Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/086—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings using parts which are fixed on the shoe of the user and are releasable from the ski binding

Definitions

• the present invention relates to ski release bindings in general and in particular to the Spademan safety release systems shown and described in United States
• a ski release system comprising a housing, a pair of side-clamping members which are movable relative to the housing in opposite directions generally perpendicular to the lateral edges thereof, a connecting member or other means which is movably coupled to the side-clamping members for moving the side-clamping members, and a resilient member in an overcenter release mechanism coupled to the connecting member for applying a spring force to the side-clamping members through the connecting member.
• a separable plate or similar device for releasably binding a ski boot and a ski.
• the movable side-clamping members are mounted on a ski, and the plate member is mounted on the bottom of a ski boot between the ball of the foot and heel thereof, as shown in the above United States Patents 26,972 and 3,606,370.
• the movable side-clamping members comprising plate-like members having an exterior contour like the plate member in the above patent 3,606,370 are mounted to or in the bottom of a ski boot and the plate or similar apparatus in the form of fixed jaw-like members is mounted on a ski, as shown in United States Patent 3,891,227.
• the overcenter release mechanism To open and close the side-clamping members relative to the plate in the above described patented bindings, it is necessary to move the overcenter release mechanism by hand. For example, to open the side-clamping members, it is necessary to mvoe the overcenter release mechanism by hand from a horizontal position in which it is applying a spring force to the side-clamping members for holding the clamping members in a clamping position, pivotably upwardly for releasing the spring tension on the connecting member and side-clamping members so as to permit the side-clamping members to spread for receiving or releasing the plate member from therebetween. Conversely, to enter the binding, the plate member is placed between the side-clamping members, and the overcenter release mechanism is pivoted from its vertical or raised position downwardly to a position substantially horizontal to the ski for applying the spring force to the connecting member and side-clamping members.
• the operation of the overcenter release mechanism to enter and leave the binding has been found to be inconvenient and often difficult. This is because a skier must either bend over and manually grasp the overcenter release mechanism or use a ski pole tip to move the mechanism. With regard to the latter practice, depending on the angular position of the tension-adjusting knob at the end of the overcenter release mechanism, it is frequently difficult to insert the tip of a ski pole thereagainst without having the ski pole tip slide therefrom. Bending over and grasping the overcenter release mechanism by hand is difficult, especially if a skier is wearing bulky clothes.
• a principal object of the present invention is a step-in safety ski release system in general, and in particular a step-in side-clamping safety ski release system retaining all of the advantages of the previously patented Spademan safety ski release systems shown and described in United States Reissue Patent No. 26,972, United States Patent No. 3,606,370 and United States Patent No. 3,891,227
• an overcenter lever mechanism which is separate and apart from a resilient member used for applying a spring force to a pair of side-clamping members.
• the overcenter lever mechanism as disclosed is pivotably coupled and suitably positioned for moving a connecting member coupled to the sideclamping members for moving ghe side-clamping members between open and closed positions.
• the connecting member is moved rearwardly by a lever member in the overcenter mechanism to open the side-clamping members. In other embodiments, it is moved forwardly to open the side-clamping members.
• the lever member in the overcenter lever mechanism is provided for opening and closing movable side-clamping members mounted on a ski, and in others, the movable side-clamping members are mounted on or in the sole of a ski boot.
• Fig. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 1B is a side view of a lever member according to the present invention.
• Fig. 1C is an end view of Fig. 1B.
• Fig. 1D is a plan view of Fig. 1B.
• Fig. 2A is a tranverse cross-sectional view of a plate member and side-clamping members according to the present invention with the side-clamping members in an open position and the plate member partially inserted therebetween.
• Fig. 2B is a transverse cross-sectional view of the side-clamping members and plate member showing the side-clamping members in a closed position with the plate member centered therebetween.
• Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the binding of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the binding of Fig. 3 showing the relationship of the overcenter step-in mechanism and the connecting member and one of the sideclamping members of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of a binding according to the present invention.
• Fig. 6 is a front transverse cross-sectional view of Fig. 5.
• Fig. 7 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of still another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of an alternative connecting member and side-clamping members.
• Each of the side-clamping members 5 and 6 comprises a shoulder portion 15 for supporting the plate member 7. Immediately above the shoulder 15 and spaced slightly therefrom is an inwardly extended overlying protuberance 16. The protuberance 16 overlies the plate 7 for preventing its slipping from between the clamping members 5 and 6 when they are in their closed position.
• the plate member 7 comprises a pair of forward tip members
• the housing 1 Rearward of the clamping members 5 and 6, at the rear of the housing 1, there is provided a pair of spaced heel-step members 30 and 31 for supporting the heel of the boot 8. Rearward of the heel-step members 30 and 31, the housing 1 is formed with a pair of spaced wall members 32 and 33.
• the wall members 32 and 33 are terminated by an upstanding rear wall member 34.
• the rod or shaft member 35 extends rearwardly of the wall 34 and is terminated by an internally threaded spring-adjusting knob 36 for adjusting the compression applied to a spring 37 disposed about the rod 35 between the knob 36 and the rear of the wall 34.
• Connecting member 40 has a pair of upstanding members 41 and 42.
• the interior end of the rod member 35 is coupled, by means of a pin 43, to the upstanding members 41 and 42.
• the ski release binding of Fig. 1 is substantially identical to the binding described in the above referenced United States patents issued to applicant except that in the apparatus of Fig. 1 the mechanism comprising the adjusting knob 36, spring 37 and rod 35 is not free to pivot relative to the upstanding members 41 and 42, as described in the prior patents.
• lever member 50 Pivotably mounted between the upstanding walls 32 and 33 at the rear of the housing 1 there is provided a lever member designated generally as 50.
• leg members 51 and 52 In the leg members 51 and 52 there is provided, respectively, a hole 53 and 54 for receiving the pin 43 for pivotably mounting the lever member 50 to the upstanding members 41 and 42 of the connecting member 40.
• the surface of the member 50 opposite the leg members 51 and 52 comprises a generally flat surface 55.
• a rearwardly a rearwardly extending overhanging member 56 In the overhanging member 56 there is provided a beveled hole 57 for receiving the tip of a ski pole or the like (not shown).
• the rear surfaces of the downwardly depending leg members 51 and 52 are curved and contoured as at 58 for slidably engaging the interior surface of the upstanding wall member 34 of the housing 1 when the overhanging member 56 is depressed for pivoting the lever member 50, as will be described in further detail below with respect to Figs. 3 and 4.
• the side-clamping members 5 and 6 are pivotably connected to the housing 1 by means of pivot members 60 and 61 such that the clamping members 5 and 6 move generally perpendicular to the lateral, edges of the housing 1 as the connecting member 40 is moved parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 1.
• the spring member 37 cooperates with the adjusting knob 36 and rod member 35 to pull the connecting member 40 rearwardly in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 3.
• the rearward movement of the connecting member 40 causes the T-shaped end of the connecting member 40 to slidably engage corresponding parts of the clamping members 5 and 6, pulling the members 5 and 6 inwardly to a closed clamping position.
• the lever member 50 is pivoted as by the tip of a ski pole or the like to a more horizontal position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4.
• the pivoting of the lever member 50 to the horizontal position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4 causes the rear surface 58 of the downwardly depending leg members 51 and 52 of the lever member 50 to slidably contact the interior surface of the rear upstanding wall 34.
• the lever member 50 causes the connecting member 40 to be pushed forwardly against the spring force of the spring 37.
• the forward movement of the connecting member 40 causes the forward end of the connecting member 40 to slidably contact and spread apart the clamping members 5 and 6.
• the clamping member 50 is initially placed in a horizontal position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. This causes the clamping members 5 and 6 to be in the open position of the broken lines shown in Figs. 2A and 3. Thereafter, as a skier steps into the binding and brings his heel down upon the upper forward surface of the clamping member 50, the clamping member 50 will be pivoted about the axis of the pin 43. As the rear surface 58 of the clamping member 50 clears the wall 34, the spring 37 will draw the connecting member 40 rearwardly causing the clamping members 5 and 6 to move forwardly, releasably clamping the plate 7 and ski boot attached thereto to the ski. As described above, the procedure is reversed to open the clamping members 5 and 6.
• a housing 101 there is shown in a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a housing 101.
• the housing 191 is provided for housing a pair of side-clamping members (not shown) such as described above with respect to Figs. 1-4, and a connecting member 102.
• the connecting member 102 has a pair of upstanding members 103. Connected to the connecting member 102, as by a pin 104, there is provided, extending rearwardly therefrom, a rod member 105.
• the rod member 105 passes through a bore provided therefor in the rear of the housing 101 and is terminated by a spring-adjusting knob 106 for adjusting the compression applied to a spring member 107 coaxially supported on the rod 105 between the rear of the housing 101 and the interior surface of the knob 106.
• a lever member designated generally as 110 is provided with two downwardly extending side wall members 111 and 112.
• the side wall members 111 and 112 are pivotably secured to the housing 101 as by a pin member 113.
• a downwardly extending member 114 having a forward and bottom curved surface 115 for slidable engagement with the. upper rear surface of the upstanding members 103 of the connecting member 102.
• the lever member 110 is further provided with a beveled hole 116 for receiving the tip of a ski pole or the like for pivoting the lever member 110 about the axis of the pin 113.
• the lever member 110 is provided with a relatively flat upper surface at its forward end for receiving the heel of a ski boot for pivoting the lever member 110 in an opposite direction about the axis of the pin 113.
• the operation of the lever member 110 can be reversed for closing the side-clamping members.
• a skier steps into the binding and presses down on the forward upper surface of the lever member 110 to pivot the forward end of the lever member 110 downwardly about the axis of the pin 113.
• the downwardly depending member 114 is raised.
• the spring 107 will draw the connecting member 102 rearwardly closing the clamping members, as described above with respect to the rearward motion of the connecting member 40 with respect to Figs. 1-4.
• a housing 201 As described above with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 5, only a fragmentary portion of the housing 201 is shown in the figure for clarity.
• a connecting member 202 Forward of the right end of the housing 201 there is provided a connecting member 202.
• an upstanding wall member 203 At the rear end of the connecting member 202, there is provided a rod member 205.
• a spring member 206 Coaxially mounted on the rod member 205 is a spring member 206.
• Spring member 206 is mounted between the rear of the wall member 204 and the interior of the housing 201 so as to provide a spring force tending to push the connecting member 202 forwardly relative to the housing 201.
• a spring tension-adjusting nut or knob 207 To the rear of the housing 201, there is provided, threaded on the shaft 205, a spring tension-adjusting nut or knob 207. Knob 207 is provided for adjusting the compression applied by the spring to the connecting strip 202.
• the lever member 210 is provided with a downwardly extending wall member 211. At the rear end of the downwardly extending member 211 there is provided a curved surface 212.
• lever member 210 is pivotably coupled, as by a pin 213, to the housing 201.
• the upper surface of the lever member 210 is generally flat for receiving the heel of a ski boot for pivoting the forward end of the member 210 downwardly about the axis of the. pin member 213.
• a beveled hole 214 is provided at the opposite end of the lever member 210 for receiving the tip of a ski pole or the like for pivoting the lever member 210 in the opposite direction about the axis of the pin 213.
• the forward end of the connecting member 202 is provided with a V-shaped surface 217 for slidable engagement with corresponding V-shaped surfaces 216 of a pair of side-clamping members 218.
• the clamping members 218 are free to pivot outwardly therefrom for opening the clamping members.
• the connecting member 202 is moved to the left in a forward direction, the engagement of the mating surfaces 216 and 217 causes the clamping members 218 to be pulled inwardly to a closed position.
• the clamping members 218 and connecting member 202 are otherwise substantially identical to the clamping members 5 and 6 and connecting member 40 of the embodiment of Figs. 1-4 and the clamping members and connecting member 102 of the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6.
• a ski pole or the like is inserted in the hole 214 of the lever member 210 for rotating the lever member 210 about the axis of the pin 213.
• the connecting member 202 is forced rearwardly against the spring force of the spring 206.
• the clamping members 218. are free to pivot outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the housing 201.
• the heel of a ski boot is brought to bear against the upper surface of the forward end of the lever member 210.
• the lever member 210 is caused to slide from contact with the connecting member 202.
• the spring 206 forces the connecting member 202 forwardly. The forward movement of the connecting member 202 causes the clamping members 218 to be urged inwardly to a closed position.
• a housing 301 Forward of the housing 301, there is provided a connecting member 302 having an upstanding wall member depending therefrom 303. Connected to the upstanding member 303, as by a pin 304, there is provided a rod member 305. Coaxial with the rod member 305 there is provided a spring member 306. The spring member 306 is mounted between the rear of the upstanding wall 30.3 of the connecting member 302 and the interior wall of the housing 301. Threadably coupled to the rear end of the rod 305 is a spring-adjusting knob 307. The knob 307 is provided for adjusting the tension applied to the spring 306. Located above the connecting member 302 there is provided a lever member 310. Downwardly depending from the lever member 310 there is provided a wall member 311 for pivotably connecting lever member 310 to the upstanding wall member 303 of the connecting member 302 as by a pin 313.
• a downwardly depending wall member 314 Rearward of the downwardly depending wall member 311, there is provided a downwardly depending wall member 314.
• the wall member 314 has a forward curved surface 315 for slidably engaging a corresponding surface on the rear of the housing 301. Rearwardly of the downwardly depending wall member 314 there is provided in the lever member 310 a beveled hole 316 for receiving the tip of a ski pole or the like.
• the connecting member 302 is identical to the forward end of the connecting member 202, described above with respect to Fig. 9 and cooperates with the corresponding pair of side-clamping members, as described above with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 7.
• a ski pole or the like is inserted in the hole 316 provided therefor at the rear of the lever member 310.
• the forward edge 315 of the downwardly depending member 314 slidably engages the rear surface of the housing 301.
• the connecting member 302 is moved rearwardly against the force of the spring 306, opening the clamping members.
• the reverse procedure is employed.
• the heel of the ski boot is brought to bear against the upper surface of the forward end of the lever member 310.
• the lever member is pivoted about the axis of the pin 313.
• the downwardly depending member 314 clslides from the housing 301.
• the connecting member 302 is moved forwardly by the force of the spring 306. The forward movement of the connecting member 302 causes the forward end of the connecting member 302 to engage and pull together the side-clamping members coupled thereto, as described above with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Landscapes

• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25315519

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (5)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1978
  • 1978-11-20 JP JP50015278A patent/JPS54500056A/ja active Pending
  • 1978-11-20 CH CH683479A patent/CH634485A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1978-11-20 WO PCT/US1978/000167 patent/WO1979000311A1/en unknown
  • 1978-11-21 IT IT30020/78A patent/IT1100351B/it active
  • 1978-11-21 AT AT0831678A patent/AT372610B/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1978-11-21 FR FR7832842A patent/FR2409064A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 1979
  • 1979-07-23 SE SE7906276A patent/SE419167B/sv unknown

Patent Citations (8)

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