US3702194A - Sliding device for ski heel binding - Google Patents

Abstract

A SLIDING DEVICE FOR A SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING INCLUDES A BASE WITH A NUMBER OF EVENLY SPACED PROJECTIONS AND A WORN (A SHORT REVOLVING SCREW GEAR) CONNECTED TO A BODY OF THE SKI BINDING. THE END OF THE WORM IS PROVIDED WITH A GROOVE. WHEN THE WORM IS ROTATED, USING A SCREWDRIVER OR OTHER SUITABLE TOOL, BY MEANS OF THE GROOVE, THE WORM AS WELL AS THE SKI HEEL BINDING WILL MOVE FORWARD OR REARWARD BECAUSE OF THE WORM''S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PROJECTION ON THE BASE.

Description

NOV. 7, 1972 M|c|-|[Q"||ZUKA ETAL 3,762,194

SLIDING DEVICE FOR SKI HEEL BINDING Filed July 17, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 1972 M|CH|Q ZUKA ET AL 3,72,194

SLIDING DEVICE FOR SKI HEEL BINDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1970 United States Patent 3 702 194 SLIDING DEVICE FOR SKI HEEL BINDING Michio Iizuka, Tokyo, and Toshikazu Kikuchi, Ichikawa, Japan, assignors to Hope Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan Filed July 17, 1970, Ser. No. 55,632 Claims priority, application Japan, Jan. 12, 1970, 45/ 3,352 Int. Cl. A63c 9/00 US. Cl. 280-1135 T 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sliding device for a ski boot heel binding includes a base with a number of evenly spaced projections and a worm (a short revolving screw gear) connected to a body of the ski heel binding. The end of the worm is provided with a groove. When the worm is rotated, using a screwdriver or other suitable tool, by means of the groove, the worm as well as the ski heel binding will move forward or rearward because of the worms engagement with the projections on the base.

The present invention relates to ski equipment and more particularly to a sliding device for a ski boot heel binding.

Usually, a ski has fixed thereto so-called safety bindings which secure the ski boot to the ski during skiing. The binding grips the toe and the heel of the ski boot, the heel binding device being provided with a means which is slidable forward and rearward to adjust to the size of the boot.

As such sliding devices, various types are known. For example, in one type, the base of the ski heel binding includes, at its rear end, a vertical wall with a hole. A body slidable forward and rearward on the base is operatively connected to the base by means of a long adjusting screw. The screw is held stationary in the hole in the vertical wall of the base and is engaged with the rear end of the slidable body. When a knob on the adjusting screw is rotated, the body is moved forward or rearward to the desired position. However, in that type of device, the adjustment screw is relatively long in order to have space for adjustment. Therefore, the screw tends to be corroded or deformed, so that it may be useless while other parts of the binding are still operable.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide an improved sliding device for ski heel bindings which is extremely simple to manufacture and operate and which is protected from corrosion and deformation, and in which the worm may be easily rotated.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as further objectives and features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a ski heel binding having a sliding device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned side view of the ski heel binding shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ski heel binding having a sliding device of another embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side view in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pad.

Reference numeral indicates a narrow base which is fixed to the top of a ski by three fixing holes 12, 13, and 14 shown by dotted line in FIG. 1. A number of regularly spaced projections 11 (ridges) are formed on the flat surface of the rear portion of the base 10, substantially transversely across the base. Reference numeral 20 indicates the slidable body of a heel ski binding which is guided on the base 10. The body 20 of the ski heel binding is not described in detail, as it is not a part of the present invention. The rear portion of the body 20 includes a member for holding one end portion of a tubular bushing 22. The axis of the bushing 22 is parallel to the base 10. A worm 24 (short revolvable screw), having an integral shaft portion 23, is fitted into the hole of the bushing 22 so that the worm 24 may be rotatable about its axis but may not move laterally. The worm 24, when sfixed in place, with its shaft portion 23 within the hole of the bushing, meshes with the said projections 11 on the plate 10. The projections 11 are spaced apart slightly more than the width of the gear teeth of the worm 24. Between the worm 24 and the end of the bushing 22, a plate washer 25 is interposed. The end of the worm 24 is provided with a groove 26.

The body 20 may be slid forward or rearward on the plate 10 by rotating the worm 24. The worm 24 may be rotated by engaging a screwdriver or other suitable instrument within the groove 26. Preferably the projections 11 are formed integral with the other parts of the base 10, i.e., while the base is being stamped or cast or pressed from metal.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 the base 10 is provided with a longitudinally elongated hole 15 at the rear center end thereof and two smal holes 16 laterally spaced in front of the elongated hole 15. A pad 30 is interposed between the ski 40 and the base 10 as shown in FIG. 4. As is best shown in FIG. 5, the pad 30 is provided with a longitudinally elongated hole 31 which shape is the same as the elongated hole 15 in the base and two projections 32 to be snugly fitted in the small holes 16 in the base 10.

The pad 30 is made of synthetic resin, for example, ABS resin to be slidable relative to the upper surface of the ski 40 and is slightly increased in thickness toward the rear end of the ski so that the base 10 may be kept horizontal on the ski which is being slightly bent upward at the center portion thereof to possess an elasticity. A screw 17 which head is larger in diameter than the transverse length of the elongated hole 15 passes through the elongated holes 15 and 31 in the base 10 and the pad 30, respectively, and engaged in the ski 40. The rear end of the base 10 is so engaged to the ski 40 that, when the ski is bent up and down in skiing, the rear end of the base 10 as well as the pad 30 can be moved within the range of the elongated holes 15 and 31, keeping the base 10 horizontal at any time.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a screw 27 is threaded through the bush 22 at right angles relative to the axis 23 of the worm 24 and locks the worm when engaged with the axis 23 to prevent the worm from loosening while skiing.

As described hereinbefore, the present invention relates to a sliding device for a ski heel binding, the body 20 of which is fixed on the upper surface of a ski. The said base 10 is, in its rear fiat surface, provided wtih a number of regularly spaced projections 11 aligned in the lengthwise direction thereof. The said body 20 has, on the rear portion thereof, a member 21 for holding one end portion of a bushing 22 with the axis of the bushing hole being parallel to the base 10. A worm 24 has its smooth shaft portion 23 fitted into the hole of the bushing 22 with its shaft end peened over to retain the shaft portion 23 in the bushing hole. The worm rotates about its axis and will not move laterally. The gear teeth of worm 24 mesh with the projections 11 and a plate washer 25 is interposed between the said worm 24 and one end of the bushing 22.

Such a construction is advantageous in that a number of regularly spaced projections 11 aligned on the rear flat surface of the base 10 may be formed under pressure integral with other parts of the base 10, the projections will not be deformed even if some pressure is applied to them, and they may be integrally formed so as to be extremely resistant to corrosion. The worm 24, which is overhung from the rear portion of the body 20, and the shaft integral with the worm, may be formed integrally in a small size and have trouble-free rotation. Accordingly, the assembly is extremely simple and protected from corrosion and deformation.

Furthermore, the insertion of the pad 30 between the base and the ski 40 in such a manner as disclosed with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 will keep the base horizontal at any time, thereby preventing the engagement of the worm 24 with the projections 11 from being disengaged.

In addition, the worm will not be rotated about its axis by vibration, or other accidental movement, to dislocate the body as the screw 27 locks the worm.

What is claimed is: 1. A sliding device for a ski heel binding comprising a base and a body, the base being adapted to be attached to the upper surface of a ski and provided at the rear portion thereof with a plurality of projections aligned at fixed intervals substantially transversely across said base, the body of the ski heel binding being slidable along the lengthwise direction of the base, a bushing fixed to said body with the axis of the bushing hole being parallel to said base, and a worm having a shaft portion having an axis of rotation, said shaft portion being secured within the hole of the bushing and rotatable therein while prevented from moving laterally, said worm having means to be rotated, wherein said worm engages with said projections of the base, further comprising a pad interposed between the base and the ski to keep the base horizontal at.

any timefsaid pad being fixed to the base but slidably in contact with the upper surface of the ski, and wherein the base is provided at the rear end thereof with a longitudinally elongated hole and two laterally spaced holes in front of said elongated hole, the pad is provided with a longitudinally elongated hole and two projections snugly fitted in said holes in the base, and a screw passes through these elongated holes in the base and the pad and is engaged with the ski.

2. A sliding device for a ski heel binding comprising a base and a body, the base being adapted to be attached to the upper surface of a ski and provided at the rear portion thereof with a plurality of projections aligned at fixed intervals substantially transversely across said base, the body of the ski heel binding being slidable along the lengthwise direction of the base, a bushing fixed to said body with the axis of the bushing hole being parallel to said base, and a worm having a shaft portion having an axis of rotation, said shaft portion being secured within UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1967 Reuge 2801l.35 T 3/1969 Suhner 2801l.35 T

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner R. R. SONG, Assistant Examiner

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