WO2003018146A1

WO2003018146A1 - Fixing device for a gliding sports item

Info

Publication number: WO2003018146A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/003391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaston Haldemann
Original assignee: Gaston Haldemann
Priority date: 2001-08-28
Filing date: 2002-08-21
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixing device comprising a lever (74), which is articulated to a frame (60) that is solidly connected to the gliding sports item (2), and a projecting part (61) which is kinematically linked to the frame (60) and which is provided with three shoe (1) contact surfaces. The inventive device is characterised in that the lever (74) is intended to rest on the heel of the shoe (1) so that the heel is pressed against the projecting part (61) and/or against the frame (60). Moreover, the invention is characterised in that there are two stable lever positions: a first position in which the shoe (1) is held on the gliding sports item (2) and a second in which the shoe (1) is released. In addition, the lever (74) is recalled in both of said stable positions using an elastic means (71). Said fixing device can also be used to hold in place a shoe having a sole that is essentially made from flexible materials.

Description

Attachment for board sports equipment

The present invention relates to a binding for a sliding sports machine mainly comprising a lever articulated on a chassis integral with the sliding sports machine and a projection projecting from the chassis, kinematically linked thereto and having three contact surfaces with a shoe, a first surface whose normal direction is directed towards the front of the foot at an angle with the sliding surface of the machine and two other surfaces whose normal directions are substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the machine and intersect in front of these contact surfaces.

Sliding sports involve contradictory constraints concerning the structure of shoes. On the one hand, they must have rigid elements allowing the user to precisely guide the gliding device and to feel the response of the device to its stresses. On the other hand, they must have flexible elements ensuring the comfort of the user.

For the practice of sliding sports such as snowboarding, in which the shoe can be linked to the sliding device by straps, it is possible to make flexible shoe soles in order to improve the walking comfort of the user. Such soles allow shock absorption due to the contact of the shoe with the ground during each step. They further facilitate the adhesion of the shoe to the ground by their deformation.

When the shoes are linked to sports equipment for gliding through the front and back of the sole, as is the case with traditional alpine ski bindings, the sole must be rigid. In order to improve walking comfort, it is known to add attached elements of flexible material to the front and to the rear of the sole. However, the standard defining the characteristics which the shoes must meet for these traditional bindings requires the presence, at the front and at the rear of these soles, of zones which must have a high hardness and a low coefficient of friction with the binding in order allow good fitting of the binding as well as good release of the shoe in the event of a fall.

Patent FR 2 794 028 discloses a gliding board attachment essentially comprising a frame integral with the gliding board and two shoe retaining members in the form of levers articulated around transverse axes and each recalled in a position balance by a spring. These levers penetrate into housings made in rigid parts integral with the sole of the shoe. A lever makes it possible to act on one of the retaining members and against the action of the spring in order to allow voluntary heaving. The retainers and the housings made in the rooms integral with the sole of the shoe have shapes allowing the heaving during a fall forward, a fall back or a twist of the foot.

This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the length of the sole of the shoe which no longer needs standardized sidewalks and thus facilitates walking. It also allows the production of a sole composed mainly of flexible materials and having a shape which facilitates the movement of the foot during walking.

It also makes it possible to shorten the length of the binding and therefore to keep the elastic characteristics of the gliding board in the vicinity of the binding and to offer a constant distance between the two shoe retaining members and what regardless of the user's shoe size.

Thanks to such a fixing or thanks to the fixing described in patent AT 284 681, the shoe release mechanism and the return to position of the holding members is located in the chassis under the shoe. Thus, it is no longer necessary to have between the upper surface of the gliding board and the sole of the boot, a wedge improving the practice of skiing with parabolic skis.

However, the presence of two retaining members penetrating the sole to be housed in rigid parts linked to it is a problem. Indeed, it results in a significant reduction in the contact surface between the ground and the sole of the shoe when the user is walking.

The object of the invention is to overcome this problem and to improve the existing embodiments. In particular, the invention proposes to produce a ski binding making it possible to hold a boot having a sole made essentially of flexible materials on a sliding board. The invention further provides a shoe shaped so as to be able to be retained by a binding according to the invention.

The binding according to the invention is characterized in that the lever is intended to press on the heel of the shoe to press it against the projection and / or against the chassis, in that the lever has two stable positions, the one in which the shoe is held on the sliding sport apparatus, the other in which the shoe is released from the sliding sport apparatus and in that the lever is returned to these two stable positions by elastic means .

According to a first embodiment, the projection is kinematically linked to the chassis by an embedding connection. According to other embodiments, the projection is kinematically linked to the chassis by a pivot link of horizontal and transverse axis to the shoe and has a stable position in which it is returned by an elastic means.

According to one embodiment, the elastic means for returning to the position of the projection is the same as that for returning to the position of the lever.

Preferably, at least one contact between the projection and the shoe is made by means of a roller in pivot connection with the projection or with the shoe.

In this case, a roller can be in pivot connection with the projection around a substantially vertical axis and come, when the shoe is retained by the binding, in contact with the two wings of a V of substantially vertical axis, practiced on the shoe.

A roller can also be in pivot connection with the projection around a horizontal axis transverse to the shoe and come, when the shoe is retained by the binding, in contact with a slope made on the shoe.

Preferably, the binding has means for bringing the lever into its position holding the boot on the gliding sport vehicle. In this case, the means for bringing the lever into its position holding the boot on the sliding sports vehicle may include a pedal acting on the lever.

This lever can be produced in two parts, the upper part being articulated on the lower part.

The sliding sports shoe capable of being held by such a binding is characterized in that it has in its sole a transverse recess cooperating with the projection of the binding and forming a surface whose normal direction is directed towards the front of the foot forming an angle with the sliding surface of the machine and two surfaces whose normal directions are substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the machine and intersect in front of these contact surfaces.

The shoe preferably has a sole whose contact surface with the ground is mainly made of a flexible material.

The shoe may have a sole, the contact surface with the ground of which is, at the front and at the rear of the shoe, raised in order to facilitate the unrolling of the foot of the user during walking.

The shoe may have a rim at the heel, the lower surface of which is intended to come in contact with the lever and allows a clearance to be created between the sole of the shoe and the chassis.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, three embodiments of the binding according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the binding 1 according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the first embodiment of the binding.

Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view of a shoe shaped to be retained by such a binding.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of detail of the rear part of this first embodiment, the binding being shown open.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the binding 1 according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to the previous one, the binding and the shoe being shown in an opening trigger phase. Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of the binding 1 according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the plane VIII - VIII of Figure 6 of this third embodiment of the binding according to the invention.

The ski binding, shown in Figures 1 and 2, mainly comprises a chassis 18, a lever 29 consisting of an upper part 5 and a lower part 11 and a projection 3. The chassis 18 is integral with a ski 2 A shoe 1 is held in the binding. It is retained by the projection 3 of the binding located approximately under the middle of the foot and cooperating with a recess 28 made in the sole of the shoe. The lever 29 applies a force to the shoe maintaining the projection 3 in the recess 28 of the shoe sole. Although having a vertical component directed downwards, this effort is essentially horizontal.

The recess 28 extends transversely to the lateral edges of the shoe 1. It has approximately a section in the form of a parallelogram in the vertical plane parallel to the axis of the foot. The rear face 25 of this cutout is intended to come into contact with the projection 3. A tooth 26 is defined by this upper face 25 and the surface of the sole intended to come into contact with the ground. As shown in FIG. 3, a notch 28a, 28b in the shape of a V and an axis vertical crosses this tooth 26. The sole is made, in front as behind the transverse recess 28, of a flexible material such as rubber.

The projection 3 is integral with the chassis 18. It has a face 24 having a normal not parallel to the sliding surface of the ski and inclined towards the front. A roller 4 located between the face 24 of the projection and the upper surface of the chassis is in pivot connection around a vertical axis 27 relative to the projection 14.

The lever 29 for exerting efforts to maintain the boot 1 on the ski 2 has two stable positions in which it is recalled by the action of a spring 7: one in which the boot 1 is retained on the ski 2 , the other in which the boot 1 is released from the ski 2. The lever 29 is articulated on the chassis 18 about an axis 6, it is linked by a pivot link to a link 10, itself linked by a link pivot to a piston 9. This piston slides in a bore 8 and is subjected to the action of the compression spring 7 bearing at the other end of the bore 8 against a threaded plug 13 allowing the spring preload adjustment 7 determining the stiffness of the safety release of the binding.

The stable positions are reached when one moves away from the position in which the two axes of the link 10 and the axis 6 of articulation of the lever 29 are aligned. When the articulation axis of the link 10 with the lever 29 is above the other two axes, the fixing is said to be in the “open” position. When the axis of articulation of the link 10 with the lever 29 is below the other two axes, the fixing is said to be in the "closed" position.

To put on the skis, the boot is brought in so that the projection 3 enters the recess 28. The boot is advanced relative to the chassis until the two wings 28a and 28b of the V come into contact with the roller 4 We then press with the heel of the shoe on a pedal 17 articulated on the chassis 18 around a horizontal and transverse axis. This pedal 17, shown in Figure 4, allows, by its contact action on the end 16 of the lower part 11 of the lever 29, to bring the binding in the "closed" position. This has the effect of tilting the lever 29 and bringing an optional fork 12 into contact with the upper surface of the rear sidewalk 21 of the shoe 1. The binding is then in the "closed" position and retains the shoe. Elements 14 and 15 located on the binding on either side of the heel make it possible to center the shoe relative to the binding in order to ensure good fitting.

When the shoe 1 is rotated relative to the ski 2, as shown in FIG. 3 and as can happen in the case from a fall, the shoe, retained by the elements 14 and 15, turns around the heel. This induces a transverse translational movement of the boot at the level of the projection 3 and causes, by the action of contact between the roller 4 and one of the wings 28a or 28b of the V, a backward movement of the boot 1 by compared to fixation. This has the consequence of tilting the lever 29 backwards and thus allowing the shoe 1 to be released.

The upper part 5 of the lever 29 is articulated on its lower part 11 to allow it to be folded over the binding when the ski 2 has to be transported.

A plate 23 located at the front of the chassis allows the forces applied by the boot to be taken up and transmitted to the ski 2.

The second embodiment of the binding according to the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the previous embodiment in that a projection 31 is articulated on a frame 30 around a horizontal and transverse axis 32 and in that 'It has a lever 44 articulated around an axis 45 linked to the chassis 30 and applying, to the shoe 1 via a fork 46 matching the shape of the heel, essentially horizontal forces.

The projection 31 is returned to a stable position, shown in FIG. 5, by a compression spring 37 housed in a vertical bore 47 produced in the chassis 30. The projection 31 is, as in the embodiment described above, provided with a roller 34 in pivot connection around a vertical axis 33 and has a lower surface 24, the normal of which is not parallel to the surface of glide of ski 2 is oriented towards the front of ski 2.

The lever 44 is in pivot connection with a link 43, itself in pivot connection with a piston 41 moving in a bore 42, formed in the frame 30. A compression spring 38 is housed in this bore 42, and is supported , on the one hand, on a threaded plug 39 making it possible to adjust the stiffness of release of the binding and, on the other hand, on the piston 41.

As in the previous embodiment, the position of the hinge pin between the lever 44 and the link 43 makes it possible to define two stable positions of the lever: a first position called "open" when this axis is above the line defined by the axis 45 of articulation of the lever 44 on the chassis 30 and by the axis of articulation of the piston 41 with the rod 43 and a second position called "closed" when this axis is below the defined line by the axis 45 of articulation of the lever 44 on the chassis 30 and by the axis of articulation of the piston 41 with the link 43.

To link the boot 1 to the ski 2, the boot is positioned in the binding so as to bring the projection 31 in the transverse recess 28 of the shoe 1. The shoe is then advanced in the binding so as to bring the upper face 25 of the tooth 26 of the shoe into contact with the lower face 24 of the projection 31 and the two wings 28a and 28b of the V in contact with the roller 34. And, finally, the lever 44 is brought back in contact with the heel of the shoe. The force of the lever 44 on the shoe 1 is essentially horizontal and makes it possible to maintain the tooth 26 of the shoe against the projection 31.

When it is desired to release the shoe 1 from the binding on a voluntary basis, it suffices to act on the lever 44 to bring it into its "open" position.

In the case of a torsional force of the user's leg, the rotation of the shoe 1 induces a lateral displacement of the latter relative to the attachment at the level of the projection 31. Due to the contact between the roller 34 and one of the wings 28a or 28b of the V, this transverse displacement causes a retreat of the shoe which has the consequence of tilting the lever 44 and bringing it into its "open" position releasing the shoe.

In the case, represented in FIG. 6, of a fall of the user towards the front of the skis, the boot 1 is supported on a plate 40 having a low coefficient of friction with the sole of the boot and disposed at the before fixing. Heel lifts, resulting in contact with surfaces 24 of the projection 31 and 25 of the tooth 26, the pivoting of the projection 31 about its axis 32 against the action of the spring 37. This results in a sliding of the surfaces 24 and 25 one against the other thus that a sliding of the sole on the plate 40 moving the shoe towards the rear of the binding until the lever 44 is tilted and brought into its "open" position releasing the shoe.

In the event of a fall of the user towards the rear of the skis, the boot 1 bears on the rear of the binding. The tip of the foot is raised, causing, by contact with the surfaces 24 of the projection 31 and 25 of the tooth 26, the pivoting of the projection 31 about its axis 32 against the action of the spring 37. This results in a sliding of the surfaces 24 and 25 against each other and a sliding of the heel moving the shoe towards the rear of the binding until the lever 44 is tilted and brought into its "open" position releasing the shoe.

A third embodiment of the attachment is shown in Figures 7 and 8 and differs from the previous embodiment in that it comprises a rear lever 74 and a projection 61 both being returned to their stable positions by the action of 'the same compression spring 71.

The lever 74 is articulated on a chassis 60 around an axis 75 and makes it possible to apply to the shoe a force comprising a horizontal component and a component vertical. It is in pivot connection with a piston 72 sliding in a tube 70 enclosing a compression spring 71. This tube 70 is in pivot connection with the projection 61 around an axis 69, the projection 61 itself being articulated on the chassis 60 around an axis 68. Thus, when the user wishes to link his boot to his ski, he puts it in position in the binding as described above, then he presses on the tube 70 using his heel. This action allows the lever 74 to tilt into the "closed" position retaining the boot in the binding.

The heel of the shoe has an edge 77 provided with a lower face 78 which bears against the lever 74. As a result, there remains between the underside of the shoe sole and the chassis 60 a clearance allowing the shoe although it has a wedge of snow trapped in the sculptures of its sole, to be linked to ski 2 by the binding.

The projection has, in addition to a roller 63 articulated around a vertical axis 62 and intended to come into contact with the wings 28a and 28b of the V produced in the sole of the shoe, a roller 65 articulated around a horizontal and transverse axis 64 and intended to come into contact with the upper surface 25 of the tooth 26 of the sole of the shoe. These rollers make it possible to dispense with the friction coefficients, the value of which depends on the environment in which the binding is used and the value of which determines the stiffness in triggering the opening of the binding. It should be noted that the rollers can also be linked to the sole of the shoe by pivot connections and come into contact with rolling surfaces on the projection.

For the same reason, a roller 81 is linked to the chassis 60 by a pivot link. It rolls on a plate 80 linked to the sole of the shoe, in particular during a fall in front of the user.

The triggering operation of this attachment is similar to that of the attachment described above.

The slopes of the various contact surfaces between the projection and the shoe sole tooth, as well as the preloads of the springs acting on the lever and on the projection, make it possible to determine the stiffnesses for triggering the safety of the binding.

By making the wings 28a and 28b of the V in the sole of the shoe with different slopes, different torques for the binding are created, when the foot is turned inward or outward.

Claims

claims

1. Attachment for a sliding sport device (2) mainly comprising an articulated lever (29; 44; 74) on a chassis (18; 30; 60) integral with the sliding sport device (2) and a projection ( 3; 31; 61) protruding from the chassis (18; 30; 60), kinematically linked thereto and having three contact surfaces with a shoe (1), a first surface (24) whose normal direction is directed towards the front of the foot forming an angle with the sliding surface of the machine and two other surfaces (4; 34; 63) whose normal directions are substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the machine and intersect in front of these contact surfaces, characterized in that the lever (29; 44; 74) is intended to press on the heel of the shoe (1) to press it against the projection (3; 31; 61) and / or against the frame (18; 30; 60), in that the lever (29; 44; 74) has two stable positions, one in which the shoe (1) is held eu on the sliding sports device (2), the other in which the shoe (1) is released from the sliding sports device (2) and in that the lever (29; 44; 74) is recalled in these two stable positions by elastic means (7; 38; 71).

2. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (3) is kinematically linked to the chassis (18) by an embedding link.

3. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection

(31; 61) is kinematically linked to the chassis (30; 60) by a pivot link with an axis (32; 68) horizontal and transverse to the shoe and in that it has a stable position in which it is recalled by elastic means (38; 71).

4. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic means (71) for returning to the position of the projection (61) is the same as that for returning to the position of the lever (74 ).

5. Attachment for a gliding sport machine (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one contact between the projection (4; 31; 61) and the shoe (1) is made by the 'Intermediate of a roller (4; 34; 63; 65) in pivot connection with the projection or with the shoe.

6. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that a roller (4; 34; 63) is in pivot connection with the projection (4; 31; 61) about an axis substantially vertical and in that this roller comes, when the shoe is retained by the binding, in contact with the two wings (28a, 28b) of a V of substantially vertical axis, practiced on the shoe (1).

7. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (2) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that a roller (65) is in pivot connection with the projection (61) about an axis (64) horizontal and transverse to the shoe (1) and in that this roller (64) comes, when the shoe (1) is retained by the binding, in contact with a slope (25) formed on the shoe (1).

8. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has means (16, 17; 70) for bringing the lever (29; 74) into its position now. the shoe (1) on the gliding sport vehicle (2).

9. Attachment for a sliding sports device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (16, 17; 70) for bringing the lever into its position holding the shoe on the sports device sliding include a pedal (17) acting on the lever (29).

10. Attachment for a sliding sport vehicle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (29) is produced in two parts, the upper part (5) being articulated on the lower part (11).

11. Sliding sports shoe (1) able to be maintained by a binding according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that it has in its sole a recess (28) transverse, cooperating with the projection (3; 31; 61) of the binding and forming a surface (25) whose normal direction is directed towards the front of the shoe by forming an angle with the sliding surface of the machine (2) and two surfaces (28a, 28b) of which the normal directions are substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the machine (2) and intersect in front of these contact surfaces (28a, 28b).

12. Sliding sports shoe (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a sole whose contact surface with the ground is mainly made of a flexible material.

13. Sliding sports shoe (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a sole whose contact surface with the ground is, at the front and at the rear of the shoe. raised in order to facilitate the unrolling of the user's foot when walking.

4. Sliding sports shoe (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at the heel a flange (77) whose lower surface (78) is intended to come into contact with the lever (74) and makes it possible to arrange a clearance between the sole of the shoe and the chassis (60).