Patent Grant
9457259
The invention relates to a combined downhill and touring binding for a ski. The binding comprises: a base plate which can be fastened to an upper side of the ski; a toe retainer; a heel retainer; a connecting structure; a shifting mechanism comprising a shifting element having a first end which is a front end in the skiing direction and a second end which is a rear end in the skiing direction; and a latching lever using which the heel retainer can be moved by the shifting mechanism into a walking position and into a travelling position and latched in the walking position or travelling position, respectively; wherein the latching lever is connected to the ski in a pivoting joint and arranged in front of the heel retainer in the skiing direction, the first end of the shifting element is connected to the latching lever, and the second end of the shifting element is connected to the heel retainer. The invention also relates to a ski binding in accordance with the invention.
An aspect of the invention provides a combined downhill and touring binding for a ski, comprising: a base plate which can be fastened on an upper side of the ski; a toe retainer; a heel retainer; a connecting structure; a shifting mechanism comprising a shifting element having a first end which is a front end in the skiing direction and a second end which is a rear end in the skiing direction; and a latching lever using which the heel retainer can be moved by the shifting mechanism into a walking position and into a travelling position and latched in the walking position or travelling position, respectively; the latching lever is connected to the ski in a pivoting joint and arranged in front of the heel retainer in the skiing direction, and the first end of the shifting element is connected to the latching lever, and the second end of the shifting element is connected to the heel retainer.
In accordance with an aspect of the Invention, the latching lever is arranged behind the toe retainer in the skiing direction.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the latching lever is connected to the ski, transverse to the skiing direction, in a position substantially central on the surface of the ski in a contact region for a ski boot.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the second end of the shifting element is connected directly to the heel retainer.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the latching lever is connected to the connecting structure in a first pivoting joint and to the shifting mechanism in a second pivoting joint.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a pivoting axis of the first pivoting joint and a pivoting axis of the second pivoting joint extend parallel to each other without being identical.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the first pivoting joint is fixed, and the second pivoting joint lies in front of the first pivoting joint in the skiing direction in the travelling position and behind the first pivoting joint in the skiing direction in the walking position.
In accordance with an aspect of the Invention, the first pivoting joint is fixed, and the second pivoting joint lies in front of the first pivoting joint in the skiing direction in the travelling position and behind the first pivoting joint in the skiing direction in the walking position.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the shifting element is a spindle plate.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the spindle plate is made of metal, carbon or another suitable material.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the binding also comprises a ski brake and a ski brake securing means, wherein the ski brake or the ski brake securing means is moved together with the heel retainer from the travelling position to the walking position.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, at least a part of the ski brake securing means is connected to the shifting mechanism.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the ski brake securing means comprises a mushroom-shaped, T-shaped, V-shaped or Y-shaped securing body which protrudes upwards relative to the surface of a ski and exhibits a smaller diameter at its first end facing the surface of the ski than at its second end facing away from the surface of the ski.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the ski brake comprises spring brackets, and the spring brackets are formed to be elastic in a direction transverse to the skiing direction, such that the spring brackets are elastically pressed apart when a user steps into the ski in the walking position and return to their original position relative to each other once the second end of the ski brake securing means for securing the ski brake has been overcome.
Another aspect of the invention is a ski comprising a safety binding for descent and touring, featuring a heel retainer.
An aspect of the invention relates to a heel retainer for a combined downhill and touring binding for a ski, comprising: a base plate which can be fastened on an upper side of the ski; a connecting structure; and a tensioning device for securely holding a ski boot in the heel retainer, comprising a sole retainer.
The binding also comprises: a latching mechanism which optionally latches at least parts of the heel retainer in a downhill position or in a touring position; and a shifting mechanism using which parts of the heel retainer can be automatically or manually moved from the travelling position to the walking position.
In the following, the parts of the heel retainer which can be moved from a downhill position or travelling position to a touring position or walking position are also referred to as the heel retainer for short, in order to make the application easier to read. It will however be clear that the heel retainer as a whole can comprise more parts, for example the base plate, which are not among the parts of the heel retainer in Claim 1 which can be moved by the shifting mechanism.
The base plate is a base structure which is or can be fixedly connected to the ski, for example integrated into the surface of the ski. The base structure can consist of one piece and serve to connect a toe retainer and the heel retainer to the ski. The base structure can alternatively comprise at least two parts, one of which connects the toe retainer to the ski and another of which connects the heel retainer to the ski.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the latching mechanism comprises a latching lever which optionally latches the connecting structure in the travelling position or in the walking position.
The tensioning device is a known tensioning device which comprises at least one sole retainer and tensions the heel retainer into a holding position in which the ski boot is securely connected to the ski. The tensioning device can be relaxed, such that the heel retainer releases the ski boot, in order to step into and out of the ski.
The parts of the heel retainer which the latching mechanism optionally latches in the downhill position or in the touring position can for example be inter alia the connecting structure and the tensioning device.
In a first embodiment which is described in the following, the shifting mechanism can comprise a spring element which is supported on a strut on the pressing body and on an inner wall of the connecting structure. When the heel retainer is in the downhill position, the spring element is tensioned. In this position, the heel retainer can then be latched using the latching lever. When the latch is released, the spring element can be relaxed and thus automatically moves the heel retainer counter to the skiing direction, away from a toe retainer of the binding, into the walking position in which the heel retainer is again latched by the latching mechanism.
The latching mechanism of the first embodiment of the Invention comprises a latching lever which optionally latches the heel retainer in the downhill position or in the touring position. The latching lever can be connected to the connecting structure in a pivoting joint which comprises a pivoting axle which extends parallel and transverse to the surface of the ski. The latching lever can be formed in one piece or can consist of two or more separate partial levers. The latching lever can consist of a plastic, a reinforced plastic or a metal or can comprise one or more of these materials.
In order to latch the heel retainer, the pressing body can comprise an engaging element, for example a toothing, and the latching lever can comprise a complementary engaging element, for example a complementary toothing, preferably at an end region which is a front end region in the skiing direction, in the first embodiment of the invention. In order to latch the heel retainer, the complementary engaging element on the latching lever engages with the engaging element on the pressing body. Aside from a toothed engagement, the latch can also for example be formed by a peg which can engage with various cavities or by other latches which are known to the person skilled in the art and suitable for this purpose.
The engaging element and/or for example toothing can be moulded directly onto the pressing body, i.e. the engaging element can be formed in one piece with the pressing body, for example in an injection-moulding method, by deforming a metal plate in a press, by a sintering method, or by other suitable shaping methods known to the person skilled in the art, depending on the material.
Alternatively, the engaging element can be fixedly connected to the pressing body, for example adhered, soldered, welded, screwed or riveted, or connected in a positive fit and/or force fit via other means or purely by shaping.
The engaging element exhibits at least two engaging positions: a first engaging position in which the complementary engaging element on the latching lever engages in order to latch the heel retainer and/or the parts of the heel retainer in the travelling position; and a second engaging position in which the complementary engaging element on the latching lever engages in order to latch the heel retainer and/or the parts of the heel retainer in the walking position.
The latching lever can be biased in an engaging direction together with the engaging and/or latching element on the pressing body by a spring element which is supported on the latching lever and on a lower side of for example the connecting structure, i.e. the spring element and/or the spring force of the spring element presses the complementary engaging element into the engaging element or Into a space in front of or behind the engaging element and so latches the complementary engaging element to the engaging element in the travelling position and in the walking position, such that the latch cannot be unintentionally released during travelling, walking or transporting. The spring element can be a spiral spring, a leaf spring or an elastic solid body.
The spring element is preferably supported on the end of the latching lever which adjoins the region comprising the complementary latching element, at the front in the skiing direction. To this end, the latching lever can comprise a guide for the spring element, such that the spring element cannot slip away from the latching lever. The other end of the latching lever can comprise an engaging recess with which the tip of a ski pole can engage in order to press the latching lever onto the surface of the ski with the aid of the ski pole, thus compressing the spring element and therefore releasing the complementary latching element from its latch with the latching element.
The pressing body is connected to the base plate such that the pressing body comprising the latching element cannot be moved relative to the base plate during travelling, walking or transporting. The pressing body and the latching mechanism can be arranged between the base plate and the connecting structure.
In order that the heel retainer can be moved into the downhill position and into the touring position in a controlled and repeatable way, the pressing body can be pressed against an abutment, such that the heel retainer cannot be moved in the skiing direction beyond the downhill position. This abutment can for example be formed by the rear side of the pressing body.
In order to press the pressing body against the abutment, the heel retainer can comprise a holding element which is for example cylindrical and which comprises an outer thread which is attached and/or moulded on, wherein the outer thread can engage with grooves formed in the base plate. The outer thread and/or hollow cylinder can be screwed into an engagement with the grooves, as it were, into a desired position. A spring element, which is supported on an end of the holding element which is a front end in the skiing direction and on an inner wall of the pressing body, then presses the connecting structure against the end of the pressing body which is the rear end in the skiing direction.
The spring element additionally presses the holding element counter to the skiing direction, such that the flanks of the thread are pressed against the flanks of the grooves, whereby a force fit prevents the holding element from being independently moved out of its set position, for example by the vibration of the ski during descent.
The spring element also simultaneously forms a pressing spring for the heel retainer, wherein the connecting structure can be shifted a few millimeters counter to the direction of travel of the ski, against the resistance of the pressing spring, when stepping into the heel retainer with the ski boot. It is also possible, when the ski is bent in the longitudinal direction, for example during a descent, for the distance between a toe retainer and the heel retainer, which is shortened by the bending, to be compensated for by means of the spring.
The latching lever can be connected to the connecting structure in a pivoting joint. It can form a first lever arm and a second lever arm, wherein the first lever arm extends from the pivoting joint to the spring element which biases the latching lever into the latching position, and the second lever arm extends from the pivoting joint to the engagement for the ski pole, wherein the second lever arm is preferably longer than the first lever arm, which causes the unlatching force acting on the spring element to be amplified. As already stated, the latching lever can be formed in one piece or can consist of a plurality of separate partial levers.
The latching lever can protrude backwards from the heel retainer, in order to be operated using the ski pole; less preferably, the latching lever can protrude laterally from the heel retainer and/or abut the heel retainer in such a way that it can be folded down. The latching lever which can preferably be folded down using the ski pole can be biased into the position in which it is folded onto the heel retainer by a spring element. The latching lever and/or the part of the first lever arm which protrudes from the connecting structure can be protected by a bracket in order to protect against excess soiling and damage, wherein the bracket can be connected to the second connecting structure part.
In a second embodiment, the latching mechanism can comprise a latching lever which is connected to a spindle plate or carbon plate. The spindle plate is connected to the heel retainer and can move the heel retainer from the travelling position to the walking position and latch it in the respective position by means of the latching lever.
The latching lever can be connected to the ski in front of the heel retainer and preferably also in front of a ski brake in the skiing direction. To this end, a fixture is assembled on the surface of the ski, in which the latching lever is mounted in a pivoting joint which is also referred to in the following as the lever pivoting joint in order to unambiguously identify it. The fixture can simultaneously form a guide for the spindle plate, in order to prevent the spindle plate from being able to flex upwards. The fixture and/or guide extends up to the base plate of the heel retainer and is connected to the base plate such that the two parts cannot be moved relative to each other on the surface of the ski either in or counter to the skiing direction.
The spindle plate is connected to the latching lever in another pivoting joint, the spindle plate pivoting joint, wherein the lever pivoting joint is not identical to the spindle plate pivoting joint but rather exhibits a finite distance from it. A sort of toggle lever is thus formed which in a front position and in a rear position can be pivoted beyond the dead center in which the axes of the lever pivoting joint and the spindle plate pivoting joint lie on a horizontal line, which causes the latching lever to latch in the respective over-center position.
If the latching lever is manually moved about the pivoting axle of the lever pivoting joint, the spindle plate is simultaneously moved in the spindle plate pivoting joint, which causes a linear movement of the spindle plate, i.e. when the latching lever is in its foremost position on the ski, the heel retainer is in the travelling position and is latched in this position. If the latching lever is then manually moved backwards in the lever pivoting joint, the spindle plate is simultaneously moved counter to the skiing direction and the heel retainer is thus shifted from its travelling position to the walking position and latched in the latter position.
An end of the spindle plate which is a front end in the skiing direction is connected to the latching lever in the spindle plate pivoting joint. The end of the spindle plate which is the rear end in the skiing direction is designed to be connected to the connecting structure. Between its front end and rear end, the spindle plate can comprise a receptacle for a ski brake securing means which lies in front of the ski brake when the heel retainer is in the travelling position, such that the ski brake can be activated in the event that the ski detaches from the ski boot. When the heel retainer is in the walking position, the ski brake securing means can hold the ski brake fixedly in a secured position on the ski.
The ski brake securing means can for example be a sort of bracket or hook which engages, at least in the walking position, with a structure for example on the brake pedal in order to secure the ski brake during touring. Alternatively, it can for example be a mushroom-shaped peg which protrudes upwards from the upper side of the ski or from a part of the binding, for example the guiding plate, and—at least during touring—lies between the two spring brackets which bear the brake shoes, in a region in which the distance between the two spring brackets is equal to or greater than a diameter of the mushroom base but smaller than a diameter of the mushroom head. The spring brackets are then prevented by the mushroom head from pivoting from their resting position, substantially parallel next to the ski, to the braking position.
If the ski brake securing means is for example fixedly connected to the spindle plate, this can mean that a distance between the heel retainer and the ski brake is altered in the downhill position and the walking position, i.e. the ski brake is for example fixedly connected to the ski, and the heel retainer can be moved on the ski in and counter to the skiing direction via the spindle plate together with the ski brake securing means.
Alternatively, the ski brake securing means can be fixedly connected to the ski, and the ski brake and the heel retainer can be moved together on the ski in and counter to the skiing direction, while the ski brake securing means is not moved. The never-changing distance between the ski brake and the heel retainer allows a design with fewer moving parts, which can have a favorable effect on the cost of the binding, and simultaneously prevents snow from clumping between the ski brake and the heel retainer, which can in particular be disadvantageous when adjusting the heel retainer from the walking position to the travelling position.
In order to be connected to the heel retainer, the spindle plate extends up to and/or into the base plate of the heel retainer and comprises a central rear region which can be designed to be connected to a holding element, wherein the holding element can be a cylindrical holding element comprising an outer thread which is attached or moulded on. The outer thread and/or the spirally extending bridges of the outer thread can engage with grooves formed in the central rear region of the spindle plate.
The holding element co-operates in a known way with a pressing body which comprises a spring element which presses the heel retainer into the travelling position and can be compressed in the longitudinal direction when stepping into the heel retainer or when the ski is bent, in order to vary the distance between a toe retainer and the heel retainer according to circumstances. The details regarding the holding element and the other functional parts of the heel retainer have already been described further above in connection with the first embodiment of the invention, hence with respect to the details, reference is made here to said embodiment.
The central rear region of the spindle plate can be a separate part which is or can be connected to the spindle plate. Alternatively, the central rear region can be formed in one piece with the spindle plate.
The central rear region of the spindle plate can protrude downwards from the spindle plate. This region can engage with an opening in the base plate. The end of the opening which is its front end in the skiing direction can form an abutment for the spindle plate and/or rear central region in the travelling position, and the end of the opening which is its rear end in the skiing direction can form an abutment for the spindle plate and/or rear central region in the walking position.
If the spindle plate comprises the central rear region described, then the spindle plate moves all the parts of the heel retainer or the heel retainer and a ski brake except for the base plate from the travelling position to the walking position.
In all the embodiments, the connecting structure can be formed from a plurality of connecting structure parts, wherein the first connecting structure part can be connected to the tensioning device in a pivoting joint, such that the tensioning device can be pivoted for stepping into and/or out of the heel retainer. The pivoting axle of the pivoting joint extends substantially parallel to the surface of the ski and transverse to the skiing direction.
A second connecting structure part can be linearly guided in the base plate parallel to the surface of the ski in and counter to the skiing direction and can be connected to the first connecting structure part in another pivoting joint, wherein the pivoting axle of this pivoting joint is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ski. The first connecting structure part can be pivoted relative to the second connecting structure part in said other pivoting joint, thus ensuring that the heel retainer is transversely released when a corresponding force is applied.
The transverse release force can be set by means of a release device, wherein the release device comprises a spring-loaded roller which can be moved in a linkage transverse to the skiing direction. The linkage can be connected to the second connecting structure part or formed in one piece with the second connecting structure part. The shape of the linkage and the spring force of the spring element determine the magnitude of the lateral release force for transversely releasing the heel retainer.
The tensioning device comprises a sole retainer. The sole retainer can be formed from two separate partial sole retainers, wherein the partial sole retainers comprise a sole retainer element in the form of a roller which abuts directly onto the sole of the ski boot and rolls off on the sole of the ski boot when laterally released. This reduces a frictional force between the sole retainer and the sole of the ski boot, such that the theoretical release force of the release device substantially corresponds to the release force actually applied and is not additionally increased by a frictional force of unknown magnitude between the sole retainer and the sole of the ski boot.
In order to ensure a reliable release when a large transverse force occurs, a contact area for the ski boot is formed as a sliding plate. This sliding plate can be connected to the base plate or for example to the spindle plate or can be formed as a part of the ski brake, in particular as a pedal of a ski brake.
The sliding plate can comprise a surface or an insert made of a metal, plastic or other material which reduces a frictional resistance between the sliding plate and a lower side of the sole of the ski boot.
Alternatively or additionally, the sliding plate can be mounted on rollers, wherein the rollers exhibit a rotational axis which preferably extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the binding. The rollers can be rotationally mounted in roller bearings or on a fixed axle. The receptacles for the rollers can be formed in the contact area or in the pedal of the ski brake, respectively.
The heel retainer can comprise at least one climbing aid which can be pivoted from a secured position in the downhill position to a touring position, wherein the climbing aid can be held in the secured position by a spring element during descent and/or in the touring position.
The heel retainer preferably comprises at least two climbing aids, wherein the first climbing aid supports the ski boot at a first climbing angle, and the second climbing aid supports the ski boot at a second climbing angle which is different from the first climbing angle. The climbing aid or aids can be secured in the secured position during travel by a spring element each or by a common spring element. The same applies to securing the climbing aid in the folded-down walking position. Preferably, the two or more climbing aids can be pivoted into the walking position one after the other, starting with the climbing aid which exhibits the lowest climbing angle.
The invention also relates to a ski comprising a ski binding which comprises the heel retainer described above.
In the following, an example embodiment of a heel retainer is explained on the basis of figures. All the features which are essential to the invention and shown in the figures form part of the scope of the Invention and can advantageously develop the invention, individually and in the combinations shown.
Specifically, the figures show:
The connecting structure part 3b comprises an extension 25 in the skiing direction which comprises a hook-shaped front end 25a. The extension 25 forms a holding device for a ski brake (not shown) which secures the ski brake in the walking position against being released.
The heel retainer 1 also comprises a tensioning device 4 featuring a skeletal tensioning device body 4a which comprises a sole retainer 5 which consists of a first partial sole retainer 5a and a second partial sole retainer 5b. In the example embodiment, the two partial sole retainers 5a, 5b are identical in design and each comprise a roller 6 and a rotary bearing 6a, wherein the roller 6 directly abuts the sole of a ski boot and minimizes a frictional resistance between the sole of the ski boot and the sole retainer 5, for example when the heel retainer 1 is transversely released.
The tensioning device 4 is connected to the first connecting structure part 3a in a pivoting joint by means of a hollow-cylindrical pivoting axle 9, such that the tensioning device 4 can be pivoted about the pivoting axle 9 towards and away from the surface of a ski.
Two climbing aids 7, 8 can be held in a secured position by a spring element (not shown) when the heel retainer 1 is in the travelling position, and folded into a climbing position when the heel retainer 1 is in the walking position.
The first connecting structure part 3a also forms a housing for a release device 11 for transversely releasing the heel retainer 1, comprising a roller 11a which is guided in a linkage 12. The linkage 12, which is shown as a separate part in the exploded drawing, can be fixedly connected to the second connecting structure part 3b or formed in one piece with the second connecting structure part 3b.
A pressing body 13 which is arranged between the base plate 2 and the second connecting structure part 3b comprises a toothing 14 which in the example embodiment is moulded on.
A latching lever 15 comprises a complementary toothing 23 comprising teeth which can engage with the toothing 14 in order to optionally latch the heel retainer 1 in the travelling position or in the walking position. The latching lever 15 can be connected to the second connecting structure part 3b in a pivoting joint 16 and comprises a first lever arm 15a and a second lever arm 15b. The complementary toothing 23 and, in front of the complementary toothing 23 in the skiing direction, a cylindrical receptacle for a spring element 17 are formed on the first lever arm 15a. The spring element 17 can be supported on the latching lever 15 and on a lower side of the second connecting structure part 3b and press the complementary toothing 23 into the toothing 14. The end of the second lever arm 15b which points away from the pivoting joint 16 comprises an engaging recess 18 with which the skier can engage the tip of a ski pole in order to press the latching lever 15 onto the surface of the ski, thus compressing the spring element 17 and moving the complementary toothing 23 out of the toothing 14.
The pressing body 13 comprises a semi-cylindrical receptacle 13a for a holding element 19. The holding element 19 comprises a cylindrical holding element body, wherein an end of the holding element body which is a front end in the skiing direction comprises an outer thread 20 which can engage spirally with grooves or slits 2a of the base plate 2, such that the holding element 19 cannot independently be moved relative to the base plate 2 in or counter to the skiing direction.
A spring element 21 which is for example supported on an inner wall of the pressing body 13 and on the holding element 19 in an opening in the region of the outer thread 20 presses the heel retainer 1 into the travelling position and simultaneously presses the flanks of the outer thread 20 against the sides of the grooves or slits 2a and thus establishes an additional force fit between the pressing body 13 and the base plate 2.
Another spring element 22 is supported on a transverse strut 24, which is moulded on the receptacle 13a of the pressing body 13, and on an inner wall of the connecting structure part 3b. The spring element 22 is compressed when the heel retainer 1 is latched in the downhill position by the latching lever 15. If the latching lever 15 is then operated using the ski pole, such that the complementary toothing 23 disengages from the toothing 14, the spring element 22 or the release spring 22 moves the heel retainer 1 counter to the skiing direction relative to the base plate 2, i.e. the heel retainer 1 is linearly offset backwards on the ski, such that the sole retainer 5 no longer presses the sole of the ski boot against the ski and the heel of the ski boot can be lifted off the surface of the ski unimpeded, for a walking movement.
In
The pressing body 13, comprising the toothing 14 which is moulded on and the transverse strut 24 on which the release spring 22 (not shown) is supported, is arranged on the base plate 2. The holding element 19 is arranged below the pressing body 13 and comprises an outer thread 20 which can engage with grooves 2a of the base plate 2. The lever 15 comprising the complementary toothing 23 is shown in an engagement with the toothing 14.
The functionally most important parts of the heel retainer 31 are shown, namely: the connecting structure 3; the tensioning device 4 comprising the sole retainer 5 which is connected to the connecting structure 3 in a horizontal pivoting axle 9; the base plate 52; and the shifting mechanism.
The base plate 52 is designed to accommodate the connecting structure 3, such that the connecting structure 3 can be linearly moved on the base plate 52 in and counter to the skiing direction. The base plate 52 also comprises inter alia two engagements 52a, 52b and a cavity 52c, the relevance of which will be explained below.
The shifting mechanism comprises: a fastening device 32 comprising a guiding portion 33; a spindle plate 34; and a latching lever 35. The latching lever 35 comprises a grip 36, which can be manually grasped by the user, and two lateral arms 37, 38 which comprise two bores 37a, 37b and 38a, 38b each. The two arms 37, 38 are connected by a bridge 39 at the level of the bores 37b, 38b.
The end of the fastening device 32 which is the front end in the skiing direction comprises a mounting 32a, and the end of the guiding portion 33 which is the rear end in the skiing direction comprises two engaging elements 33a, 33b which can engage with the engagements 52a, 52b of the base plate 52, in order to connect the fastening device 32 to the base plate 52. The guiding portion 33 also comprises two lateral delineations which form a guide for the spindle plate 34, and bridges which connect the two delineations and form a bearing support for the spindle plate 34.
The bores 37a, 38a serve to connect the lever 35 to the fastening device 32 in a lever pivoting joint. The bores 37b, 38b serve to connect the lever 35 to the spindle plate 34 in a spindle plate pivoting joint. The bridge 39 forms an abutment for the spindle plate 34 when the heel retainer 31 is in the travelling position.
The spindle plate 34 comprises an end which is a front end in the skiing direction and which is designed to be connected to the lever 35 by an axial body 46 in the bores 37b, 38b. It also comprises an accommodating region 47 which is designed to be connected to a latching element 45 for a ski brake 40, and an end region 48 comprising a connecting region 49, featuring grooves 49a in the cavity 52c, for connecting the spindle plate 34 to the base plate 52 and to the connecting structure 3 by means of a holding element 19 (not shown).
In order to move the heel retainer 31 from the travelling position shown in
The pedal 60 comprises receptacles 62a into which rollers 62 can be inserted. In the example embodiment, the rollers 62 are axial rollers comprising an axle 62b on which the roller bodies 62c are rotationally mounted. The bearings for the roller bodies 62c can in particular be needle bearings, spherical bearings or barrel-shaped bearings which offer the lowest possible resistance to the rotation of the roller bodies 62c. A receptacle 63a for a spring 63 is formed in the center of the pedal 60. The spring 63 serves to move the sliding plate 61 back into its initial position after a movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the binding. To this end, the spring 63 protrudes through the sliding piece support 61a and is supported on studs 61d on the sliding piece 61b.
Two spring brackets 64 and a separate spring link 65 together form the mechanism by which the brake shoes 66 can be moved into the braking position when the ski binding is released, for example due to a fall. The spring brackets 64 can be connected to the pedal 60 and the spring link 65 can be connected to the pedal 60 and a foot plate 67.
The sliding piece 61b, the pedal 60 and the brake shoes 66 can be formed from plastic, while the sliding piece support 61a, the spring 63, the rollers 62, the spring brackets 64 and the spring link 65 are preferably manufactured from metal, for example steel.
Alternatively, the ski brake securing means 67 can for example be connected to the base plate or to the ski. The spindle plate 34 can then comprise a cavity in the form of an elongated hole, such that the spindle plate 34 can be moved from the travelling position to the walking position together with the heel retainer 1 or together with the heel retainer 1 and the ski brake 40, without the ski brake securing means 67 being moved relative to the ski.
The ski brake securing means 67 can be moved into the securing position shown when the ski brake is in the braking position. If the skier then steps into the ski binding, he or she presses the pedal 60 downwards, and the two spring brackets 64 are pressed over the head of the ski brake securing means 67 and briefly pressed apart elastically. As soon as the spring brackets 64 have passed the head at their widest point, they elastically return to their original position, i.e. the distance between the two spring brackets 64 is reduced back to its normal degree, and the spring brackets 64 snap under the head of the ski brake securing means 67, as it were, into the secured position shown in
The latching element 45 (
The head of the ski brake securing means 67 can also be elastically connected to the base, such that the head can be moved slightly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse direction of the ski when it passes into engagement with the spring brackets 64.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2013 201 725 | Feb 2013 | DE | national |
This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/170,703, filed Feb. 3, 2014 which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2013 201 725.1, filed Feb. 1, 2013, the contents of such application being incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3731943 | Wilkes | May 1973 | A |
| 3830510 | Stauffer | Aug 1974 | A |
| 4500108 | Johnson, III | Feb 1985 | A |
| 4521032 | Haldemann | Jun 1985 | A |
| 4635955 | Zoor | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4900052 | Provence et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
| 5114173 | Goud | May 1992 | A |
| 5209516 | Arduin et al. | May 1993 | A |
| 6073955 | Chonier | Jun 2000 | A |
| 7431310 | Redor et al. | Oct 2008 | B2 |
| 20030001363 | Battistella et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20080309053 | Mangold et al. | Dec 2008 | A1 |
| 20110018232 | Prigge et al. | Jan 2011 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150297974 A1 | Oct 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14170703 | Feb 2014 | US |
| Child | 14753170 | US |
