US3909025A

US3909025A - Releasable ski binding

Info

Publication number: US3909025A
Application number: US353329A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ulrich Gertsch; Ernst Gertsch
Original assignee: Gertsch AG
Current assignee: Gertsch AG
Priority date: 1972-05-10
Filing date: 1973-04-23
Publication date: 1975-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-30
Also published as: JPS5650985B2; JPS4955442A; DE2321816C3; DE2321816B2; DE2321816A1

Abstract

A releasable ski binding incorporating a release plate releasably retained on the ski at each of its two ends by a respective locking element. The release plate is retained (a) in the lengthwise direction of a plug pin, (b) against upward movement by the locking elements engaging over the release plate and at least one of which locking elements is subjected to the action of a spring, and (c) against lateral pivoting or rocking movement about the plug pin by at least the spring-loaded locking element.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Gertsch et al.

1 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 1 RELEASABLE SKI BINDING [75] Inventors: Ulrich Gertsch, Matten; Ernst Gertsch, Wengen, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Gertsch AG, lnterlaken, Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,329

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 10, 1972 Switzerland 6998/72 May 12, 1972 Switzerland 7029/72 [52] US. Cl. 280/ll.35 K; 280/11.35 K [51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/08 [58] Field ofSearch 280/11.35 K, 11.35 C,

280/11.35 Y,1l.35 D, 11.35 A, 11.35 E, 11.35 G,l1.35T, 11.35 H, 11.35 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.745.672 5/1956 X 2.954,236 9/1960 K 3,410,568 11/1968 K 3,489,424 l/1970 Gertsch et a1 280/1 1.35 K

3.727.933 4/1973 Allsop 280/1 1.35 T 3,731,945 5/1973 Johnson 280/1 1.35 C X FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 503,503 4/1971 Switzerland... 280/1 1.35 C 2 051.758 4/1972 Germany..... 280/1 1.35 K 1,428,930 3/1969 Germany..... 280/1 1.35 T

443,089 1/1968 Switzerland.... 280/1 1.35 T

412,672 11/1966 Switzerland 280/11.35 K

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Werner W. Kleeman 5 7] ABSTRACT A releasable ski binding incorporating a release plate releasably retained on the ski at each of its two ends by a respective locking element. The release plate is retained (a) in the lengthwise direction of a plug pin, (b) against upward movement by the locking elements engaging over the release plate and at least one of which locking elements is subjected to the action of a spring, and (0) against lateral pivoting or rocking movement about the plug pin by at least the springloaded locking element.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures llll US. Patent se t.30,1975 she'etlom 3,909,025

U. S. Patent Se t. 3 ,1975 Seeee 2 ee 2 3,909,025

RELEASABLE SKI BINDING BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ing-through of the ski. Such effects can impair and in fact render questionable the functionality of the binding. This is so because during throughbending of the ski the spacingbetween the anchoring means mounted to the ski for the release plate changes, yet the spacing of the counter supports operatively associated with the anchoring means remains constant. The bendingthrough of the ski brings about a corresponding change in the retention force and therefore a continuous deviation thereof from its adjusted reference value.

In an attempt to overcome such effects there has become known to the art from Swiss Pat. No. 503,503 a ski binding wherein the heel element of the binding is mounted upon a carriage or slide and displaceably guided against the action of compensation springs.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a releasable ski binding which avoids the need for a construction of this type while at the same time overcoming the dangers of binding fouling or contamination and wear, that is to say, avoiding those dangers to which the known constructions are subject to a considerable degree.

Another object of the present invention relates to an improved construction of releasable ski binding wherein the release action of the binding can be rendered substantially independent of the bendingthrough of the ski.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the releasable binding of this development is manifested by the features that the release plate is retained (a) in the lengthwise direction by a plug pin, (b) for movement upwardly by the locking elements engaging over the release plate and at least one of which locking elements is subjected to the action of a spring, and (c) against lateral pivoting about the plug pin by at least the aforementioned spring-loaded locking element. 1

With this arrangement the release plate is held from BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a releasable ski binding of the invention incorporating a release plate mounted to the ski together with its anchoring means;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1; wherein however there have also been depicted in greater detail the ski, the ski boot and further components of the safety ski binding;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a variant contruction of releasable ski binding; and t FIG. 4 is a side view of part of the releasable ski binding depicted in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, with the exemplary embodiment of releasable ski binding as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 there are secured to the schematically represented ski 1 the front and rear anchoring means 2 and 3 respectively for the opposed ends 4a and 4b of the release plate 4. The anchoring means 2 and 3 possess a respective substantially horizontally directed locking pin 6 and 7 pivotably mounted for movement to all sides in an associated housing 14 and 5 respec-. tively. Each locking pin 6 and 7 is preferably subjected to the action of a suitable non-illustrated spring, such as the spring 33 shown in FIG. 3, located in the associated housing 14 and 5 and thereby retained in a position where it engages from above at the one and the other associated ends 4a and 4b of the release plate 4. In this way the release plate 4 is held by the anchoring means 2 and 3 against the surface of the ski 1.

The release plate 4 which is normally fabricated from a light metal carries at both ends slide shoes or

blocks

8 and 9 formed of a suitable material. The slide shoe 8 possesses a flat guide track 8 and therefore does not provide for the associated spring-loaded locking pin 6 any lateral point of attack or engagement. On the other hand, the spring-loaded locking pin 7 engages between two

entrainment members

9 and 9" of its associated slide shoe or block 9. In this way the rear end 4b of the release plate 4 is retained by this associated locking pin 7 not only in vertical direction but also in lateral direction. Consequently, this construction serves to fix the normal position of the release plate 4 since the same is mounted at approximately its central region having a bore 40 upon a plug pin l0-constituting a pivot pin for the release plate 4. This plug pin 10, also sometimes referred to as a pivot pin, retains the release plate 4 in the lengthwise direction, in other words, in that direction in which there does not exist a positive or form-locking connection between the locking pins 6 and 7 and the release plate 4. Further, an advantageous construction of the release binding for the various embodiments disclosed herein contemplates the use of a plug pin 10, the outer surface 10a of which is configured such that it cooperates with the inner walls 4d of the bore 4c in such a manner that the release plate 4 is solely retained by the plug pin in lengthwise direction and if a force acts in such lengthwise or horizontal direction of the release plate there will not be derived therefrom any auxiliary component, typically an upward component, which would tend to lift the release plate away from the surface of the ski. This can be realized, for instance, in providing a plug pin 10 having a cylindrical outer surface l0a cooperating with the bore 4c likewise having inner cylindrical boundary walls 4 d of the plug-like reception of such plug pin. With this arrangement it is immaterial whether one or both anchoring means 2 and 3 move relative to the release plate owing to bendingthrough of the ski, the retaining force always remains constant and always remains set at the predetermined safety release value or factor of the binding.

The preceding comments are also applicable to the modified construction of releasable ski binding depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 which can be employed, for instance, in place of the rear anchoring means 3 of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The front anchoring means may be the same as the anchoring means 2 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. According to this variant construction of releasable ski binding the depicted anchoring means, here generally indicated by reference character 30, comprises a frame or base plate 35 equipped with bearing plates or

brackets

31 and 32 between which is arranged a spring 33. The front bearing plate 31 is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis or shaft 34 extending transversely with respect to the lenegthwise direction of the associated ski 40. This front bearing plate or bracket 31 carries a locking element 37 consisting of a locking pin 36 and a roller 38 mounted upon such pin. An extension 39 of pin 36 is formed as a threaded pin member or screw and is adjustably secured with the bearing plate 31. This threaded extension 39 carries an adjustment nut 41 on which bears one end 33a of the spring 33. The roller or roll 38 is pressed from above against an upright web or bracket 42 arranged at the rear end 4012 of the release plate 40, the upper edge of the web 42 being constructed as a guide track 43 which ascends from its central region 43a towards both extremities or sides 43b of such web. Further details of this particular type of releasable ski binding have been disclosed in our commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. application, Ser. No. 353,389, filed Apr. 23, 1973 and entitled Releasable Ski Binding, to which reference may be readily had and incorporated herein by reference. In any event also with this embodiment of releasable ski binding there does not exist in the lengthwise direction of the ski any positive or form-locking connection between the locking element 37 and the release plate 40, so that bendingthrough of the ski cannot have any influence upon the other conditions or factors of the releasable ski binding. This is so not only for the illustrated normal position of the release plate but rather and of course as should be apparent for both embodiments in each random relative position which can be assumed between the release plate and the ski until complete release of the release plate from the ski.

Conversely, the central portion of the ski is not stiffened or reinforced by the binding so that there are retained the maximum skiing characteristics for the skis.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

l. A releasable ski binding comprising a release plate having opposed ends, anchoring means incorporating a respective locking element for releasably retaining the release plate at each opposed end on an associated ski, plug pin means for retaining the release plate against movement in lengthwise direction of the ski, said plug pin means constituting the sole means for restraining movement of the release plate in the lengthwise direction of the ski while permitting upward movement of the release plate in a direction away from the ski, at least one of the locking elements being subjected to the loading action of a spring, said locking elements engaging in direct contact with and over the release plate and releasably retaining the release plate against upward movement with respect to the ski, said locking elements engaging only in an overlying position on the re-. lease plate such that said locking elements can freely move in the lengthwise direction of the ski independently of and without being obstructed by the release plate, said locking elements thus failing to exert any restraining action on the release plate against movement thereof in the lengthwise direction of the ski, and at least said spring-loaded locking element releasably retaining the release plate against lateral pivoting movement about said plug pin means, whereby during through-bending of the ski the locking elements are capable of shifting in the lengthwise direction with respect to the release plate.

2. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring-loaded locking element which releasably retains the release plate against lateral pivoting movement incorporates means mounting said springloaded locking element for pivotable movement against the action of its associated spring about an axis extending substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the ski, said release plate being movable with respect to the ski from a normal position into a release position for the binding, means on the release plate defining a guide track having a central section and to both sides of said central section a respective raised lateral track section, said spring-loaded locking element bearing on the central section of said guide track when the release plate assumes its normal position.

3. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 2, wherein said spring-loaded locking element retains one of said release plate opposed ends and the other of said locking elements retains the other of said release plate opposed ends and is provided with a spring-loaded pin movable to all sides, a horizontally extending guide track provided on the release plate, said spring-loaded pin bearing against said horizontally extending guide track.

4. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking element which releasably retains the release plate against lateral movement comprises a pin mounted to be pivotable to all sides against spring action, a pair of entrainment means on the release plate extending towards the sides of the release plate, said pivotably mounted pin engaging the release plate between said two entrainment means.

5. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 4, wherein said spring-loaded locking element retains one of said release plate opposed ends and the other of said locking elements retains the other of said release plate opposed ends and is provided with a spring-loaded pin movable to all sides, a horizontally extending guide track provided on the release plate, said spring-loaded pin bearing against said horizontally extending guide track.

6. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said release plate is provided with a bore for receiving said plug pin means, said plug pin means and bore having cooperating surfaces configured such that a force acting in the lengthwise direction of said release plate does not exert any vertical lifting component upon the release plate.

7. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 6, wherein said bore means comprises a substantially cylindrical bore and said plug pin means comprises a substantially cylindrical plug pin.

Claims

1. A releasable ski binding comprising a release plate having opposed ends, anchoring means incorporating a respective locking element for releasably retaining the release plate at each opposed end on an associated ski, plug pin means for retaining the release plate against movement in lengthwise direction of the ski, said plug pin means constituting the sole means for restraining movement of the release plate in the lengthwise direction of the ski while permitting upward movement of the release plate in a direction away from the ski, at least one of the locking elements being subjected to the loading action of a spring, said locking elements engaging in direct Contact with and over the release plate and releasably retaining the release plate against upward movement with respect to the ski, said locking elements engaging only in an overlying position on the release plate such that said locking elements can freely move in the lengthwise direction of the ski independently of and without being obstructed by the release plate, said locking elements thus failing to exert any restraining action on the release plate against movement thereof in the lengthwise direction of the ski, and at least said spring-loaded locking element releasably retaining the release plate against lateral pivoting movement about said plug pin means, whereby during through-bending of the ski the locking elements are capable of shifting in the lengthwise direction with respect to the release plate.

2. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring-loaded locking element which releasably retains the release plate against lateral pivoting movement incorporates means mounting said spring-loaded locking element for pivotable movement against the action of its associated spring about an axis extending substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the ski, said release plate being movable with respect to the ski from a normal position into a release position for the binding, means on the release plate defining a guide track having a central section and to both sides of said central section a respective raised lateral track section, said spring-loaded locking element bearing on the central section of said guide track when the release plate assumes its normal position.