WO1989004701A1

WO1989004701A1 - Self-releasing ski-binding unit

Info

Publication number: WO1989004701A1
Application number: PCT/EP1988/001076
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz H. Bildner
Original assignee: Implementors Overseas Limited
Priority date: 1987-11-27
Filing date: 1988-11-25
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: EP0346414B1; JP2640774B2; JPH03502055A; EP0346414A1

Abstract

A heel part (1) and a toe part (3) are interconnected at variable distance from each other and fastened as a unit to a ski (17). The toe part (3) can be tilted about an axis (40) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of ski. The heel part (1) has a housing (31), a support part (50) which can be moved longitudinally whith respect to the housing (51) against the force of the spring and which carries a sole holder (48), and a locking device (41, 42, 56), through which the housing (31) can be coupled semi-rigidly to the support part (50). The sole holder (48), when loaded, can be brought mechanically into functional connection with a signal receiver (64, 65) of the electronic control through a signal emitter (69), thereby activating the current supply. After a predetermined action time on the signal receiver (64, 65) an electromagnet (57) can be activated, the activated electromagnet (57) actuates a key (41) arranged in the locking device, thereby inducing a sudden longitudinal movement of the support part (50) in relation to the housing (31).

Description

Automatically releasable ski binding unit

The invention relates to an automatically triggerable ski binding unit with an interconnected front and heel part, a mechanical shoe holding system, an electronic control and a triggering system for the ski shoe.

Known ski bindings do not guarantee reliable triggering of the ski boot when under real use. There is no distinction between jumping and falling, i.e. that the bond is released even in the event of brief impacts. In the case of known electronically controlled ski bindings, no triggering is possible in the event of a power failure due to the high, since constant power consumption.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating an automatically releasable ski binding which ensures reliable holding and releasing under all operating conditions and can be easily replaced under different skis ready for operation.

The object is achieved in a binding unit of the type described in the introduction in that a) the front part can be tilted about an axis lying transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

REPLACEMENT LEAF b) the heel part has a housing, on the other hand a support part which is longitudinally movable against spring force and which carries a sole holder, and a locking device by means of which the housing can be coupled to the support part in a semi-rigid manner, c) the sole holder is mechanically connected in the event of a load via a signal transmitter a signal receiver of the electronic control can be brought into functional connection, wherein

- the power supply is activated synchronously,

- An electromagnet can be activated after the specified exposure time to the signal pickup and

- The electromagnet is actuated by the activation of a key arranged in the locking device, whereby a longitudinal movement of the support part in relation to the housing is suddenly released.

The tiltability of the front part around a lying axis leads to a clear separation between the functions of getting into the binding unit and the skier's intention to get out on the one hand and triggering when there is a risk of injury on the other hand:

The first-mentioned function is exclusively assigned to the front part; only this is tipped down by the skier when the skis are put on from an entry position into a use position, preferably by simply depressing the front part with the toe part of the ski boot. Likewise, only the front part is actuated by the skier to get out of the binding unit as desired. The skier does not have to turn around since he can easily actuate the front part with a ski pole in normal posture.

The release of the ski boot in the event of a fall, on the other hand, is triggered by the heel part of the binding unit, and this takes place after a certain exposure time of one

REPLACEMENT LEAF Load exceeding the limit value, so that a reliable distinction is made between a shock that is harmless to the skier, for example during a jump, and a threatening fall.

However, the clear separation between the normal functions of the front part on the one hand and the heel part on the other hand does not rule out that the heel part can also be triggered arbitrarily, which can be just as advantageous for demonstration and testing purposes as in the case that the binding for the for example in a skier who is stuck is difficult to reach.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Show it:

1 is an oblique view of a complete ski binding,

2 is a side view of the ski binding,

2a the associated top view,

2b is a top view of the same, but partially disassembled ski binding,

3 is an enlarged side view of the front part of the ski binding,

3a the top view belonging to FIG. 3

4 shows the vertical section IV-IV in FIG. 3a with the binding ready for use,

4a a section corresponding to FIG. 4 with a ready-to-climb binding,

4b shows a section corresponding to FIG. 4 in a disassembly position,

Fig. 5 shows the heel part of the ski binding in plan view, partially cut in horizontal planes.

REPLACEMENT LEAF the vertical longitudinal section VI-VI in Fig. 5 with ready binding, a corresponding section after releasing the heel part, the full top view of the heel part, the heel part in side view according to arrow VIII in Fig. 7, the heel part in view from behind, the heel part in front view,

a modified heel part in the vertical longitudinal section XI-XI in FIG. 12 and FIG. 12 the horizontal section XII-XII in FIG. 11.

Fig. 1 is an oblique view from the front top of the entire ski binding. Their main components are a heel part 1, a pair of connecting strips 2 and a front part 3. These together form a unit which is interchangeable as a whole and which is held in a selectable position in holding rails 5 by latching devices 4, which are fixedly mounted on the ski 17 with screws 22 . The heel part 1 and the front part 3 of the ski binding are locked on the connecting strips 2 by means of locking devices 7 according to the size of the associated ski shoe 20 (FIG. 2 and following).

The front part 3 can be opened with a ski pole 19, the tip of which is inserted into a pan 6. For a fine adjustment corresponding to different ski shoe sizes, a length adjustment screw 8 is arranged in the front section of the front part 3 in an easily accessible manner. The required height corresponding to shoe soles of different thicknesses can be adjusted with a height adjustment screw 9.

E _RSA T _Z SHEET On the heel part 1 and on the front part 3, a pair of vertical deflection rollers 14 is mounted, which, in a known manner, enables the ski boot 20 to be released horizontally, the front or rear edge of which is supported on them. The sole of the ski boot 20 (FIGS. 2, 4 and the following) only rests on mountings 13. A space for receiving snow or dirt adhering to the sole of the shoe is left between the connecting strips 2, so that the release properties are not changed by pressure or additional friction. The mountings 13 have rollers 18 on their underside, which can be rolled between the connecting strips 2.

In order to better adapt the ski binding to the skill of the skier or external circumstances, there is a display on the top of the heel part 1 with a scale 10 for the skier's own weight and a scale 11 for the contact pressure for a given length of the ski shoe 20 and a display 12 intended for electrical functions that enable the skier to check the functionality of his ski binding at any time.

2 and 2a show a side view and a top view of the heel part 1, the front part 3 and the releasable locking devices 4 on the front part 3. FIG. 2b shows the associated top view without the heel part 1 and with the front part 3 broken away. 2a and 2b, the connecting strips 2 are provided with locking openings 16 and are connected to one another at their ends by webs, so that they can be inserted as a unit into the receiving rails 5. The locking devices 7 of the heel part 1 and the front part 3 can be snapped into the locking openings 16.

SPARE BLADEΓ The front part 3 has a base which is fixedly mounted with rivets 21 on a base plate 23. The locking devices 7 of the front part 3 are arranged on the base plate 23. The connecting strips 2 have a common leaf spring-like front end 24, which is bent upwards according to FIG. 3 and carries the latching devices 4. The receiving rail 5 in the region of the front part 3 has rack-like latching arrangements 15, into which the latching devices 4 can be latched below the front part 3.

2b, the locking devices 7 of the heel part 1 and the front part 3 are firmly locked in the locking openings 16 of the connecting strips 2. As a result, the ski binding is set for a specific sole length of the ski boot 20. The entire ski binding is fastened to the ski 17 by latching the latching devices 4 in the latching arrangements 15 of the receiving rail 5 in the selected position, which is suitable, for example, for downhill or slalom.

3a and 4a, the front part 3 has a housing 25 which can be tilted with respect to the base plate 23 about a tilt axis 40 which is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the receiving rail 5 parallel to the ski plane. 4, 4a and 4b show a known type of locking of the housing 25 of the front part 3 on its base plate 23 by means of a toggle lever 26 which moves from the entry position according to FIG. 4a into an extended position according to FIG. 4 is pivotable by stepping on a pedal 30 with the front sole part of the ski boot 20.

The toggle lever 26 can be triggered by means of a lever 27 on which the pan 6 is formed. If the lever 27 is mechanically, for example by a with the ski pole 19,

REPLACEMENT LEAF If the downward force exerted on the pan 6 is actuated, the front part 3 is unlocked. The housing 25 then tilts upward about the tilt axis 40 according to FIG. 4a by an opening angle which is preferably greater than 25 °. However, this opening angle is significantly smaller than the opening angle required for opening and closing a ski binding with an upwardly moving heel part.

If, as shown in FIG. 4b, one presses the housing 25 in the vicinity of the height adjustment screw 9, the housing 25 tilts down from its ready-to-drive position shown in FIG. 4 about the tilt axis 40 and presses the locking devices 4 out of the locking arrangements 15 of the receiving rail 5. The entire binding can now be adjusted along the receiving rail 5 or pulled out completely. If the housing 25 is then released again, the locking devices 4 according to FIG. 4 can snap back into the locking arrangements 15 in the new position of the binding unit.

5 to 10 and following, the heel part 1 has a support part 50 which clamps the rear heel edge of the ski boot 20 by means of a spring-loaded sole holder 48. The support part 50 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a housing 31 of the heel part 1. In the housing 31, a sleeve 32 is also longitudinally displaceable, which is open at the front and contains a spring 51. The spring 51 is supported on the rear by an adjusting screw 52 which is screwed into the sleeve 32 from behind. The front end of the spring 51 presses against a plunger 33, on the front end of which a roller 34 is mounted. The roller 34 presses from behind against the sole holder 48, which is pivotally mounted on the support part 50 about a transverse axis 35.

REPLACEMENT LEAF The spring 51 thus presses the support part 50 forward in the direction of the ski boot 20. The pretension of the spring 51 can be changed from the outside according to the body weight of the skier using the adjusting screw 52. Display devices 53, 54 show the skier changes in the setting.

In the lower part of the housing 31, a locking body 36 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner, which is firmly connected to the sleeve 32 by a bridge 37 and with its rear end penetrates more or less far into a locking sleeve 38 fastened in the housing 31. The displaceability of the support part 50 is limited at the front by a vertical pin 55, which extends through a longitudinal slot 39 of the locking body 36. The locking body 36 and the locking sleeve 38 are part of a locking device with a pair of rolling elements 56, which are received in the cage-like rear end of the locking body 36 and are spread apart in a ready-to-drive binding according to FIG. 6 by means of a wedge-shaped key 41 in such a way that they engage a shoulder 42 of the locking sleeve 38 and thereby prevent further penetration of the locking body 36 into the locking sleeve 38.

The locking device can be released via an electromagnet 57 and a magnet armature 58. This is done in that when the electromagnet 57 is energized, the magnet armature 5 hits the rear end of the key 41 like a bullet and pushes it forward against the resistance of a return spring 43, so that the rolling elements 56 approach each other and no longer prevent them can that the locking body 36, following the pressure of the spring 51, penetrates further into the locking sleeve 38 according to FIG. As a result, the support member 50 can dodge the pressure exerted by the ski boot 20 so that the sole holder 48 releases the heel of the ski boot.

REPLACEMENT LEAF The housing 42 is closed behind the electromagnet 57 with a screwed cap 59.

6 and 6a, a mechanical signal transmitter 69 is guided in the support part 50 against the resistance of a spring 47 to be displaceable to the rear. The signal transmitter 69 has at its rear end a thickening 44 with a rear-facing tip. A front signal receiver 64 and a rear signal receiver 65 are arranged in the range of motion of this thickening 4 and are actuated when the thickening 44 reaches a switching position S1 or S2. This occurs as a result of a load on the sole holder 48 which occurs during skiing, by means of which the support part 5 and the signal transmitter 69 are pushed backwards.

When the front signal pickup 64 is actuated, it activates batteries 78 housed in the heel part 1 (FIG. 5). If the pressure on the support part 50 and thus also on the signal transmitter 69 becomes even greater and this shifts it further backward, the rear signal pickup 65 is actuated next. This is in a circuit that contains a timer. The timing element ensures that the electromagnet 57 is only supplied with current when the duration of the action of the signal transmitter 69 on the signal receivers 64 and 65 has exceeded a certain period of time. This prevents the heel part 1 from triggering in the event of brief backward displacements of the support part 50, for example as a result of the skier jumping.

When the period of time is exceeded, the electromagnet 57 is activated and thereby the magnet armature 58 is attracted, which in a manner known in principle, hits like a bullet on the key 41 so that it releases the rolling elements 56. As a result, the support member 50 becomes free and can

REPLACEMENT LEAF now move back a relatively large distance so that the ski boot 20 can fall out of the ski binding completely freely. The skier can fall in any direction without being endangered by the binding.

If the ski boot 20 is no longer held in the ski binding, then the rearward pressure force on the mechanical signal transmitter 69 is eliminated, and the spring 47 moves it backwards. As a result, the power is interrupted immediately, so that the batteries are protected. The batteries 78 are preferably lithium SC batteries which, according to FIG. 5, have a one-sided current contact 79 for connection to contacts 80 and 81 arranged in the housing 31. A function of such a battery down to minus 50 ° during a year can be guaranteed. To check the function of the trigger system, an additional signal transmitter 67 is arranged on the top of the heel part 1.

Even if the electronic circuit fails, the ski boot 20 can be deflected laterally both at the front and at the rear when the skier falls over the deflection rollers 14. Without the electromagnetically triggered return pull of the support part 50, the ski boot 20 is then completely released when it exerts such a large rearward force on the support part 50 via the sole holder 48 that it counteracts increasing resistance of the springs 47 and 51 reached, in which the sole holder 48 releases the heel of the ski boot 20. The springs 43, 47 and 51 then reset the heel part 1 to its initial position.

Brackets of a ski brake 70 are mounted in lateral recesses of the heel part 1, which in the closed state

REPLACEMENT LEAF 1 are positively integrated into the heel part 1. 7 and 8 show a top view and a side view of the heel part 1 after the release of the ski shoe 20 with the ski brake 70 extended.

At the rear end of the heel part 1, openings 49 and 60 can be seen; The adjusting screw 52 is accessible through the opening 49 and the batteries 78 can be inserted through the openings 60. Also located at the rear end in the closure cap 59 is an emergency release button 62 which can be operated by hand in order to push the magnet armature 58 forward into its release position according to FIG. 6a. The skier thus also has the opportunity at any time to check the function of the binding.

7 shows the displays 10, 11 and 12 as well as the height adjustment screw 9 and the position of the vertical deflection rollers 14 once again. FIG. 8 shows how the claw-like support part 50 is connected to the associated mount 13. The fixed arrangement of the receiving rail 5 on the ski 17 and the arrangement of the rollers 18 below the mount 13 can also be seen.

FIG. 9 is the view from the rear of the remote part 1 with the ski brake 70 extended, which belongs to FIGS. 5 to 8, and shows the position of the connecting strips 2 in the receiving rail 5. Also the adjusting screw 52 and battery locking screws 61 are shown in FIG Cap 59 and the emergency release button 62 can be seen.

FIG. 10 is the front view of the heel part 1 with the deflection rollers 14, the sole holder 48 and the support part 50 belonging to FIGS. 5 to 9. The rear locking devices 7 are fastened and gripped by a leaf spring 63 on the housing 31 of the heel part 1 in one of each

REPLACEMENT LEAF Locking openings 16 of the connecting strips 2 guided in the receiving rail 5, so that the housing 31 is held in the selected setting.

11 and 12 a further embodiment of a heel part 1 is shown. Here, the sole holder 48 is formed directly on the support part 50. In the housing 31 there is an additional, electrical emergency release button 66 and an adjusting screw 71 for the precise setting of the signal pickups 64 and 65 (FIG. 6). Electromagnet 57 and armature 58 are inserted after he has unscrewed the cap 59 in the heel part 1 from behind.

5 to 10, the support part 50 is supported by a pair of springs 51 on the housing 31 of the heel part 1 according to FIGS. 11 and 12. The springs 51 can each be adjusted to the body weight of the skier by means of an adjusting screw 52.

In all exemplary embodiments, the electronic triggering can be set to predetermined trigger values (for example for beginners or racing drivers) by means of a rotary contact 77 shown in FIG. 7.

In order to avoid that the ski binding is used without authorization, a locking device can be inserted between the support part 50 and the emergency release button 62, which causes the roller lock to be unlocked by the insertion and the ski binding can thus not be misused. This type of anti-theft device can be provided with a specific code of the owner that prevents third party access. The electronic triggering can also be controlled remotely, which means that in the event of an exit from the ski binding, only one remote control element carried on the body has to be actuated.

REPLACEMENT LEAF

Claims

Patent claims

1. Automatically releasable ski binding unit with miteinan the connected front and heel part, a mechanical shoe holding system, an electronic control and a triggering system for the ski shoe, characterized in that a) the front part (3) about an axis lying transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski (40 ) can be tilted, b) the heel part (1) has a housing (31), a support part (50) which is longitudinally movable against spring force and which carries a sole holder (48), and a locking device (41, 42, 56) through which the Housing (31) can be coupled to the support part (50) semi-rigidly, c) the sole holder (48) can be mechanically connected to a signal receiver (64, 65) of the electronic control via a signal transmitter (69) in the event of load, in which

- the power supply is activated synchronously,

- An electromagnet (57) can be activated after the predetermined exposure time to the signal receiver (64, 65) and

- The electromagnet (57) actuates a key (41) arranged in the blocking device by the activation, whereby a longitudinal movement of the support part (50) in relation to the housing (31) is suddenly released.

REPLACEMENT LEAF

2. Ski binding unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis (40) in the front region of the front part (3) is arranged in such a way that the front part (3) from its position of use after arbitrarily releasing a lock at least by an angle can be tilted upwards from 25 °.

3. Ski binding unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heel part (1) is connected to the front part (3) by a pair of connecting strips (2) which are guided in a receiving rail (5) and in these are locked only in the area of the front part (3) by latching devices (4).

4. Ski binding unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting strips (2) can be unlocked in that the front part (3) can be tilted downward about its axis (40) from its position of use.

5. Ski binding unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that with the Fer¬ sent part (1) and the front part (3) each has a mount (13) is connected, which is guided between the connecting strips (2) on the mounting rail (5) are and form bases for a ski boot (20).

6. Ski binding unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sole holder (48) on the support part (50) is mounted for longitudinal movement and is supported by a spring (51) of adjustable bias on a locking body (36) by the locking device (41, 42, 56) in its normal position prevented from moving backwards relative to the housing (31) of the heel part (1), after triggering the locking device (41, 42, 56) relative to the housing (31) is movable backwards . REPLACEMENT LEAF

7. Ski binding unit according to claim 6, characterized in that rolling elements (56) in the locking body (36). are held, which in the normal position are spread apart by the key (41) and are held against a shoulder (42) which is stationary with respect to the housing (31), but can be moved towards one another after actuation of the key (41), so that the locking body (36) past the shoulder (42) can be moved backwards.

8. Ski binding unit according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the signal transmitter (69) is guided in the supporting part (50) against the resistance of a spring (47) and can be moved forward and a sole holder (48) is supported.

9. Ski binding unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the Signal¬ taker has a front sensor (64) which activates a current source (78) when actuated by the signal transmitter (69), and a rear sensor (65) , which activates the electromagnet (57) when actuated by the signal generator (69) via a timer.

10. Ski binding unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heel part (1) has at least one arbitrarily actuatable emergency release element (62, 66) which can be actuated independently of the signal transmitter (69).

HE _SATZB LATT