WO2004067119A2

WO2004067119A2 - Cross country ski bindings closing mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2004067119A2
Application number: PCT/SI2004/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oton Zakelj
Original assignee: Alpina, Tovarna Obutve, D.D., Ziri
Priority date: 2003-01-31
Filing date: 2004-01-30
Publication date: 2004-08-12
Also published as: WO2004067119A3; SI21412A

Abstract

The closing mechanism according to the invention is located to the binding under the boot. Thus the binding is shorter, which enables higher flexibility of the binding with regard to the bend in the upper face of the ski, thus preserving all characteristics of the ski just as they were designed by the ski manufacturer. The closing mechansim (1) of the cross country ski binding according to the invention consists of a connective joint (7) and a closing part (9). The binding is in an opened state when the closing part (9) is lifted and hence the tongs (10) are open. The binding is in a closed state when the closing part (9) is lowered and the tongs (10) are closed.

Description

CROSS COUNTRY SKI BINDINGS CLOSING MECHANISM

The object of the invention is a closing mechanism for cross country ski bindings. The closing mechanism according to the invention is located to the binding under the boot, which enables shorter execution and thus higher flexibility of the binding with regard to the bend in the upper face of the skis. The invention is classified to class A63C9/20 of the international patent classification.

The technical problem, which the hereby proposed construction of the closing mechanism according to the invention successfully resolves, is how to ensure higher flexibility of the binding with regard to the bend in the upper face of the skis, while all characteristics of the skis are preserved just as they were designed by the ski manufacturer. The second technical problem, which is successfully resolved by the invention, is how to ensure in the front, on the tip of the boot, enough space for unhindered rotation of the boot around the clamp axis during cross country skiing, when the point, where the boot is clamped, is shifted to the middle of the sole, thus enabling a sufficient angle of rotation and hence sufficient lifting of the heel in the push off phase in cross country skiing. The third technical problem, which the invention successfully resolves, presents the construction of a cross country ski binding, which is to be as light as possible, thus enabling better manoeuvrability of the skis.

The known solutions have the closing mechanism located at the front, in front of the point where the boot is clamped. The problem of such solutions is that the binding, due to the length it extends over, adapts worse to the bend in the upper face of the skis, thus the characteristics designed by the ski manufacturer fall to ruin.

The solution to the above presented problems is described in the patent AU 6288901. The problem of this solution lies in the fact that the binding is constructed for the biggest anticipated size number, the point where the boot is clamped being under the articulate part of the foot, thus enabling enough space for unhindered rotation of the boot around the clamp axis, however the distance between the point where the boot is clamped and its tip increases with regard to the size number, which at smaller size numbers consequently indicates too much unutilised space between the point where the boot is clamped and the closing mechanism, causing accumulation of snow, which hinders the free rotation of the boot around the clamp axis during cross country skiing. The above set technical problems are resolved by the closing mechanism for cross country ski bindings according to the invention, located to the binding under the boot. Because of that the binding is shorter, which enables higher flexibility of the binding with regard to the bend in the upper face of the ski, thus preserving all characteristics of the ski just as they were designed by the ski manufacturer.

Also solved with help of the closing mechanism according to the invention is the problem of extra space between the clamp point and the closing mechanism, when the clamp point is under the articulate part of the foot. Because this space is not bounded by the closing mechanism in the front, an unhindered rotation of the boot around the clamp axis is made possible, thus enabling a sufficient angle of rotation and hence sufficient lifting of the heel in the push off phase in cross country skiing. Because the binding is shorter and space is exploited to the maximum, the binding is also lighter, which enables better manoeuvrability of the skis.

The invention is explained below in detail with a description of the realized example and the enclosed images, from which:

Figure 1 exhibits a side view of the binding with the boot, the closing mechanism in an opened state according to the invention;

Figure 2 exhibits a side view of the front part of the binding with the closing mechanism in a closed state according to the invention; Figure 3 exhibits a perspective view of the front part of the binding with the closing mechanism in a closed state according to the invention;

Figure 4 exhibits a perspective view of the composition of the closing mechanism with the front part of the binding according to the invention; The closing mechanism 1 of the cross country ski binding according to the invention, shown in Figure 1 , comprises a connective joint 7 and a closing part 9 linked together by an axis 13, and it is located behind the clamp point under the boot 11. The front part 2 of the binding is constructed from a base 5 and a fixed part 8, both screwed down with screws to the ski 3 through the openings 16 and 17, and a movable part 6.

The closing mechanism 1 is linked via a connective joint 7 by an axis 14 to the movable part 6, and via a closing part 9 by an axis 15 to the fixed part. Stepping into the front part 2 of the binding with a boot 11 takes place in such way that the closing part 9 must be lifted as shown in Figure 1. The boot 11 approaches the front part 2 of the binding, so that the axis 12 on the boot 11 is right above the tongs 10. The axis 12 on the boot 11 moves into the tongs 10, then the boot 11 spins around the axis 12 on the boot 11 , so that the heel of the boot 11 approaches the heel part 4 of the binding. Because of the rotation of the boot 11 , the closing part 9 is pushed downwards, while the moving part 6 shifts back via the connective joint 7 and the binding passes into a closed state. The closed state of the binding is shown in Figure 2. Stepping out from the front part 2 of the binding with a boot 11 takes place in such a way that firstly the boot 11 spins around the axis 12 of the boot 11 , so that the heel is lifted. Then the closing part 9 is lifted with a finger. In that way the movable part 6 of the jaws shifts forward via the connective joint 7. The axis 12 on the boot 11 is free to exit out of the tongs 10.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Closing mechanism of the cross country ski binding, characterized in that, a connective joint (7) and a closing part (9) are linked together by an axis (13) and located behind the clamp point under the boot (11).

2. Closing mechanism of the cross country ski binding, according to claim

1 , characterized in that, it is linked to the front part (2) of the binding, which consists of a base (5), a fixed part (8) and a movable part (6), via a connective joint (7) by an axis (14) to the movable part (6), and via a closing part (9) by an axis (15) to the fixed part (8).