US3722902A

US3722902A - Toe iron for safety ski bindings

Info

Publication number: US3722902A
Application number: US00081702A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Marker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Marker International Co
Priority date: 1969-11-11
Filing date: 1970-10-19
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27
Also published as: ES192992Y; AT305105B; JPS5016978B1; AT313134B; FR2069254A5; ATA986973A; AT326539B; FR2252109A1; CH522415A; ES192992U; US3776568A; DE1956653A1; DE2453430A1; FR2252109B1

Abstract

A pivoted member carries a sole holder carrier and is pivotally movable from its normal position against the force of at least one spring about a pivot pin which is at right angles to the surface of the ski. The pivot pin is held on at least one toe iron part which is fixed to the ski. The pivot pin is adjustable relative to the pivoted member in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron.

Description

United States Patent 1 Marker 1 Mar. 27, 1973 54 TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS 3,462,165 8/1969 Brunner ..280/l 1.35 T [76] Inventor: g g zzinzgi g fi s 51-53 Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia a a y Assistant ExaminerRobert R. Song [22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1970 Attorney-Fleit, Gipple & Jacobson [21] Appl. No.: 81,702 [57] ABSTRACT A pivoted member carries a sole holder carrier and is [30] Forelgn Apphcamm Pnomy Data pivotally movable from its normal position against the Nov. 11, 1969 Germany ..P 19 56 653.1 force of at least one spring about a pivot pin which is at right angles to the surface of the ski. The pivot pin [52] US. Cl. ..280/ll.35 T is held on at least one toe iron part which is fixed to [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 9/00 the ski. The pivot pin is adjustable relative to the [58] Field of Search ..280/1l.35 T pivoted member in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron.

[56] References Cited 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,406,981 10/1968 Schieb ..280/ll.35 T

6 27 8 7 i 19 1e 3 25 23 2 1! I 1\ 2 l l l m 71 Z8 5 l. 29 l 9 1mm; 1 s 9 Patented March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI Hermes Marker tOYfl Fig.2

Paten ted March 27, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented March 27, 1973 H 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS The present invention relates to toe irons for safety ski bindings, which toe irons comprise a pivoted member, which carries a soleholder carrier and which is pivotally movable from its normal position against the force of at least one spring about a pivot pin which is at right angles to the surface of the ski.

Compared to those toe irons which are releasably locked to the baseplate, such known toe irons have the advantage that they move through an elastic zone before reaching the release position so that they are not sensitive to shock. An important disadvantage of these toe irons resides in that the release hardness (force required for a release) is changed by a change of the initial stress of the spring. A tool is generally required for this operation as the springs present a high resistance to an increase of their initial stress because they must be relatively strong to ensure a certain minimum release hardness. Besides, a change of the initial stress of the spring changes also the resistance against an outward pivotal movement at the beginning of the elastic zone. This has the great disadvantage that, e.g., a toe iron set to a low release hardness will hold the skiing boot in its normal position on the ski less firmly than a toe iron set to a high release hardness. This is not desired for the sake of an exact and reliable control of the ski.

In another toe iron of the kind described first hereinbefore, the release hardness can be changed in that a spring extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron to change the lever arm acted upon by the spring force rather than the initial stress of the spring. That toe iron is known only from a printed publication. Whereas it is free of the disadvantage of the toe irons mentioned hereinbefore that a change of the release hardness changes also the force by which the skiing boot is held in its normal position, the toe iron has an expensive and relatively complex structure so that the manufacturing costs of the toe iron and its liability to be deranged are much increased. It is probably due to this structural expenditure that the toe iron has not become accepted in practice. Besides, an effort is required to change the release hardness of this toe iron and there is a relatively high risk that the spring may become seized as it is displaced because the ends of the spring and the elements supporting the same may dig into the material of the spring abutments during the movement of the spring.

It is an object of the present invention so to improve and design a toe iron of the kind described first hereinbefore that the disadvantages of the known toe irons of this kind are avoided in a simple manner.

In a toe iron for safety ski bindings, which toe iron comprises a pivoted member, which carries a soleholder carrier and which is pivotally movable from its normal position against the force of at least one spring about a pivot pin which is at right angles to the surface of the ski, the above object is accomplished according to the invention in that the pivot pin is held on at least one toe iron part which is fixed to the ski and the pivot pin is adjustable relative to the pivoted member in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. This structurally simple arrangement enables a change of the force required for a release by a change of the lever arm acted upon by the spring force. The resistance to an outward pivotal movement at the beginning of the elastic zone remains at least approximately constant because the initial stress of the spring is not changed. Besides, the force required for a release can be changed almost without an effort.

It has proved desirable to arrange the lower end of the pivot pin to be guided in a slot, which is formed in a baseplate and extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. To improve the guidance of the toe iron, the upper end of the pivot pin may also be guided in a slot, which is formed in the top wall of a housing and extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron.

In a structural development of the toe iron according to the invention, a simple device for indicating the release hardness is provided in that that end of the pivot pin which is guided in the slot of the top wall of the housing serves as a pointer of the indicating device whereas the scale of said device is provided along a longitudinal edge of the slot.

The pivoted member is desirably provided with a slot, through which the pivot pin extends and which in the normal position of the pivoted member extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. Alternatively, the pivot pin may be provided with a transverse bore and the pivoted member may comprise an arm, which extends through said transverse bore and which in the normal position of the pivoted member extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron.

In a further structural development of the invention, a horizontal threaded stud may be secured to the pivot pin, which stud extends forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and carries at its free end a nut, which is rotatably and axially nondisplaceably held between the end wall of the housing and a vertically upwardly extending lug of the baseplate.

It has proved particularly desirable to provide a prestressed spring bracked, which is pivoted to the pivoted member and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and consists of a U- shaped member having a web which engages the pivoted member from below, two headed bolts having shanks which extend outwardly through bores in the legs of the U-shaped member, and a prestressed helical compression spring, which extends between the legs of the U-shaped member and with its ends bears on the heads of the headed bolts. This arrangement will much facilitate the assembling of the toe iron.

To hold the pivoted member and the soleholder carrier against a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron, the baseplate is suitably provided with a vertically upwardly extending stop, which is engaged by the web of the U-shaped member on that side thereof which is remote from the pivot pin, and the soleholder carrier is pivoted to the pivoted member and by means of freely rotatable rollers bears on tracks provided on the baseplate and/or the housing.

Another feature of the present invention can be advantageously embodied particularly in the toe iron described hereinbefore and resides in that a soleholder is provided, which is held on the soleholder carrier by means of a cam slot to be movable vertically upwardly against the force of at least one return spring and is also pivoted to the soleholder carrier by means of a horizontal transverse pivot, said soleholder has a lower surface, which in the normal position of the soleholder engages at least one supporting surface of the soleholder ca'rrier, and the top part of the soleholder bears on the soleholder carrier by means of a locking arm, which holds the soleholder against a pivotal movement in its normal position. In this arrangement, the soleholder can swing upwardly to release the skiing boot in response to a vertical load, such as is applied, e.g., during a rearward fall of the skier.

It has proved desirable to provide the cam slot in the form of an at least approximately vertical slot in the soleholder carrier and to arrange the pivot connected to the soleholder so that said pivot extends through said slot and normally engages the lower end thereof and is movable upwardly in the slot against the force of the return spring or return springs. Alternatively, the cam slot may consist of at least one aperture in the soleholder and the pivot may be immovably mounted in the soleholder carrier and may normally engage the upper end of the aperture in the soleholder and permit of a radial movement thereof against the force of the return spring or return springs.

To enable an elastic upward deflection of the soleholder so that the same is insensitive to shock, the locking arm may bear in the normal position of the soleholder against a camlike extension, which is formed on the soleholder carrier and extends toward the rear end of the ski. If the cam is properly designed, this arrangement will ensure that the ski follows at least approximately a pivotal movement of the soleholder. Besides, the soleholder may be arranged to described such a path during its upward pivotal movement that this movement will increase the stress of the contact pressure spring acting on the heel to urge the skiing boot against the toe iron. In this case, a weak return spring will be sufficient.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully and by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a toe iron according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the toe iron with a part of'the housing being cut open so that the understanding of the mechanism will be facilitated.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the toe iron of FIG. 2 with the soleholder carrier in the instantaneous position immediately before the release.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the toe iron of FIG. 2 with the soleholder carrier in release position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the toe iron with the soleholder in its normal position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5 and shows the toe iron with the soleholder in its normal position.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a toe iron in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the toe iron according to FIG. 7 in elevation, partly in a central longitudinal sectional view, with the soleholder in normal position.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view which is similar to FIG. 8 but shows the soleholder in a vertical release position.

The toe iron shown in FIGS. l-6 comprises a baseplate l, which is adapted to be connected, e.g., by screws, to the ski and is provided for this purpose with two screw holes 2 (see FIGS. 2-4). The baseplate 1 comprises a slot 3, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and which receives the lower end of a pivot pin 4, the axis of which extends at right angles to the baseplate 1 (see FIG. 1). The pivot pin 4 is guided at its other or top end in a suitable longitudinal groove 5 formed in the top wall of a housing 6, which by suitable means, not shown, is secured to the baseplate l. The top wall of the housing is formed with a slot 7, which is coaxial with the longitudinal groove 5 and receives an extension 8 of the pivot pin 4. A threaded stud 9 is secured to the pivot pin 4 and extends at right angles thereto in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and at its free end carries a nut 10, which is rotatably and axially non-displaceably held between an upturned lug ll of the baseplate 1 (see FIG. 1) and the end wall of the housing 6.

That portion of the nut 10 which extends outside of the housing 6 consists of a handle. A rotation of the nut 10 causes the threaded stud 9 to displace the pivot pin 4 in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. The extension 8 indicates the respective position of the pivot pin 4 at a scale 12, which is provided along one edge of the slot 7, which forms a sight opening (see FIGS. 2-4).

A pivoted member 13 is mounted on the pivot pin 4 below the threaded stud 9 and for this purpose has a slot 14 (see FIG. 1), which in its location and dimensions corresponds to the slot 3 in the baseplate l and the longitudinal groove 5 in the housing 6. The pivot pin 4 is provided with a collar 15, which forms a thrust bearing supporting the pivoted member 13 and prevents a loss of the pivot pin 4 when the toe iron is not mounted on the ski.

A U-shaped member 16 is pivoted by a rivet 17 to the pivoted member 13 and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. The member 16 comprises a web, which engages the pivoted member 13 from below, and also comprises upwardly extending legs. Each leg of the U-shaped member 16 is provided with a bore. Two bolts 18 extend through these bores and have heads, which are disposed inside the U- shaped member 16 and serve as spring abutments for a prestressed helical compression spring 19. In the normal position of the spring bracket formed by parts 16 to 19, the free ends of the headed bolts bear on two upturned lugs 20 of the baseplate l. The lugs 20 serve at the same time as means for centering the housing 6. For this purpose, the side walls of the housing are formed with recesses 21 (see FIGS. 2-4). That side of the web of the U-shaped member 16 which is remote from the pivot pin engages a stop 22, which has been turned up from the baseplate (see FIG. 1).

A soleholder carrier 23 is pivoted by a pin 24 to the rear end of the pivoted member 13, which is somewhat offset upwardly and extends through an opening outof the housing. In its normal position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the soleholder carrier 23 bears on rearwardly extending extensions 27 of the baseplate 1 and the housing 6 with four rollers 25, which are rotatably mounted on the soleholder carrier 23 by means of two axles 26 (see FIGS. 2-4). The stop 22 and the extensions 27 of the baseplate l and the housing 6 hold the pivoted member 13 and the soleholder carrier 23 against a movement in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. The soleholder 28 is secured to the soleholder carrier 23 by means which will be described more fully hereinafter.

When the soleholder 28 is acted upon by a force in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, e.g., an upwardly directed force in FIGS. 2-4, and this force overcomes the spring force of the spring block 16-19, the pivoted member 13 rotates about the pivot pin 4 and the rollers 25 which support the soleholder carrier 23 roll along the tracks formed by the sides of the extensions 27 of'the baseplate 1 and the housing 6 so that the soleholder carrier rotates relative to the pivoted member 13, as is shown in FIG. 3. The tracks are designed so that the soleholder carrier 23 and the soleholder 28 move along an arc which is centered on a point coinciding at least approximately with the axis of rotation of the skiing boot on the ski.

The U-shaped member 16 of the spring bracket follows a pivotal movement of the pivoted member 13 so that the leading leg is displaced on the shank of the corresponding headed bolt 18, which bears on one lug of the baseplate 1. This movement reduces the distance between the two heads of the headed bolts 18 and increases the stress of the helical compression spring 19 (see FIG. 3). Because the web of the U-shaped member 16 engages the stop 22 of the baseplate 1 and is rotatably mounted on the pivoted member 13, the spring bracket will extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron also during a deflection. Upon a decrease of the force applied by the skiing boot to the soleholder 28, the spring bracket 16-19 returns the pivoted member 13 and the soleholder 28 to their initial position.

When a force which exceeds the force required for a release acts on the soleholder 28 not only as a shock, the soleholder 28 will also perform initially the movement just described until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the leading bearing rollers 25 contact the outermost ends of the tracks formed on the respective extensions 27. Upon a continued movement of the soleholder 28, these bearing rollers 25 disengage the tracks and roll forwardly along the outsides of the extensions 27 so that the soleholder carrier 23 tilts outwardly and the soleholder 28 .releases the toe portion of the skiing boot, as is shown in FIG. 4. When the skiing boot has been released, the spring bracket 16-19 automatically returns the soleholder 28 to its initial position.

To change the force required for a release, the nut 10 is actuated so that the pivot pin 4 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and the lever arm is changed which is acted upon by the spring force of the spring bracket. To change the force required for a release, it is sufficient to overcome the small bearing friction of the pivot pin 4 and the friction of the adjusting nut 10.

To enable a release of the skiing boot from the toe iron also in response to a rearward fall of the skier, the soleholder 28 can perform an upward pivotal movement relative to the soleholder carrier 23 in response to a corresponding loading. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 (see particularly FIGS. 5 and 6), the soleholder carrier 23 is formed with a vertically upwardly extending slot 29, which extends through the soleholder carrier 23 in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron. A pivot 30 extends through the slot 29 and by two helical compression springs 31 is normally held at the lower end of the slot 29. The helical compression springs 31 bear at one end on the pivot 30 and at their other end on the bottom of two vertical blind holes, which extend into the soleholder carrier from below. Two forwardly extending arms 33 of the soleholder 28 are rotatably mounted on the pivot 30 and extend into the soleholder carrier 23 through two apertures formed in the latter. When the soleholder 28 is in a normal position relative to the soleholder carrier 23, the arms 33 at their underside engage the lower boundary surfaces of the apertures to prevent a downward pivotal movement of the soleholder 28. To prevent an upward pivotal movement of the soleholder 28 in the normal position thereof, the soleholder 28 is provided with a locking or follower arm 34, which bears on the underside of a cam 35, which is provided on the rear wall of the soleholder carrier and extends toward the rear end of the ski.

The slot 29 permits of an upward movement of the soleholder 28 when the same is subjected by a vertically upwardly extending force which overcomes the spring force of the helical compression springs 31. During this operation, the follower arm 34 is constrained to slide over the cam 35 so that the soleholder 28 is moved along an are which is centered on a point which coincides at least approximately with the axis of rotation of the skiing boot on the ski, which axis extends at the rear edge of the heel. Upon a decrease of the force, the helical compression springs 31 force the soleholder 28 back to its initial position. The cam 35 may be designed to constrain the soleholder 28 to perform a movement which is transmitted by the skiing boot to the contact pressure spring which urges the skiing boot against the toe iron; this movement increases the stress of said spring. In this case, the return spring 31 may be very weak because the contact pressure spring will return the soleholder 28 to its initial position.

If the soleholder is subjected to an upwardly directed force, such as occurs, e.g., during a rearward fall of the skier, and said forceacts not only as a shock, so that it would endanger the leg of the skier, the soleholder will initially perform the just described movement until the follower arm 34 has reached the rear apex of the cam 35. As the movement of the soleholder 28 is continued, the follower arm 34 disengages the cam 35 so that the soleholder performs a forward pivotal movement about the pivot 30 and the toe portion of the skiing boot is released. Thereafter, the soleholder is automatically returned to its normal position by the return springs 31.

FIGS. 7-9 show another embodiment of the connection between a soleholder 43 and the soleholder carrier 23. This embodiment differs from the first in that a pivot 36 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron is immovably held in the soleholder carrier 23. The legs of a U-shaped member 37 are mounted on the end portions of the pivot 36, which end portions extend laterally from the soleholder carrier 23. Each of these legs is formed with a substantially triangular aperture 38 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). When the U-shaped member 37 is in its normal position, shown in FIG. 8, the pivot 36 engages the upper end of the aperture 38, which constitutes a cam slot, and the lower edges of the limbs of the U-shaped member 37 bear on respective steps 39, which are provided on the sides of the soleholder carrier 23. An expanding spring 40 non-rotatably mounted on the pivot 36 in the soleholder carrier comprises a U-shaped spring arm 41,

which extends outwardly through apertures in the soleholder carrier and applies pressure to the web of the U-shaped member 37, which for this purpose has an aperture 42 and is thus held in its normal position. The soleholder 43 is a casting, in which the U-shaped member 37 is embedded. Just as in the first embodiment, the soleholder is provided with a follower arm 34, which bears on the underside of a cam 35, which is provided on the rear wall of the soleholder carrier 23 and extends toward the rear end of the ski.

To enable an adjustment of the toe iron to soles having different thicknesses, a vertically adjustable holding-down member 44 is secured to the soleholder 43. A screw 45 extends through the holding-down member 44 and through a vertical slot 46 in the soleholder 43 and is threaded into a square nut 47, which is nonrotatably held in a longitudinal groove 48, which is parallel to the slot 46. When the screw 45 is somewhat loosened, the holding-down member 44 can be vertically displaced relative to the soleholder 43. The tightening of the screw results in an interengagement of serrations 49 formed on the soleholder 43 and the holding-down member 44 to prevent this movement. In the preceding embodiment, the soleholder may also consist of two parts for vertical adjustment.

The toe iron shown in FIGS. 7-9 has basically the same operation as that of the toe iron first described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. In this case too, the soleholder 43 can move upwardly and perform a forward pivotal movement relative to the soleholder carrier 23 in response to a sufficiently large, upwardly directed force acting on the soleholder. The difference resides only in that the pivot 36 is rigidly held in the soleholder carrier 23 and the movement of the soleholder is enabled by the cam slots 38 in the legs of its U-shaped member 37.

What is claimed is:

l. A toe iron for safety ski bindings comprising a pivoted member, a soleholder carrier carried by the pivoted member, at least one spring cooperating with the pivoted member, a pivot pin at right angles to the surface of the ski, a toe iron part adapted to be fixed to the ski, said at least one spring being mounted in a longitudinally fixed position relative to the toe iron part, means for mounting the pivot pin to the toe iron part such that said pivot pin is adjustable relative to the toe iron part and to the pivoted member in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron, and means for mounting the pivoted member such that it is pivotally movable from its rest' position against the force of the spring and about the pivot pin.

2. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the toe iron part includes a baseplate and wherein a slot is formed in said baseplate and extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and wherein the lower end of the pivot pin is guided in the slot.

3. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the toe iron part includes a top wall and wherein a slot is formed in said top wall and extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and wherein the upper end of the pivot pin is guided in the slot.

4. A toe iron according to claim 3, wherein the toe iron includes an indicating device and wherein the end of the pivot pin which is guided in the slot in the top wall of the toe iron part serves as the pointer of said indicating device for indicating the set release hardness,

and wherein the scale of said indicating device is provided along the longitudinal edge of said slot.

5. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the pivoted member has a slot through which the pivot pin extends and wherein said slot in the normal position of the pivoted member extends in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron.

6. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the toe iron part includes an end wall and a baseplate having a vertically upward extending lug and wherein a horizontal threaded stud is secured to the pivot pin and extends forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron and wherein a nut is carried by the free end of the stud and is rotatably and axially nondisplaceably held between said end wall of the toe iron part and said vertically upward extending lug of the baseplate.

7. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the toe iron part includes a baseplate having two upturned lugs and wherein a prestressed spring bracket is pivoted to the pivoted member and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toe iron part and consists of a U-shaped member having a web which engages the pivoted member from below and legs each provided with a bore, and wherein two headed bolts having shanks extend outwardly through said bores in the legs of the U-shaped member and engage said upturned lugs of the baseplate when the spring bracket is in its normal position and a prestressed helical compression spring extending between the legs of the U-shaped member and having its ends bearing on the heads of the headed bolts.

8. A toe iron according to claim 7, wherein the toe iron part includes tracks formed by extensions of the toe iron part and wherein the baseplate of the toe iron part is provided with a vertically upwardly extending stop which is engaged by the web of the U-shaped member on that side thereof which is remote from the pivot pin, and wherein the soleholder carrier is pivoted to the pivoted member and has freely rotatable rollers which'bear on said tracks.

t i i i i

Claims

1. A toe iron for safety ski bindings comprising a pivoted member, a soleholder carrier carried by the pivoted member, at least one spring cooperating with the pivoted member, a pivot pin at right angles to the surface of the ski, a toe iron part adapted to be fixed to the ski, said at least one spring being mounted in a longitudinally fixed position relative to the toe iron part, means for mounting the pivot pin to the toe iron part such that said pivot pin is adjustable relative to the toe iron part and to the Pivoted member in the longitudinal direction of the toe iron, and means for mounting the pivoted member such that it is pivotally movable from its rest position against the force of the spring and about the pivot pin.

4. A toe iron according to claim 3, wherein the toe iron includes an indicating device and wherein the end of the pivot pin which is guided in the slot in the top wall of the toe iron part serves as the pointer of said indicating device for indicating the set release hardness, and wherein the scale of said indicating device is provided along the longitudinal edge of said slot.

8. A toe iron according to claim 7, wherein the toe iron part includes tracks formed by extensions of the toe iron part and wherein the baseplate of the toe iron part is provided with a vertically upwardly extending stop which is engaged by the web of the U-shaped member on that side thereof which is remote from the pivot pin, and wherein the soleholder carrier is pivoted to the pivoted member and has freely rotatable rollers which bear on said tracks.