US3866930A

US3866930A - Safety releasable ski binding

Info

Publication number: US3866930A
Application number: US441814A
Authority: US
Inventors: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon
Original assignee: Francois Salomon et Fils SA
Current assignee: Salomon SAS
Priority date: 1972-12-01
Filing date: 1974-02-12
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18
Also published as: DE2359490B2; DE2359490A1; FR2208693A1; FR2208693B1; FR2217040A1; DE2359490C3; US3902728A; FR2217040B1; CH572754A5

Abstract

A front toe stop for mounting on a ski, comprising a body for fixing to the ski and upon which a jaw is resiliently pivotally mounted. The jaw grips the front toe part of a ski boot sole and normally maintains the boot longitudinally in respect of the ski but allows the sole of the boot to escape when lateral forces exceed a certain limit. The resiliency of the jaw is adjusted by altering the tension in a spring-loaded rod which operatively connects the jaw to the body. The rod extends through a socket itself housed within a hollow portion of the body, with the open end of the socket end the hollow portion facing away from the jaw, a helical spring being retained under compression in the socket, surrounding the rod, by a calibration nut on that end of the rod remote from the jaw. The tension of the spring can be adjusted by rotation of the calibration nut, or by rotation of a hollow plug screwed onto the exterior of the open end of the sprocket and engaging the open end of the hollow portion of the body. The plug is keyed to prevent longitudinal displacement with respect to the body so that rotation of the plug moves the socket away from the jaw thus increasing the tension in the spring. Seals prevent water and mud from entering the hollow portion of the body and the socket.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,866,930

Salomon i Feb. 18, 1975 SAFETY RELEASABLE SKI BINDING [75] Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, [57] ABSTRACT Annecy, France A front toe stop for mounting on a ski, comprising a body for fixing to the ski and upon which ajaw is resil- [73] Asslgnee: Franco Salomon & Flls iently pivotally mounted. The jaw grips the front toe Annecy France part of a ski boot sole and normally maintains the boot 22 12 1974 longitudinally in respect of the ski but allows the sole of the boot to escape when lateral forces exceed a cer' tain limit. The resiliency of the jaw is adjusted by altering the tension in a spring-loaded rod which opera- {30} F i A li ti p i Data tively connects the jaw to the body. The rod extends through a socket itself housed within a hollow portion [21] Appl. No.: 441,814

Feb, 14, 1973 France 73.05l90 of the body, with the Open end of the socket and the [52 11.5. c1 280/11.35 T hollow R f facing away from h a a helical 51 im. c1. A63c 9/08 Spring m flamed under cqmprsslon m the socket. [58] Field of Search 280/1135 T Surroundmg the by a cflllbratlon Hut 011 that n of the rod remote from the jaw. The tension of the [56] References Cited spring can be adjusted by rotation of the calibration nut, or by rotation of a hollow plug screwed onto the UNITED STATES PATENTS exterior of the open end ofthe sprocket and engaging 3,523,673 9/1970 y 280/11-35 T the open end of the hollow portion of the body. The 3,584,891 6/1971 Khazzam 280/l1.35T plug is keyed to prevent longitudinal displacement Ha're g E with respect to the body so that rotation of the plug 3:689:095 9/1972 5 T moves the socket away from the aw thus increasing the tension in the spring. Seals prevent water and mud from entering the hollow portion of the body and the Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song gocket Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J, Lobato; Bruce L. Adams 14 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 53 22 lfi jbz leq t ///Al "I 11 g ll! L V LL SAFETY RELEASABLE SKI BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a disconnectable safety stop for a ski, comprising a jaw acted on, in the position for securing a ski boot, by a resilient tension device arranged longitudinally in relation to the ski, its tension being adjustable by means of a regulating nut or similar means.

Safety stop devices of this type are already known in which the retaining jaw of the stop is acted on by the resilient tension device, which comprises a spring, via an intermediate member connecting the said jaw to the end of the spring opposite to it. The tension of the said spring is adjusted by means of a nut forming a plug in front of the body (spatula side), in which it slides on each displacement of the jaw.

These front stops involve certain drawbacks, as they are not hermetic, so that impurities and water can find their way into the hollow part of the body of the stop, containing the tension regulating means for the elastic device, which means adjusts the firmness or resiliency of the fixture. This may detract from the operation of the stop. Furthermore, the entry of snow or water between the plug and the body of the stop may cause these two parts to be jammed together in the event of a frost.

Neither is it possible with the known tension regulating devices to effect a calibration, i.e. an adjustment of the tension of the spring when at rest, without changing the actual tension regulating references.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a fixture'of a particular simple design at low cost, guaranteed to be completely hermetic and enabling the resilient jaw return device to be calibrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the disconnectable safety stop according to the invention, comprising a body mountable on a ski, a jaw pivotably mounted on the said body and holding the end of a ski boot in the central position of rest, a resilient device arranged longitudinally in relation to the ski, in a longitudinal hollow part of the said body and acting on the said jaw in the direction for the central position for securing the boot, an intermediate connecting member at least partly held in the said hollow portion and connecting the said jaw to a first end of the resilient device opposite to it, and means for regulating the tension of the resilient device, comprising a regulating nut or similar device, is characterized by the fact that the tension regulating means also include an elongate member extending into the longitudinal hollow part of the body, coaxially with the resilient device and the intermediate connecting member connected to the jaw, the said elongate member being provided, towards its end opposite to the jaw, with a screwthreaded portion onto which is screwed the regulating nut, which engages the body, and by the fact that the resilient device bears, by its second end close to the jaw, on the other end of the said elongate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the ac companying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial and vertical view of a front safety stop, fitted with a device for regulating the firmness or resiliency of the stop, capable of being calibrated, in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an axial and vertical section of an alternative construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The front safety stop shown in FIG. 1 and affixed to the upper surface of a ski 1, is of the kind which comprises a body 2 connected to the ski by a base plate 3. The body 2 bears a jaw 4 serving to secure a ski boot and having a centre yoke 5 provided with two

horizontal branches

6, 7, through which passes a trunnion 11 about which the jaw can pivot in the event of a disconnection of the boot from the ski. The jaw is acted on in a forward direction (i.e. to the right as viewed in FIG. 1), for securing the boot, by a resilient device 8, of which the tension can be adjusted to any degree desired by regulating means described later.

The device 8 may consist, without being limited thereto, of a helical spring arranged longitudinally in respect of the ski l. The spring 8 rests, by its end opposite to the jaw 4, against a calibrating nut 9 screwed onto the threaded portion 12 ofa rod 17 extending horizontally inside the spring 8. The other end of the rod 17 extends outside the body 2 and is traversed by the trunnion 11. The rod 17 thus forms and intermediate connecting piece between the jaw 4 and an end of the spring 8.

The other end of the spring 8, i.e. that situated on the same side as the jaw 4, bears by an annular fluidtight seal 15, surrounding the rod 17, on the transverse base 14a of a socket 14 having a hole 13 through which the rod 17 passes. The socket 14 extends longitudinally and surrounds the spring 8, the said socket and the spring 8 and the rod 17 being coaxial.

The seal 15 prevents water and mud from finding their way into the socket 14.

As may be seen from FIG. I, the socket 14 extends over almost the whole length of the rod 17; it nevertheless leaves exposed the calibrating nut 9, so that it will be accessible. I

The socket 14 is provided on its periphery, on the part at the end remote from the jaw 4, with a thread 16 onto which is screwed a regulating plug 18'forming a blind nut and provided for this purpose with a tapping 18a. The screw thread 16 terminates at a certain distance, a, from the end of the socket 14. The socket 14 is itself housed in a longitudinal hollow portions 2a of the body 2, of which portion the base is traversed by the rod 17 and of which the orifice is sealed by the regulating plug 18. This plug, of which the greater part re mains outside the hollow portion 2a so that it can be screwed onto the socket 14 by hand, is partly held in the said hollow portion 2a and is provided, on an external annular shoulder 19, with an annular seal 21 by which it bears on the front surface 2b of the body 2 forming the edge ofthe orifice ofthe hollow portion 2a. The seal 21 thus prevents water and mud from centering the hollow portion 20 between it and the regulating plug 18.

The internal wall of the body 2, defining the hollow portion 2a, has a longitudinal groove 22 engaged by two

bosses

23, 23a provided on the external surface of the socket l4 and aligned longitudinally. These bosses prevent the socket 14 from rotating out of place, while at the same time enabling it to perform a traversing movement; The body 2 is provided in the upper part, above the boss 23, with a window 28, which may be closed by a transparent cover. The window 28 thus enables the boss 23 of the socket 14 to be seen, providing an indication of the tension of the spring 8 as it may, for example, bear a graduated scale 30.

The regulating plug 18 has an external annular groove 24 engaged by a pin 25 introduced into the body 2 through a hole 31. The regulating plug 18 can thus rotate freely on the body 2, while being prevented, by the pin 25, from performing a traversing movement.

From the foregoing description, therefore, it may be seen that the helical tension spring 8 is more or less compressed between the calibrating nut 9, screwed onto the threaded protion 12 of the intermediate rod 17, on the one hand, and the transverse base 140 of the socket 14, on the other.

The total force supplied by the tension spring 8 thus becomes subdivided into two equal forces, i.e. a first force,'directed towards the right and causing the jaw 4 to bear against appropriate abutments in the position for securing the boot, and a second force, directed towards the left and, via the socket 14, causing the regulating plug 18 to bear against the front surface 2b of the body 2, via the annular seal 21. If the regulating plug 18 is rotated in an appropriate direction, corresponding to an increase in the tension of the spring 8 and thus in the firmness of the fixture, the socket 14, prevented from rotating, will merely perform a translatory movement, in the direction of the base 32 of the plug 18. The compression of the spring 8 is thus intensified and its tension increased, the variation in the operating tension being indicated by the displacement of the boss 23, bearing the graduation 30, in front of the window 28. A rotation of the plug 18 in the reverse direction manifests itself in a corresponding reduction in the tension of the spring 8.

The fixture to which the invention relates provides an easy means of calibration, i.e. regulation of the tension of the spring 8 at rest, without altering the regulating references. To effect the calibration, all that is required is to unscrew the regulating plug 18 altogether, in order to separate it from the socket 14. At this moment, owing to the fact that the socket is no longer held by the plug 18, it bears against the base of the longitudinal hollow portion 2a. The calibrating nut 9 is then accessible at the open end of the socket l4, and by turning this nut to a greater or smaller distance it is possible 'to vary the tension of the spring 8 at rest, so as to obtain a constant minimum tension of the spring at rest, whatever the manufacturing tolerances. Once thiscalibration has been effected, all that is required is to screw the plug 18 back onto the threaded part 16 of the socket'l4, in order to ensure that as soon as the plug bears against the edge 2b, via the seal 21, the tension of the spring 8, i.e. the firmness of the fixture, can be adjusted to the required level.

Thanks to the presence of the seals and 21, the body 2 encloses, in its hollow portion 2a, in a hermetic manner, the entire apparatus for regulating the tension of the spring S, with the exception of the plug, which is easily accessible from the outside. The actuating and regulating devices are thus fully protected from water and mud.

Furthermore, the seal 2] acts as a friction device and prevents the undesired accidental sudden disconnection of the regulating plug 18.-

The length a of the non-threaded part provided at the end of the socket 14 is greater than the depth 1) of the non-tapped part of the plug 18, i.e. extending between the end of the tapping 18a and its base 32, to prevent damage to the thread at the end of the adjusting movement, in other words, when the tension of the spring 8 is set to the maximum and the front surface of the socket 14 bears against the base 32 of the plug.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the jaw 4 is connected to an external cylindrical socket 33 serving as an intermediate connecting piece, this socket being housed in the hollow portion 2a of the body 2. The socket 33 terminates, at its end remote from the jaw 4, in a transverse base 33a, having a central hole 34 traversed by a rod 35 partly housed inside the socket 33.

The resilient tension device 8, consisting of a helical spring, is housed in the interior of the socket 33 and surrounds the rod 35. This spring bears, at its end towards the jaw 4, against a collar 36 integral with the rod 35, while at its other end it bears against an annular seal 37 interposed between the spring and the base 330 of the socket 33.

The rod 35 comprises a screw-threaded portion 38 projecting outside the socket 33, onto which portion is screwed the calibrating nut 9. The threaded portion 38 of the rod 35 likewise passes through a central hole 39 made in a cap 40 screwed onto the body 2. A nut 41 for regulating the tension of the spring 8, i.e. the firmness or resiliency of the fixture, is screwed onto the end of the threaded rod 38.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that in this second embodiment, it is the external socket 33 which acts as an intermediate connecting piece between the spring 8 and the jaw 4. The calibration, i.e. the regulation of the tension of the spring 8 at rest, is effected by rotating the calibrating nut in one direction or the other as appropriate, on the screw-threaded portion 38. The operating tension of the spring 8, i.e. the firmness or resiliency of the fixture, is regulated by means of the external nut 41, the part of the rod 35 projecting towards the outside serving, according to its length, as an indicating device for the tension of the spring.

To pass through the body, the socket 33 may be limited to two blades, an upper and a lower one, moving in two blade holders, around which a fluid-tight and lubricating seal may be provided.

The various devices for-regulating the tension and for calibrating the resilient device may be applied to any type of fixture in which the jaw for securing the boot is acted on in a direction ensuring a central locking position, whatever the manner in which it is released sideways, vertically or by a combined motion.

1 claim:

1. Disconnectable safety stop for a ski, comprising a body mountable on the ski, ajaw pivotably mounted on the said body for holding the toe end of a ski boot in a central position of rest, resilient means arranged longitudinally in respect of the ski in a longitudinal hollow portion of the said body and acting on the said jaw in the direction of the central position for securing the boot, an intermediate connecting member at least partly held in the said hollow portion and connecting the said jaw to one end of said resilient means remote from said jaw, and means for adjusting the tension of said resilient means, said tension adjusting means comprising a regulating member and an elongate member extending into the longitudinal hollow portion of the body coaxially with said resilient means and said intermediate connecting member, the said elongated member being provided, at its end remote from the jaw, with a screw-threaded portion onto which said regulating member is screwed such that said regulating member engages the body, said resilient means bearing, by its other end close to the jaw, on the other end of the said elongate member.

2. Safety stop according to claim 1, in which said regulating member comprises a nut.

3. Safety stop in accordance with claim 2, wherein the intermediate connecting member consists of a central rod extending longitudinally inside said resilient means and terminating in a screw-threaded portion onto which is screwed a calibrating nut, said calibrating nut serving as a support for the said one end of the resilient means, and wherein theelongate member consists of a socket coaxially surrounding the resilient means and the rod positioned inside it, the said socket being open at its end remote from the jaw, but closed at its other end close to the jaw by a transverse base traversed by the rod, the said other end of the resilient means bearing on the said base, the socket being provided on its exterior end portion with a screw thread onto which is screwed the tension regulating nut, said regulating nut forming a hollow plug engaging the body.

4. Safety stop according to claim 3, further comprising means for preventing rotation of the socket inside the hollow portion of the body, while at the same time enabling the said socket to perform a longitudinal translatory movement relative to the body, and wherein means are provided for preventing the regulating nut from performing a translatory movement with respect to the body, while at the same time allowing it to rotate with respect to the body.

5. Safety stop according to claim 4, wherein the socket is provided on its external lateral surface with at least one boss sliding in a longitudinal groove provided in the exterior wall defining the hollow portion of the body.

tension of the resilient means.

7. Safety stop according to claim 6, wherein said window is sealed by a transparent cover.

8, Safety stop according to claim 7, wherein said one boss bears a graduated scale for indicating the tension of said resilient means.

9. Safety stop according to claim 4, wherein the regulating plug is provided, in the portion engaged in the hollow portion of the body, with a transverse annular groove in which is engaged a pin secured in a hole in the body.

10. Safety stop according to claim 3, wherein the said other end of the resilient means bears against the base of the socket via an annular seal surrounding the rod.

11. Safety stop according to claim 3, wherein the regulating plug engages the front surface of the body surrounding the hollow portion via an annular seal forming a friction device.

12. Safety stop according to claim 3, wherein the screw-threaded portion of the socket terminates at a distance from the open end of the socket which is greater than the depth ofa non-threaded portion of the hollow plug at its innermost end.

13. Safety stop according to claim 1, in which the intermediate connecting member consists of a socket extending longitudinally in the hollow portion of the body, surrounding the resilient means, and closed at its end remote from the jaw by a transverse base on which the one end of said resilient means bears, and wherein said elongate member consists of a central rod extending longitudinally in the socket through a hole in the base thereof, having at its internal end a stop on which the other end of the'resilient means engages, said rod having a screw-threaded external portion onto which is screwed a calibrating nut against which bears the base of the socket under the action of said resilient means, the tension regulating member being screwed onto a portion of the threaded portion of the rod which projects outside the body.

14. Safety stop according to claim I, wherein said resilient means comprises a helical tension spring.

Claims

1. Disconnectable safety stop for a ski, comprising a body mountable on the ski, a jaw pivotably mounted on the said body for holding the toe end of a ski boot in a central position of rest, resilient means arranged longitudinally in respect of the ski in a longitudinal hollow portion of the said body and acting on the said jaw in the direction of the central position for securing the boot, an intermediate connecting member at least partly held in the said hollow portion and connecting the said jaw to one end of said resilient means remote from said jaw, and means for adjusting the tension of said resilient means, said tension adjusting means comprising a regulating member and an elongate member extending into the longitudinal hollow portion of the body coaxially with said resilient means and said intermediate connecting member, the said elongated member being provided, at its end remote from the jaw, with a screw-threaded portion onto which said regulating member is screwed such that said regulating member engages the body, said resilient means bearing, by its other end close to the jaw, on the other end oF the said elongate member.

3. Safety stop in accordance with claim 2, wherein the intermediate connecting member consists of a central rod extending longitudinally inside said resilient means and terminating in a screw-threaded portion onto which is screwed a calibrating nut, said calibrating nut serving as a support for the said one end of the resilient means, and wherein the elongate member consists of a socket coaxially surrounding the resilient means and the rod positioned inside it, the said socket being open at its end remote from the jaw, but closed at its other end close to the jaw by a transverse base traversed by the rod, the said other end of the resilient means bearing on the said base, the socket being provided on its exterior end portion with a screw thread onto which is screwed the tension regulating nut, said regulating nut forming a hollow plug engaging the body.

6. Safety stop according to claim 5, wherein a window is provided in the body opposite one of the bosses, the said one boss forming a device for indicating the tension of the resilient means.

8. Safety stop according to claim 7, wherein said one boss bears a graduated scale for indicating the tension of said resilient means.

12. Safety stop according to claim 3, wherein the screw-threaded portion of the socket terminates at a distance from the open end of the socket which is greater than the depth of a non-threaded portion of the hollow plug at its innermost end.

13. Safety stop according to claim 1, in which the intermediate connecting member consists of a socket extending longitudinally in the hollow portion of the body, surrounding the resilient means, and closed at its end remote from the jaw by a transverse base on which the one end of said resilient means bears, and wherein said elongate member consists of a central rod extending longitudinally in the socket through a hole in the base thereof, having at its internal end a stop on which the other end of the resilient means engages, said rod having a screw-threaded external portion onto which is screwed a calibrating nut against which bears the base of the socket under the action of said resilient means, the tension regulating member being screwed onto a portion of the threaded portion of the rod which projects outside the body.

14. Safety stop according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a helical tension spring.