US3860253A

US3860253A - Ski binding

Info

Publication number: US3860253A
Application number: US385458A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gottfried Schweizer
Original assignee: Gertsch AG
Current assignee: Gertsch AG
Priority date: 1972-09-08
Filing date: 1973-08-03
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14
Also published as: AT328932B; JPS4968843A; DE2329881A1

Abstract

Releasable ski binding permitting longitudinal movement of the ski boot with respect to the ski. One binding, such as the rearward binding, grips a suitable fitting on the ski boot in a conventional manner both above and on both sides thereof and is arranged for resiliently opposed release upon either upward or sideward movement of the associated end of the ski boot. Adjacent the other end of the boot, such as the toe, there is provided a fitting fixed rigidly with respect to the ski and a recess is provided in the fitting. The toe of the boot is provided with a single longitudinally aligned pin which projects into said recess, preferably received into the upper portion thereof, to permit longitudinal motion between the pin and the fitting but to prevent motion in any direction perpendicular thereto. This holds the boot firmly and safely on the ski but permits relative longitudinal motion between the boot and the ski which may result if the ski bends during skiing. Such longitudinal motion is permitted without affecting or altering the accuracy of setting of the release portion of the binding.

Description

United States Patent [191 Schweizer [4 1 Jan. 14, 1975 SKI BINDING [75] Inventor: Gottfried Schweizer, Vienna,

Austria [73] Assignee: Gertsch AG, Zug, Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 385,458

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 8, 1972 Austria 7698/72 [52] US. Cl. 280/1135 D, 280/1135 C [51] Int. Cl A63c 9/08 [58] Field of Search ..280/1 1.35 C, 11.35 D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,879,071 3/1959 King 280/1135 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 583,953 10/1958 Italy ..280/l1.35C 1,120,333 12/1961 Germany ..280/ll.35R

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerMichael Mar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT Releasable ski binding permitting longitudinal movement of the ski boot with respect to the ski. One binding, such as the rearward binding, grips a suitable fitting on the ski boot in a conventional manner both above and on both sides thereof and is arranged for resiliently opposed release upon either upward or sideward movement of the associated end of the ski boot. Adjacent the other end of the boot, such as the toe, there is provided a fitting fixed rigidly with respect to the ski and a recess is provided in the fitting. The toe of the boot is provided with a single longitudinally aligned pin which projects into said recess, preferably received into the upper portion thereof, to permit longitudinal motion between the pin and the fitting but to prevent motion in any direction perpendicular thereto. This holds the boot firmly and safely on the ski but permits relative longitudinal motion between the boot and the ski which may result if the ski bends during skiing, Such longitudinal motion is permitted without affecting or altering the accuracy of setting of the re-' lease portion of the binding.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmmmms v sum 2 BF 2 FIGS SKI BINDING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a ski binding consisting of a front and rear binding part each of which cooperates with a fitting which is arranged on the ski boot or on a bottom plate carrying the ski boot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the known bindings of this type the fittings are gripped by binding parts of which at least one, either the front or the rear binding part, or both, are mounted on the ski for movement in longitudinal direction against a resilient force. If the ski bends during skiing, then the distance between the binding parts changes and this change is compensated by such movably mounted ski binding part. However, in this arrangement there exists the disadvantage that the more the longitudinal spring is tensioned, the more tightly the ski boot is held between the binding parts and this presents the danger that even at equal adjustments of the release components, releases will occur at different stresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to overcome this disadvantage and the invention is characterized in that one fitting is constructed as a pin arranged longitudinally of the ski, which pin is supported during use in a recess provided in a guide part secured on the ski and the other fitting is as is now conventional gripped over and held by the associated binding part from the side and from above.

This construction effects a release both during a fall forwardly and also during lateral excessive stresses only through the last-named binding part. The other binding part is used only for guiding the pin-like fitting. If the ski bends during skiing, then the pin can slide longitudinally in the recess of the guide part. Thus there is no spring loading and as a result the holding power of the other binding part is not changed in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter of the invention is illustrated by one embodiment thereof which is set forth in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the entire arrangement of a ski boot on the ski,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially longitudinally sectioned view of the front holding means,

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rear holding means,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 is a top view similar to FIG. 4 partially in a cross-sectional view during the instant of a lateral release.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 the ski boot 16 is secured on a sole plate 6 in a conventional manner.

Binding parts

18, 19 are mounted onthe ski 17, which binding

parts grip fittings

5, 15, respectively, of the sole plate 6 and thus hold the ski boot 16 on the ski 17.

The rear ski binding part 18 grips from the side and from above over the fitting 5 in such a manner that the sole plate 6 cannot move longitudinally of the ski. The front ski binding part 19 is constructed as a guide part as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. An equilateral triangle shaped recess 20 is provided in this guide part 19, in which recess and pin-shaped fitting 15 is guided only in the upper area. The recess 20 enlarges downwardly so that the fitting 15 can swing downwardly or to the side during a fall forwardly or during a twisting fall when the rear binding 18 releases. During stepping-in, the fitting 15 is in a simple manner introduced into the recess 20 and the rear fitting 5 then engages the rear binding part 18. If during skiing the ski 17 bends and thus the distance between the

binding parts

18 and 19 changes, the pin 15 can slide in the recess 20. Thus, any change in length is compensated without influencing the release mechanism. In order to achieve a slightly elastic mounting, the front guide part can be made either entirely, or at least in the zone of the recess, of an elastic material, for example plastic, rubber or the like. For example a sleeve containing the recess 20 and being made of elastic material could be inserted into the part 19.

As a rear binding part 18, various suitable known bindings can be used. As exemplary construction consists according to FIGS. 4 to 6 substantially of two levers, l, 2 which are loaded by the

springs

3, 4 and which with their angled ends grip over the boot fitting 5 both from the side and also from above. The boot fitting 5 is constructed as a double-conical swivel plate which is secured on the sole plate 6. The

springs

3, 4 press the levers 1, 2 against two posts 7, 8 which are fixedly anchored on the base plate 9. In order to prevent a lifting of the entire binding, a disk 10 is secured at the upper end of the posts 7, 8. The

springs

3, 4 abut the one ends of support arms 11, 12 which are supported with their other ends on the levers l, 2. In their central zone the support arms 11, 12 are held against the levers 1, 2 through the screw 14 and the nut 13.

FIG. '6 shows the sole plate 6 moved to the side. The levers 1, 2 are thereupon also pivoted. Since the posts 7, 8 are positioned between the levers this movement urges the levers apart against the force of the

springs

3, 4. The illustration shows the moment of the release. If a force occurs in an upward direction, for example due to a fall forwardly, then the fitting 5 is pulled upwardly and the two levers 1, 2 are similarly moved apart. FIG. 5 shows in cross-sectional view how the two levers l, 2 grip from above over the fitting 5.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment herein shown. A number of other possible embodiments exist which lie within the scope of the invention.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a ski binding having a front and a rear binding part mounted on a ski each being adapted to cooperate with means on one of a ski boot and a bottom plate on which a ski boot is mounted for effecting a releasable securement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate to said ski, the improvement comprising wherein one of said front and rear binding parts includes means defining an elongated pin mounted on one end of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess mounted on said ski and adapted to receive said pin therein for longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, and wherein the other of said front and rear binding parts includes securement means (I) for releasably holding the other end of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing a longitudinal movement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate relative to said ski whereby the permitted relative movement between said pin and said recess means will thereby facilitate a bending of said ski without varying the force holding one of said ski boot and said boot plate onto said ski.

2. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said one end is the toe of said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate.

3. The improved ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said recess is triangular in shape and said pin means is positioned at an apex thereof when said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski.

4. The improved ski binding according to claim 3, wherein said triangular shaped recess is an equilateral triangle; and

wherein the base of said equilateral triangular shaped recess extends parallel to the top surface of said ski; and

wherein said apex is the uppermost one of said angles of said triangular shaped recess.

5. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said means defining a recess includes means made of an elastic material at least surrounding said recess.

6. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said recess includes means defining an upper narrow region and a wide lower region; and

wherein said pin means is positioned in said upper narrow region when said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski. 7. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said securement means is also adapted to releasably secure said other end against a vertical movement.

8. A releasable ski binding for use with ski boot means consisting of one of a ski boot and a bottom plate on which said ski boot is mounted, comprising:

first and second longitudinally spaced binding parts mounted on a ski and on opposite ends of said ski boot means to effect an engagement of the ends of said ski boot means with said ski;

one of said first and second binding parts including means defining an elongated pin extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess adapted to receive said pin means therein for longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, for releasably holding one of said ends of said ski boot means on said ski, said pin means being mounted on one of said ski and said ski boot means and said means defining a recess being mounted on the other of said ski and said ski boot means; and

the other of said first and second binding parts including securement means (1) for releasably holding the other of said ends of said ski boot means remote from said one of said first and second binding parts against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing a longitudinal movement of said ski boot means relative to said ski.

9. A releasable ski binding according to claim 8, wherein said first binding part engages the toe end of said ski boot means and said second binding part engages the heel end of said ski boot means.

10. A releasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said pin means is mounted on said toe end of said ski boot means and said means defining a recess is mounted on said ski. 7

11. A releasable ski binding according to claim 8, wherein said securement means is also adapted to releasably secure said one of said ends remote from said one of said first and second binding parts against a vertical movement.

Claims

1. In a ski binding having a front and a rear binding part mounted on a ski each being adapted to cooperate with means on one of a ski boot and a bottom plate on which a ski boot is mounted for effecting a releasable securement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate to said ski, the improvement comprising wherein one of said front and rear binding parts includes means defining an elongated pin mounted on one end of one Of said ski boot and said bottom plate and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess mounted on said ski and adapted to receive said pin therein for longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, and wherein the other of said front and rear binding parts includes securement means (1) for releasably holding the other end of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing a longitudinal movement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate relative to said ski whereby the permitted relative movement between said pin and said recess means will thereby facilitate a bending of said ski without varying the force holding one of said ski boot and said boot plate onto said ski.

4. The improved ski binding according to claim 3, wherein said triangular shaped recess is an equilateral triangle; and wherein the base of said equilateral triangular shaped recess extends parallel to the top surface of said ski; and wherein said apex is the uppermost one of said angles of said triangular shaped recess.

6. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said recess includes means defining an upper narrow region and a wide lower region; and wherein said pin means is positioned in said upper narrow region when said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski.

7. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said securement means is also adapted to releasably secure said other end against a vertical movement.

8. A releasable ski binding for use with ski boot means consisting of one of a ski boot and a bottom plate on which said ski boot is mounted, comprising: first and second longitudinally spaced binding parts mounted on a ski and on opposite ends of said ski boot means to effect an engagement of the ends of said ski boot means with said ski; one of said first and second binding parts including means defining an elongated pin extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess adapted to receive said pin means therein for longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, for releasably holding one of said ends of said ski boot means on said ski, said pin means being mounted on one of said ski and said ski boot means and said means defining a recess being mounted on the other of said ski and said ski boot means; and the other of said first and second binding parts including securement means (1) for releasably holding the other of said ends of said ski boot means remote from said one of said first and second binding parts against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing a longitudinal movement of said ski boot means relative to said ski.

10. A releasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said pin means is mounted on said toe end of said ski boot means and said means defining a recess is mounted on said ski.