US3801120A

US3801120A - Supporting device of a ski safety binding

Info

Publication number: US3801120A
Application number: US00216998A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Sittmann
Original assignee: Vereinigte Baubeschlag - Fabriken Gretsch and Co GmbH
Current assignee: Vereinigte Baubeschlag - Fabriken Gretsch and Co GmbH
Priority date: 1970-02-07
Filing date: 1972-01-11
Publication date: 1974-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-02
Also published as: FR2144790A2; DE2005664A1; CA958438A; DE2063359B2; CH547651A; DE2133267A1; DE2133267C3; US3850438A; CH546590A; FR2144790B2; DE2133267B2; AT321797B; DE2214346A1; DE2101581A1; AT312475B; FR2078172A5; CH547650A; AT320488B; US3794337A; DE2063359A1

Abstract

A releasable supporting device of a ski safety binding, especially a front jaw, comprising a locking element in the form of a rolling element which is supported on a surface consisting of a plastic, for example, of Teflon or the like, which has a low coefficient of friction. Furthermore, the supporting element, for example, the front jaw, may be rotatably mounted on a pivot pin and between these parts a bushing of a similar plastic may be interposed. The supporting element may be further provided with rollers for centrally supporting the front end of a ski boot and for reducing the friction between the boot and this element when the latter is being released from the boot.

Description

United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,801,120

Sittmann Apr. 2, 1974 4] SUPPORTING DEVICE OF A SKI SAFETY 3,194,574 7/1965 Beyl 280/ll.35 T BINDING 3,348,855 10/1967 Marker 280/] 1.35 T

[75] Inventor: grigltte SIttmann, Stuttgart, Primary Examiner Robert R g ermany Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig and Antonelli [73] Assignee: Vereinigte Baubeschlagfabriken Gretsch & C0. GmbH 57 R C [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1972 A releasable supporting device of a ski safety binding, especially a front jaw, comprising a locking element in [21] Appl' 216998 the form of a rolling element which is supported on a surface consisting of a plastic, for example, of Teflon [30] Foreign Application Priority Data or the like, which has a low coefficient of friction. Jan. 14, 1971 Germany 2101581 Furthermore, the Supporting element, p the front jaw, may be rotatably mounted on a pivot pin [52] US. Cl 280/11.35 T and between ese p r a bushing of a similar plastic [51] Int. Cl. A63c 9/08 y be interposed- The Supporting element y be [58] Field of Search 280/11.35 T further provided i h r l rs for centrally supporting the front end of a ski boot and for reducing the fric- 5 R f n e Cited tion between the boot and this element when the latter iS being released from the boot.

3,689,095 9/1972 Salomon 280/1 1.35 T 18 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SUPPORTING DEVICE OF A SKI SAFETY BINDING The present invention relates to a supporting device of a ski safety binding which comprises at least one boot supporting element which is adapted to be locked to and released from a ski boot and preferably consists of a front jaw which is adapted to support the front end of a ski boot and is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, and a locking device for the boot supporting element which comprises a rolling element, preferably a roller, which normally interengages with an associated locking cam, for example, by projecting into a V-shaped locking recess in this cam, and is prevented by a supporting member from yielding in lateral directions.

The present invention is based upon finding that the release of such a locking device is considerably restrained by the manner of mounting the rolling element on its supporting member. For rolling this rolling element along the locking cam, it is necessary to mount this element so as to be rotatable within its supporting member. Such a rotary movement is, however, restrained by the friction which occurs between the rolling element and its supporting member and the amount of which depends upon the locking pressure which is exerted by the supporting member upon this rolling element.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate this disadvantage and to provide suitable means for insuring that the rolling element will be released from the locking recess or the like as easily as possible. An important feature of the invention accordingly consists in providing the supporting member of the rolling element on the side facing the latter with a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction which preferably con-sists of a plastic known under the trade mark Teflon.

This gliding surface has a shape substantially corresponding to that of the section of the outer surface of the rolling element with which it engages and it is preferably provided on and integral with a cup-shaped insert which is mounted on the supporting member.

The supporting member itself perferably consists of a pistonlike element which is acted upon by spring means so as to press the rolling element against the locking cam and into the locking recess thereof. For further insuring that the rolling element will properly disengage from this locking recess and for reducing the tendency of the pistonlike element to tilt during the disengaging movement of the rolling element from the locking recess, the invention further provides that the guide or gliding surface of this pistonlike element within the supporting jaw is extended as far as possible toward the locking cam which preferably consists of a vertical pivot pin which is rigidly secured to the ski and around which the supporting jaw is pivotable.

Another feature of the invention for further reducing the friction occurring during the disengaging movement of the rolling element from the locking recess and the subsequent pivoting movement of the supporting jaw about the pivot pin which is rigidly secured to the ski consists in providing a layer of a material of a low coefficient of friction, for example, of Teflon," between the pivot pin and the bearing surface of the supporting jaw which is rotatable around this pivot pin.

Still another feature of the invention for reducing the friction of the supporting jaw on the ski boot which occurs when this jaw is being pivoted so as to release the boot from the jaw consists in the provision of supporting rollers which are rotatably mounted on the supporting jaw and on which the ski boot may roll in the event of a fall of the skier.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a front jaw which is pivotable about a vertical axis and is partly shown in section which is taken along the line 1 3 of FIG. 2; while FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1, also shown partly in section which is taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, a base plate 11 or the like is rigidly secured to a ski l0 and carries rigidly thereon a pivot pin 12 of a relatively large diameter on which a supporting jaw 13 is pivotably mounted. This supporting jaw 13 which may consist of one or several parts is normally arrested by a locking device 14 in the position as shown in FIG. 2 in which its central axis extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski 10. This locking device comprises a compression spring 15 which by means of a piston 16 presses a locking roller 17 toward the pivot pin 12 and into a locking recess 18 which is provided in the outer peripheral surface of this pin and may have, for example, a substantially V- shaped cross section. Thus, jaw 13 is capable of turning about the axis of pivot pin 12 only when and after the locking roller 17 is forced out of its locking recess 18 against the action of spring 15.

The end of spring 15 which is opposite to the end facing the pivot pin 12 but is not shown in the drawings acts upon a front part of jaw 13 or, for example, upon a setscrew or the like which is screwed into the jaw and permits the strength of spring 15 to be adjusted.

Jaw 13 is further provided with a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting

jaw arms

19 and 20 on which the front part of a ski boot 21 may be supported which is indicated in FIG. 2 by a dot-and-dash line. In the particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated, these

jaw arms

19 and 20 are integral with the main body of jaw 13. They may, however, also form separate parts which may be connected to the main body of jaw 13 or be adjustable thereon, for example, by being pivotable about vertical axes. For further supporting the front part of the ski boot 21, a pair of

rollers

22 and 23 are provided between the two

jaw arms

19 and 20. These rollers are rotatably mounted on a rocker 24 which is pivotably mounted on a pin 25 which may be adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski and the axis of which extends vertically to the upper surface of the ski.

For adjusting the jaw 13 in a vertical direction to different heights above the ski, the vertical pivot pin 12 is provided with central bore into the upper tapped part of which a bolt 226 may be screwed. This bolt 226 is rotatably connected to the jaw 13, for example, by a crosspin 226a which engages into an annular groove in the head of bolt 226 and also prevents the bolt from shifting in its axial direction relative to the jaw 13.

The locking roller 17 is pressed by the force F of spring 15 into the locking recess 18 of the large pivot pin 12. If due to, for example, a twisting fall of the skier a lateral force acts upon the jaw 13 which tends to pivot the latter in the direction of the arrow 2 about the axis of pivot pin 12, a force P will be exerted upon the lockroll easily along the respective side wall of the locking recess 18 and subsequently along the peripheral surface of pivot pin 12, the present invention provides a cup-shaped insert 227 which consists of a material which has a low coefficient of friction, for example, of a plastic such as Teflon. This insert 227 is mounted in a recess in the locking piston 16 and has an inner bearing surface 227a of a radius substantially corresponding to that of the outer surface of roller 17. Thus, under the action of the force P upon roller 17, this roller may easily rotate within the insert 227 along the bearing surface 227a thereof since the friction which might occur between roller 17 and this bearing surface will only amount to a small fraction of the friction which would occur if the locking roller 17 would be rotatable in and engage directly with the metallic piston v16.

The locking piston 16 is further provided at both sides of roller 17 with guiding extensions 228 for increasing the length of the outer guiding surface of piston 16 as much as possible so as to counteract the tendency of piston 16 to tilt under the effect of the force P.

For further reducing the friction between jaw 13 and pivot pin 12, a bushing 229 is interposed between these two parts which likewise consists of a material like Teflon which has a low coefficient of friction. This bushing 229 is provided with a cutout through which the locking roller 17 projects into the locking recess 18. If desired, this cutout in bushing 229 may be made of such a width that the guiding extensions 228 of the locking piston 16 may be made ofa greater length than shown in H0. 2 and project nearly up to the peripheral surface of pivot pin 12.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Thus the invention is not limited to releasable front jaws of ski bindings but is also applicable to other releasable supporting means of ski bindings, for example, to laterally releasable sole plates or the like.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

1. A supporting device for ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part; and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient 2. A supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said first part has an aperture, and further comprising a pistonlike member slidably mounted in said aperture and acted upon by said resilient means, said supporting means being mounted on said pistonlike member.

3. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said first part being provided with an aperture, a piston like member slidably mounted in said aperture and acted upon by said resilient means, said supporting means being mounted on said piston like member, the end of said pistonlike member facing said rolling element having a recess, said supporting means forming an insert mounted within said recess.

4. A supporting device for a ski safety'binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means to that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking meansagainst the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said supporting means consisting of an insert in said first part made of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction.

5. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts,associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement withsaid locking means so that,

if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said supporting means including an insert in said first part made of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction, said insert having a cup-shaped recess forming said gliding surface and adapted to receive a part of said locking member.

6. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, said first part being provided with an aperture therein, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, and a pistonlike member slidably mounted in said aperture and acted upon by said resilient means, said supporting means being mounted on said pistonlike member, and said pistonlike element being provided with extensions at both sides of said rolling element projecting to points closely adjacent to said stationary part.

7. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associate d locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rol ing element is adapted to slide, said relatively stationary part forming said second part comprising a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, said part movable relative to said stationary part forming said first part and comprising a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, said locking means forming a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin.

8. A supporting device as defined in claim 7, further comprising bushing means of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction interposed between said outer surface of said pivot pin and said jaw to permit said jaw to rotate easily about said pivot pin.

9. A supporting device as defined in claim 8, further comprising roller means adapted to abut against a ski boot for supporting the same, and means for rotatably mounting said roller means on said supporting jaw.

10. A supporting device as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting jaw in the axial direction along said pivot pin for varying the height of said jaw from the upper surface of said ski.

l l. A supporting device as defined in claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting jaw together with said bushing means in the axial direction along said pivot pin for varying the height of said jaw and bushing means from the upper surface of said ski.

12. A supporting device as defined in claim 7, further comprising roller means adapted to abut against a ski boot for supporting the same, and means for rotatably mounting said roller means on said supporting jaw.

13. A supporting device as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting the position of said roller means on said supporting jaw relative to a ski boot.

14. A supporting device as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting jaw in the axial direction along said pivot pin for varying the height of said jaw from the upper surface of said ski.

15. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a first relatively stationary part inclucing a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, a second part movable relative to said stationary part including a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, said second part has an aperture, means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a.locking member forming a rolling element on said second part and rotatable relative to said first part, associated locking means on said first part including a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said second part ana having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, bushing means of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction interposed between said outer surface of said pivot pin and said jaw to permit said jaw to rotate easily about said pivot pin, and a pistonlike member in said aperture and slidable along the wall thereof and acted upon by said resilient means, said pistonlike member having guide extensions at both sides'of said rolling element and of said locking recess and projecting to points closely adjacent to said bushing means, said bushing means being secured to said pivot pin.

16. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a first relatively stationary part including a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, a second part movable relative to said stationary part including a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on said second part and rotatable relative to said first part, associated locking means on said first part including a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means,supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said second part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, roller means adapted to abut against a ski boot for supporting the same, and means for rotatably mounting said roller means on said suporting jaw, said roller means including a pair of rollers, said means for rotatably mounting said roller means including a rocker, means for rotatably mounting said rollers at the opposite ends of said rocker, and pivot means for pivotably mounting a central part of said rocker on said jaw.

17. A supporting device as defined in claim 16, further comprising means for adjusting the position of said pivot means of said rocker on said supporting jaw relative to a ski boot.

18. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a first relatively stationary part including a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, a second part movable relative to said stationary part including a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, means for releasably locking said two parts to each other said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on said second part and rotatable relative to said first part, associated locking means on said first part including a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said second part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, means for adjusting said supporting jaw in the axial direction along said pivot pin for varying the height of said jaw from the upper surface of said ski, said jaw has a first bore and said pivot pin has an axial second bore coaxial to said first bore and the wall of said second bore having screw threads, said bores forming parts of said adjusting means, said adjusting means further comprising a threaded bore extending through said first bore and adapted to be screwed for different distances into said second bore, said bolt having an annular groove in the part thereof extending through said first bore in said jaw, said jaw having an aperture extending transverse to the said first bore and substantially tangentially intersecting said first bore, and a member extending through said aperture and substantially tangentially through said annular groove for preventing said bolt from shifting in its axial direction relative to said jaw, but permitting said bolt to be turned about its axis relative to said jaw.

Claims

1. A supporting device for ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part, said supporting means consisting of an insert having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide.

2. A supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said first part has an aperture, and further comprising a pistonlike member slidably mounted in said aperture and acted upon by said resilient means, said supporting means being mounted on said pistonlike member.

4. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means to that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said supporting means consisting of an insert in said first part made of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction.

5. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said supporting means including an insert in said first part made of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction, said insert having a cup-shaped recess forming said gliding surface and adapted to receive a part of said locking member.

7. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a relatively stationary part, a part movable relative to said stationary part, and means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on a first of said two parts and rotatable relative to at least one of said parts, associated locking means on the second part adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, and supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said first part and having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, said relatively stationary part forming said second part comprising a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, said part movable relative to said stationary part forming said first part and comprising a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, said locking means forming a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin.

11. A supporting device as defined in claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting jaw together with said bushing means in the axial direction along said pivot pin for varying the height of said jaw and bushing means from the upper surface of said ski.

15. A supporting device for a ski safety binding having a first relatively stationary part inclucing a pivot pin secured to the ski and projecting vertically from the upper surface thereof, a second part movable relative to said stationary part including a supporting jaw rotatable about said pivot pin, said second part has an aperture, means for releasably locking said two parts to each other, said means comprising a locking member forming a rolling element on said second part and rotatable relative to said first part, associated locking means on said first part including a locking recess in the outer peripheral surface of said pivot pin adapted to receive said locking member, resilient means for normally maintaining said locking member in locking engagement with said locking means so that, if strong forces occur tending to release said two parts from each other, said locking member will carry out a rotary movement and will thereby be unlocked from said locking means against the action of said resilient means, supporting means for said locking member interposed between said locking member and said second part ana having a gliding surface of a low coefficient of friction on which said rolling element is adapted to slide, bushing means of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction interposed between said outer surface of said pivot pin and said jaw to permit said jaw to rotate easily about said pivot pin, and a pistonlike member in said aperture and slidable along the wall thereof and acted upon by said resilient means, said pistonlike member having guide extensions at both sides of said rolling element and of said locking recess and projecting to points closely adjacent to said bushing means, said bushing means being secured to said pivot pin.