.

The second embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, isa heel support for positionally maintaining the heel of a boot 1 by its sole 4. The boot gripping member 3 is pivotally mounted on a support 5, fixed to a ski 2, by means of a ball 18 rigidly connected to the support 5 by a rod 19. In this embodiment, one of the cooperating parts for releasably fixing the device in operative boot-holding position is formed by a piston 20 located in a housing 21 member 3 into which it can be retracted against the action of a spring 22. A threaded member 23 with a knurled head 24 is screwable into housing 21 to enable adjustment of the force of spring 22 on piston 20.

Ball 18 is provided with a flat surface 25 against which the forward surface 26 of the piston 25 is urged, when the device is in the operative boot holding position, shown in FIG. 9, and these surfaces remain applied against one another as long as the member 3 is not subjected to a stress sufficient to move it upwards or sideways. One of these surfaces has a bevelled edge, in the illustrated example a bevel 27 on surface 26, creating a contacting edge 28 between the two surfaces when the member 3 is raised. As is shown in FIG. 12, upon raising of the boot heel, edge 28 of piston 20 takes support on the flat surface 25. When a lateral stress is simultaneously exerted on the already raised member 3, it is the length of edge 28 which determines the value of the lateral unlocking stress.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show that the leverage tending to i return member 3 to its initial operative position after lateral displacement from this position has a length r. On the other hand, the leverage tending to return member 3 to its initial operative position after both a lateral and vertical displacement has a value r' (FIGS. 13 and 14), which has a value less than r. The reduction of the leverage from r to r compensates for the increase in tension of spring 22 due to lifting of the boot 1, so that the transversal stress on member 3 to release it from operative position remains substantially constant.

The third embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 20, is somewhat similar to the second embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 14. This third embodiment is also a heel support comprising the same principal elements as before, such as boot-holding member 3, support 5, ball 18, piston 20, spring 22, adjusting member 23 and bevel 27. However, in the third embodiment, the bevel 27 instead of having a planar surface, has a curved surface thereby creating a succession of contact edges between the cooperating

pieces

18 and 20. The length of these successive contact edges decreases progressively the greater the boot 1 (and hence the operative end of member 3) is lifted above the ski 2. With such a construction, it is thus possible to progressively compensate for the increase in the tension of spring 22 during lifting of the boot from the ski 2 by a progressive decrease in the value of the leverage from r to r. Hence, the stress required to release the fixation device by a lateral displacement will be virtually constant for any position of the boot between that illustrated in FIG. 15 and the raised position at which the boot is upwardly freed (FIG. 18).

The fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 21 to 24, is a toe-support comprising a toe-stop or holding member 3 for holding a boot 1 against the upper face of a ski 2. Member 3 is carried at one end of a shank 29 having a point 30 at its other end. A plate 31, curved at its lower end, is fixed to shank 29. This plate has a bearing surface 41 supported against the inner surface 32 of a casing 33 through which the shank 29 passes by an opening 34. A push-piece 35 is maintained with point 30 pressed into the apex of a conical seating surface 36 by means of a spring 37. The other end of this spring is supported by a second similar push-piece 38 mounted on the point of a regulating screw 39 screwed into a threaded aperture 40 in casing 33 which is afiixed to a ski 2 by means (not shown) such as screws.

In this embodiment, one of the cooperating pieces is formed of shank 29 and plate 31, and is capable of oscillating on either side of a longitudinal axis Y-Y and in any direction, spring 37 tending to maintain the shank along this longitudinal axis. The rest or operative position of member 3 of this fixation device is determined by bearing surface 41 which is urged against surface 32 of casing 33, surface 32 constituting the other cooperating piece.

As shown in FIG 22, bearing surface 41 has curved lateral edges 42 and 43 and a straight lower edge 44. Plate 31 is incurved at its lower end (see FIGS. 21 and 23) so that contact between

surfaces

41 and 32 takes place along a series of lines of contact of decreasing length as member 3 is raised. The curvature of edges 42 and 43 thus determines the pivoting points of plate 31 on surface 32. The radial distance of these edges from axis YY fixes the limiting resistance provided by the device against unlocking. Lateral edges 42 and 43 converge together as a function of their vertical separation from axis Y-Y. Consequently, the leverage for returning member 3 to its initial position after a lateral movement of the boot (and hence member 3) decreases from a value a to a value b between the points m and n. This decrease of leverage as a function of the elevation of member 3 compensates for the increase in tension of the spring from a value F to a value F. It is thus possible, by construction, to obtain the following equation or similitude:

F"biF-a FIG. 24 shows the fixation device in position after the boot toe has undergone a lifting'movement followed by a lateral displacement. By construction, the fixation device enables the following inequality to be obtained:

where F" is the pressure of the spring after the vertical and transversal movements (i.e. when in the position of FIG. 24), h, is the distance separating the line of action of the force F of the spring from the point of contact 7:, and h is the distance separating the line of action of the force F" from the point of contact m.

In the fifth embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, a heel support for releasably holding a boot 1 on a ski 2 comprises a holding member 3 for the sole 4 of a boot heel. Member 3 is pivoted about a horizontal axle 45 carried by a piece 46 pivotally mounted about a vertical axle 47 fixed to a support 48 which is fixed to the ski by means such as screws, not shown. The cooperating pieces for releasably locking member 3 in operative position comprise a ball 49 engaging in a trough-shaped recess 50 in a part 51 of member 3 such that part 51 forms a second lever arm. The ball 49 is lodged in a housing 52 at the end of a lever 53 pivoted about a pin 54 on support 48. At a point 55 at the other end of lever 53 acts a pointed push-piece 56 urged by a spring 57 supported by a tension regulating screw 58 threadably engaging a bore 59 in support 48. The spring 57 thus acts according to arrow F, whilst ball 49 acts on recess 50 according to arrow C, when member 3 is in its operative position.

The kinematic arrangement of

levers

3, 51 and 53 is chosen such that any increasein the tension of spring 57 due to lifting of member 3 by an upward stress on the boot heel is compensated for by an increase in at least one leverage. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, in the initial position, the force of the ball 49 in the recess 50 has a value C exerted along a leverage arm a about pivoting axis 54. When, upon lifting up of the heel of boot 1, the member 3 pivots in clockwise direction to the position of FIG. 26, the force C, of ball 49 in recess 50 is exerted with a leverage arm b of increased value. It is thus possible by construction and by the shape of the different levers to obtain:

where F, is the force of spring 57 in the initial position and F the force of spring 57 in the second position. Thus, the force C can be maintained equal to force C, and with a constant value, so that the lateral releasing effort will also be maintained constant.

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the sixth embodiment of fixation device comprises a boot-holding member 3 pivoted about a pin 60 in a stirrup piece 61 pivoted about a horizontal axis 62 on a support 63 fixed to the upper face of a ski 2. A lever 64 is also pivoted on support 63 about a horizontal axle 65. Lever 64 is also pivotally attached at 66 to a push-piece 67 which is urged by a spring 68 guided in a tube 69 also pivotally mounted at 70 on support 63. A spring tension regulating screw 71 is screwed into the free end of tube 70. At the free end 72 of lever 64 is provided a housing 73 for a ball 74. A trough is located inside member 3, so as to cooperate with ball 74 to releasably lock the device in operative position. The direction of a action of spring 68 on elbow-lever 64 varies according to the load thereon due to modification of the position of member 3 by movement of the boot heel relative to the ski. The device is constructed such that the active component of the force of spring 68 tending to prevent any lateral displacement of member 3 remains substantially constant despite any supplementary constraint resulting from lifting of member 3. In other words, the arrangement is such that:

where F, is the force of the spring in the initial (operative) position, F is the force of the spring after displacement of member 3 by boot 1, a and b are the values of the leverage of the forces F and F 2 about the axis of axle 65, and L and L, are the values of the leverage of the forces C and C of the ball 74 on arm 3 about the axis of axle 65 in the above-mentioned positions.

Of course, the seat of ball 74, i.e. the trough 75, can have various shapes, its function being to ensure a constant lateral unlocking of the device when the effort ex-' erted on the ball 74 is itself constant.

FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate a final embodiment of the invention comprising a boot-holding member 3 pivoted about a horizontal axle 76 on a hub 77. This hub is fixed on a vertical pin 78 which is rotatably held in a support 79 is provided a housing 80 inside which are lodged two

balls

81 and 82. A spring 83, the pressure of which can be adjusted by a regulating screw 84, acts on ball 82. Spring 83 thus tends to drive

balls

82 and 81 out of housing 80 through a lateral opening 85 in support 79. Ball 81 cooperates with a trough 86 on the internal face of a prolongation 87 of member 3 to releasably lock member 3 in the operative position (FIG. 29).

Such a construction also enables the useful component of the force F of spring 83 to be fixed at a substantially constant value, despite any supplementary constraint due to displacement of member 3 from its initial position (FIG. 29) to another position (e.g. that of FIG. 30) as a result of vertical stresses on a boot held thereby.

The force F 1 of spring 83 on ball 82 is composed into a force F, of ball 82 on ball 81, and a force C of ball 81 acting on trough 86. It is thus possible, by construction and by suitably choosing the diameters of

balls

81 and 82, to ensure that force C remains substantially constant, i.e. that C is substantially equal to C Force C results from the components of force F after raising of the boot, i.e. a component F, of ball 82 on ball 81 and a component (I, of ball 81 on trough 86.

All of the above-described and illustrated embodiments are applicable equally well to toe supports as to heel supports. Of course, in all of the embodiments, one or more supplementary levers, rods, pivots or balljoints could be provided either to facilitate locking of the device or possible to enable manual release. Certain parts of the above-described fixation devices could be directly placed onto the ski boot sole. All the described devices ensure that the lateral unlocking effort remains substantially constant whatever be the elevation of the boot from the ski. All of these devices can also be used to obtain any correction of the lateral unlocking effort, for example a degression if judged necessary. Of course, certain of the operating principles of the various embodiments could be combined into one fixation device. Thus, for example, the particular shapes of the trough illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 could be applied to the devices illustrated in FIGS. 27 to 30.

I claim:

1. Ski boot fixation device comprising a support fixable onto a ski defining a plane of reference, a member pivoted at least indirectly on the support about at least two axes comprising an axis vertical to said plane and an axis horizontal to said plane, means on the member for positionally maintaining at least a part of a ski boot relative to said ski when the member is in an operative position, means for releasably holding the member in operative position including a pair of cooperating pieces, one of whichis on the member and the other of which is at least indirectly on the support, a spring urging together said pieces when the member is in the operative position, means for adjusting the bearing pressure of said pieces and thereby determining the limiting stresses on the member necessary to release the member from the operative position by pivoting about said vertical or said horizontal axis, and means for maintaining the releasing effort constant in a horizontal direction regardless of the stress exerted upon said member in a vertical direction.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of said cooperating pieces is a hollow and the other a projection removably engageable in the hollow, the hollow being symmetrical about a median plane through said vertical axis and defining two halves of the hollow, each half hollow having a shape generated by displacement of a generatrix along a given profile in the median plane.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix remains at a constant angle to the median plane during displacement along the profile.

4., A device according to claim 2, wherein the angle between the generatrix and the median plane varies according to the position of the generatrix along the profile.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix is a straight line.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix is a curved line.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the profile is V-shaped.

8. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix intersects the surface of the piece including the hollow at a constant angle during displacement along the profile.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the member is pivoted about a ball fixed to the support, a

first planar surface on the ball forming one of the cooperating pieces, a spring-urged piston having a second planar surface forming the other of the cooperating pieces, the planar surfaces being applied together in a resting position of the member, one of the planar surfaces having a bevel forming a contact edge between said pieces upon vertical displacement of the member, the length of the bevel and hence the contact edge being less than the maximum horizontal edge of contact between the first and second planar surfaces when applied together in the resting position of the member.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the bevel is curved so as to form a contact edge the length of which progressively decreases with increased vertical displacement of the member.

1 1. A device according to claim 1, comprising a shaft supporting-the member, a plate on the shaft having a bearing surface forming one of the cooperating pieces, a cooperating surface on the support forming the other of the cooperating pieces, and a spring acting on the shaft to apply the bearing surface on the cooperating surface and tending to maintain the shaft along a defined axis, wherein the shaft is oscillable from said axis in all directions by pivoting about points determined by the points of contact of the bearing surface on the cooperating surface, and the plate is shaped so that the horizontal separation of the lateral points of contact of the bearing surface on the cooperating surface from the line of action of the spring decreases with raising of the member.

12. A device according to claim 1, comprising means causing said pieces to bear against one another at a constant pressure for any setting of said adjusting means independent of said vertical displacement of the member.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein one of the pieces is mounted on a lever pivotally mounted on the support about a second horizontal axis, the spring acting on the leverto urge the other piece against the one piece along a line of action, said vertical displacement of the member causing the lever to pivot to compress the spring and to increase the lever arm of the line of action of the other piece about the second horizontal axis.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein one of the pieces is mounted on a lever pivotally mounted on the support about a second horizontal axis, the spring being pivotally mounted on the support and on the lever to urge the lever with a variable force along a variable first line of action depending upon the magnitude of said vertical displacement of the member, the other piece acting on the one piece along a second line of action such that the product of the forceof the spring and separation of the first line of action about the second axis divided by the separation of the second line of action from the second axis remains constant during said vertical displacement of the member.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein one of the pieces is a first ball urged against the other piece by a second ball, the spring urging the second ball along a line of action non-axial to the first ball, said vertical displacement of the member urging the first ball towards the line of action of the spring.

16. In a ski boot (1) binding device of the kind including a base fastened to the upper face of a ski (2), a member (3) pivotally connected to the base (5) for pivoting at least in a plane parallel to the upper face of the ski about a vertical axis (8) and in a plane perpendicular to the upper face of the ski about a horizontal axis (6), and means cooperating for releasably holding said member (3) in operative position, one such means being provided on said base (5) and the other means being provided on said member (3), the means on said member being a hollow (l4) and the means on said base being a projection (9) urged by means of a spring (11) into said hollow (14), and means for adjusting the bearing pressure of said spring (11), the improvement wherein said hollow (14) is shaped so that the maximum stress required to be exerted on said spring (1 l) to release said member (3) from its operative position when said member (3) is pivoted in a plane parallel to the upper face of the ski, remains unchanged in case said member (3) is simultaneously pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the upper face of the ski.

17. Device according to claim 16 wherein the surface of said hollow (14) is shaped in its vertical direction so that an increased stress is exerted on said spring (11) when said member (3) is pivoted vertically upwards and wherein the length of the profile along which said projection (9) has to travel horizontally to apply to said spring (11) the on pressure required for releasing said member (3) when the latter is pivoted either to the right or to the left, is progressively reduced in accordance with the increased pressure exerted member (3), said spring (11) during said simultaneous vertical displacement of said member (3), the angle (X) of the horizontal profile with a vertical median plane (P) of saidh [low 14 re ainin ch e l8. evic e ac cor mg to c dim WW erein the surface of said hollow (14) is shaped in its vertical direction so that an increased stress is exerted on said spring (11) when said member (3) is pivoted vertically upwards and wherein the angle (X) which a vertical median plane (P) of said hollow (14), forms with the horizontal profile along which said projection (9) has to travel horizontally to apply to said spring (1 1) the maximum pressure required for releasing said member (3) when the latter is pivoted either to the right or to the left, is progressively increased in accordance with the increased pressure exerted on said spring (11) during such simultaneous vertical displacement of said member (3), the length of the profile itself remaining unchanged.

19. Device according to claim 16 wherein the surface of said hollow (14) has an outwardly curved profile in both vertical and horizontal directions, the curves compensating each other so that in the outer areas, left or right, of the horizontal profile, the maximum pressure, which said projection (9) has to apply to said spring (1 l) for releasing said member (3), remains unchanged whatever the simultaneous upwards displacement of said member (3) may be.

Claims

1. Ski boot fixation device comprising a support fixable onto a ski defining a plane of reference, a member pivoted at least indirectly on the support about at least two axes comprising an axis vertical to said plane and an axis horizontal to said plane, means on the member for positionally maintaining at least a part of a ski boot relative to said ski when the member is in an operative position, means for releasably holding the member in operative position including a pair of cooperating pieces, one of which is on the member and the other of which is at least indirectly on the support, a spring urging together said pieces when the member is in the operative position, means for adjusting the bearing pressure of said pieces and thereby determining the limiting stresses on the member necessary to release the member from the operative position by pivoting about said vertical or said horizontal axis, and means for maintaining the releasing effort constant in a horizontal direction regardless of the stress exerted upon said member in a vertical direction.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the angle between the generatrix and the median plane varies according to the position of the generatrix along the profile.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix is a straight line.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the generatrix is a curved line.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the profile is V-shaped.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the member is pivoted about a ball fixed to the support, a first planar surface on the ball forming one of the cooperating pieces, a spring-urged piston having a second planar surface forming the other of the cooperating pieces, the planar surfaces being applied together in a resting position of the member, one of the planar surfaces having a bevel forming a contact edge between said pieces upon vertical displacement of the member, the length of the bevel and hence the contact edge being less than the maximum horizontal edge of contact between the first and second planar surfaces when applied together in the resting position of the member.

11. A device according to claim 1, comprising a shaft supporting the member, a plate on the shaft having a bearing surface forming one of the cooperating pieces, a cooperating surface on the support forming the other of the cooperating pieces, and a spring acting on the shaft to apply the bearing surface on the cooperating surface and tending to maintain the shaft along a defined axis, wherein the shaft is oscillable from said axis in all directions by pivoting about points determined by the points of contact of the bearing surface on the cooperating surface, and the plate is shaped so that the horizontal separation of the lateral points of contact of the bearing surface on the cooperating surface from the line of action of the spring decreases with raising of the member.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein one of the pieces is mounted on a lever pivotally mounted on the support about a second horizontal axis, the spring acting on the lever to urge the other piece against the one piece along a line of action, said vertical displacement of the member causing the lever to pivot to compress the spring and to increase the lever arm of the line of action of the other piece about the second horizontal axis.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein one of the pieces is mounted on a lever pivotally mounted on the support about a second horizontal axis, the spring being pivotally mounted on the support and on the lever to urge the lever with a variable force along a variable first line of action depending upon the magnitude of said vertical displacement of the member, the other piece acting on the one piece along a second line of action such that the product of the force of the spring and separation of the first line of action about the second axis divided by the separation of the second line of action from the second axis remains constant during said vertical displacement of the member.

16. In a ski boot (1) binding device of the kind including a base (5) fastened to the upper face of a ski (2), a member (3) pivotally connected to the base (5) for pivoting at least in a plane parallel to the upper face of the ski about a vertical axis (8) and in a plane perpendicular to the upper face of the ski about a horizontal axis (6), and means cooperating for releasably holding said member (3) in operative position, one such means being provided on said base (5) and the other means being provided on said member (3), the means on said member being a hollow (14) and the means on said base being a projection (9) urged by means of a spring (11) into said hollow (14), and means for adjusting the bearing pressure of said spring (11), the improvement wherein said hollow (14) is shaped so that the maximum stress required to be exerted on said spring (11) to release said member (3) from its operative position when said member (3) is pivoted in a plane parallel to the upper face of the ski, remains unchanged in case said member (3) is simultaneously pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the upper face of the ski.

17. Device according to claim 16 wherein the surface of said hollow (14) is shaped in its vertical direction so that an increased stress is exerted on said spring (11) when said member (3) is pivoted vertically upwards and wherein the length of the profile along which said projection (9) has to travel horizontally to apply to said spring (11) the on pressure required for releasing said member (3) when the latter is pivoted either to the right or to the left, is progressively reduced in accordance with the increased pressure exerted member (3), said spring (11) during said simultaneous vertical displacement of said member (3), the angle (X) of the horizontal profile with a vertical median plane (P) of said hollow (14) remaining unchanged.

18. Device according to claim 16 wherein the surface of said hollow (14) is shaped in its vertical direction so that an increased stress is exerted on said spring (11) when said member (3) is pivoted vertically upwards and wherein the angle (X) which a vertical median plane (P) of said hollow (14), forms with the horizontal profile along which said projection (9) has to travel horizontally to apply to said spring (11) the maximum pressure required for releasing said member (3) when the latter is pivoted either to the right or to the left, is progressively increased in accordance with the increased pressure exerted on said spring (11) during such simultaneous vertical displacement of said member (3), the length of the profile itself remaining unchanged.

19. Device according to claim 16 wherein the surface of said hollow (14) has an outwardly curved profile in both vertical and horizontal directions, the curves compensating each other so that in the outer areas, left or right, of the horizontal profile, the maximum pressure, which said projection (9) has to apply to said spring (11) for releasing said member (3), remains unchanged whatever the simultaneous upwards displacement of said member (3) may be.