Ski binding, especially for cross-country skis

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6644683
  • Patent Number
    6,644,683
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 30, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 11, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A ski binding for cross-country ski fixes the front section of a boot such that the heel of the boot can be freely lifted off. The boot is fixed to the binding by an interlocking engagement of its sole, and by holding down the front end of the sole. Elements are also provided that laterally guide and stabilize the sole and, hence, the boot.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a binding, especially for cross-country skis, for fixing a front section of a boot in such a way that during use the heel of the boot can be freely lifted off.




2. Description of the Related Art




Such bindings are generally known for skis intended for cross-country or touring use or for telemark sport. A binding designed for this purpose should be both simple in construction and reliable in function, during both cross-country and downhill skiing. Furthermore, a binding for touring or cross-country skiing should be ergonomically advantageous, enabling anatomically appropriate locomotor movements on skis.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This aim is attained with a ski binding of the kind mentioned above in that the boot becomes fixed to the binding firstly by a hooking or interlocking engagement of the sole of the boot, in the region between the ball and the front end and in particular in the toe-joint region of the sole, and secondly by means of a device that acts on the sole or on the boot, in particular in an elastic manner, so that the engagement remains secure during use.




This kind of attachment of a boot to a binding is extremely simple and nevertheless functions suitably. The boot is merely hooked into or interlocked with the binding, while each of the interlocking elements is an immobile part of the sole or binding, respectively. To keep the interlocking stable, of course, other means must be provided that act on the boot or its sole in such a way that the boot remains engaged during use. These means preferably comprise elastically pretensioned tensioning means, which when required simultaneously guide the boot laterally and stabilize it. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for downhill skiing.




Another embodiment of the structural principle in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the means acting on the sole or the boot keep it engaged with the binding by holding the front end of the sole down. As a result, the sole of the ski boot in the region between the engagement site and the front end is held firmly to the binding or its upper surface and a constant contact between boot and ski is ensured. This contact is also not broken when in the region between the engagement site and the front end of the sole an elastically yielding element, or flexor, is disposed between sole and binding.




The means acting on the sole or the boot in order to maintain the engagement can be either a tensioning cable that passes around the heel of the boot and keeps the boot in place by exerting a force that tends to pull it forward, or a tensioning cable that passes around the front end of the boot or its sole and keeps the boot in place by exerting a force directed towards the back.




When the front end of the sole is to be held down, it is preferable to use a closing element pivotably mounted on a U- or C-shaped swivel iron and connected to an actuating lever, such that the swivel iron is pivotably mounted on the binding near the sole engagement site and positioned below, about at the same level as, or just above the sole, so that the two arms of the swivel iron extend along the two lateral edges of the sole in a diagonally forward and upward direction, and stabilize the sole and hence the boot at the sides. The swivel iron thus has a double function: firstly it serves to hold the closing element, and secondly its arms simultaneously guide the boot laterally. It is also important that the coupling of the swivel iron is situated near the site of engagement of the sole, either just ahead of or just behind this site. By this means a functionally secure interlocking is achieved entirely by the closing element, with no need for the exertion of very high forces in order to actuate that element.




When in the locked position, the closing element is kept in a position beyond the dead point, where its axis of rotation is above the line connecting the site at which it abuts against the sole and the site at which the U- or C-shaped swivel iron is coupled to the binding. In order to open the closing element and hence the binding, the axis of rotation is brought into a position below said connecting line, by the appropriate imposition of force on an actuating lever connected to the closing element.




The interlocking elements are kept in the engaged position exclusively by the closing element. No separate closing elements in the sole region or on the underside of the sole are required for this purpose.




It should also be mentioned that the interlocking in the toe-joint region of the sole is particularly advantageous anatomically. As a result the foot is minimally constrained during the so-called diagonal step. Because of the additional lateral stabilization of the boot in the last-mentioned embodiment, this is also suitable for so-called skating and in particular for telemark sport.




The pivot bearing or the axis of rotation of the swivel iron is preferably adjustable in its height, in particular so that it can be positioned below the level of the sole, at the same level as the sole, or above it. These adjustments have an influence on the resistance moment when the heel of the boot is raised. The higher the coupling of the swivel iron is positioned, the more rapidly does the resistance moment rise.




In the case in which the means acting on the sole or the boot in order to maintain the interlocking comprises a tensioning cable that passes around the front end of the boot or of its sole, this cable too is coupled to a closing element, which preferably is disposed behind the boot and is accessible. The actual closing mechanism in this embodiment can be disposed below the sole, in particular below the heel of the boot, and can comprise an elbow-lever arrangement which can be brought into a beyond-dead-point closed position by pressing it down with the heel.




Alternatively, it is conceivable for the boot to be fixed to the binding by interlocking means (receiving openings) disposed in the sole-sided region between ball and front end of the sole, in particular in the toe-joint region of the sole, into which are inserted in a lock-like manner retaining hooks that are movably mounted on the binding side.




In principle it holds for all embodiments that for engagement of the sole, on the under surface thereof first interlocking elements are disposed that interact with complementary second interlocking elements on the binding in such a way that in the interlocked state the sole and hence the boot is held to the binding firmly, i.e. substantially without play.




As sole-sided interlocking elements there can be provided at least one, in particular two retaining hooks, which are bent backward and are preferably disposed near the edge of the sole, and which can be inserted into complementary receiving openings on the binding side. These are preferably formed by wire straps bent into approximately a U shape, each of which stands upright with its width oriented transversely with respect to the long direction of the ski or boot. These define openings directed forward and backward to receive the sole-sided retaining hooks.




It is further of quite crucial significance that the sole-sided interlocking elements are so disposed as to lie within the sole, so that they do not project beyond its tread, for which purpose they are situated within recesses in the sole that extend at least in the long direction of the sole. This measure ensures that normal walking while wearing the boot is not hampered by the interlocking elements. The associated recesses in the sole serve for collision-free engagement with the complementary interlocking elements on the binding side. Furthermore, snow or the like can be pushed out of the recesses during the engagement process, i.e. when the sole-sided interlocking elements are being inserted into the binding-sided receiving openings.




In principle it is also conceivable for the sole-sided interlocking elements to be engaged with complementary interlocking elements on the binding by merely inserting the boot and standing in or on the binding (step-in mechanism). However, it is then necessary to open this engagement mechanism manually in order to get out of the binding, for which a special handle is required.




The sole-sided interlocking elements can also consist of at least one, in particular two receiving slots, each disposed near the edge of the sole and opening towards the back, in the form of a receiving fork into which screws or the like disposed on the binding can be inserted in such a way that the heads of the screws overlap the receiving slots. This construction is an alternative to the construction previously described.




It is also conceivable to use as sole-sided interlocking elements at least one, in particular two cross-axles each disposed within a recess near the edge of the sole, which extend approximately parallel to the tread of the sole and can be inserted into hooks or straps that are bent forward and disposed on the binding, so as to become engaged therewith. Alternatively, the sole-sided interlocking elements can be constructed as a retaining iron bent into a U or C shape,




With the closing element that acts on the front end of the sole there is preferably also associated an elastic element against the action of which it can be moved past the dead-point line. This elastic element can be part of an arm of the swivel iron that holds the closing element. Alternatively, the elastic element can be disposed between the swivel iron and the closing element itself, as an elastic pressure element between swivel iron and closing element on the side thereof that faces the boot.




Finally, it should be pointed out that a ski brake can be associated with the binding, in particular a ski brake of the conventional kind, which when the boot is inserted into the binding and the front part of the sole is engaged therewith can be pivoted into an inactive travelling position against the action of a torsion spring, and does not return to the braking position until the boot is removed from the binding. For this purpose a sole-contact plate is coupled to the ski brake, at the front end of which a sole abutment is formed. When the boot enters the binding, the front end of the sole is brought into contact with said sole abutment. Then the sole-contact plate is pressed downward and simultaneously the ski brake pivots upward into the travelling position. After this the boot can be pulled backwards relative to the ski so that it interlocks with the binding. This engagement is secured by the closing element described above and its action on the front end of the sole.




Preferably the described interlocking and closing mechanism is situated on a plate that is fixed to the upper surface of the ski or to a binding shell mounted thereon in such a way that it can be swung to the side under the action of a specified limiting torsional load; that is, it can rotate about an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski. As a result, the ski binding in accordance with the invention amounts to a safety binding, which is particularly attractive for telemark sport.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




In the following, preferred embodiments of a ski binding or binding arrangement in accordance with the invention are explained with reference to the attached drawings, wherein





FIG. 1

is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention, which also comprises a ski brake, and the associated boot, shown just before it enters the binding;





FIG. 2

shows the binding arrangement of

FIG. 1

after the boot has entered;





FIG. 3

is a schematic side view of the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 1

without boot;





FIG. 4

is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

shows the front part of the sole of a ski boot associated with the binding arrangement according to

FIGS. 1

to


4


, as viewed from below;





FIG. 6

is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a binding arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention with associated boot, before the latter enters the binding, wherein this binding arrangement is characterized in that the fixation mechanism for the boot is mounted on a plate that is released upon overloading;





FIG. 7

is a schematic side view of the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 6

with boot fixed to the binding;





FIG. 8

shows the binding arrangement according to

FIGS. 6 and 7

without associated ski boot, in schematic side view;





FIG. 9

is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

shows the binding arrangement according to

FIGS. 6

to


9


after release from the ski owing to the action of an overload;





FIG. 11

is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 10

showing a boot released after overloading;





FIG. 12

is a schematic side view of a ski boot constructed in accordance with the invention, partially in longitudinal section (front part of sole);





FIG. 13

is a plan view of the front sole part of a modified ski boot;





FIG. 14

shows the front sole part of the boot according to





FIG. 13

in section along the line XVI—XVI in

FIG. 13

;





FIG. 15

is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention, showing the associated boot being inserted into the binding, wherein this binding arrangement comprises a retaining hook on the binding side, mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable, and a closing mechanism coupled thereto;





FIG. 16

shows the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 15

after the boot has been inserted;





FIG. 17

shows a fourth embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention with binding-sided, longitudinally displaceable retaining hook coupled to a closing mechanism, in schematic side view corresponding to that of

FIG. 15

;





FIG. 18

shows the binding arrangement according to

FIG. 17

after insertion of the boot into the binding;





FIGS. 19 and 20

are schematic side views of a means for influencing a flexor between the front end of the sole and upper surface of the ski, for a binding arrangement according to

FIGS. 15

to


18


;





FIG. 21

is a schematic side view of a fifth embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention corresponding to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, showing how a front swivel iron with closing element is coupled to the binding at different heights relative to the sole of the boot;





FIG. 22

is a graph of the resistance moment as a function of the angle a between boot sole and upper surface of ski when the boot heel is raised, for the swivel-iron coupling points A, B and C in

FIG. 21

;





FIG. 23

is a schematic side view of a sixth embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention, comprising a locking bolt; and





FIG. 24

is a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention, comprising a tensioning cable that passes around the heel of the boot.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION





FIGS. 1

to


4


show in schematic side and plan view a ski binding, in particular a cross-country or telemark binding, for fixing a front section of a boot


10


in such a way that during use the heel


23


of the boot can be freely raised. Fixation of the boot


10


to the binding, indicated in

FIGS. 1

to


4


by the reference numeral


11


, is brought about firstly by hooking the sole


12


into place in the region between the ball of the foot and the front end


13


of the sole, in particular in the toe joint region


14


of the sole


12


, and secondly by holding the front end


13


of the sole down, additional elements being provided that laterally guide and stabilize the sole


12


or boot


10


while the binding is in use, in particular when the heel


23


of the boot is raised. This lateral stabilization is mediated by a U- or C-shaped swivel iron


31


, mounted so as to pivot about an axis


30


and bearing on its cross-piece


32


a closing element


15


that acts on the front end


13


of the sole and is in turn pivotably mounted (axis of rotation


35


). Thus the front end


13


of the sole is held down by a closing element


15


that is pivotably mounted on a U- or C-shaped swivel iron


31


and is connected to an actuating lever


33


. The swivel iron


31


is mounted on the binding


11


below the sole


12


, near the site where the sole is hooked in, and is so arranged that it can pivot about the above-mentioned axis


30


, which extends transverse to the long direction of the ski and approximately parallel to the upper surface of the ski. This coupling allows the two arms


34


of the swivel iron


31


to extend past the two lateral edges of the sole in a diagonal, namely upward and forward direction, thus guiding the sole


12


and hence the boot


10


laterally and stabilizing it. In this concrete embodiment, therefore, the swivel iron


31


has a dual function: firstly it provides lateral guidance and stabilization of the boot, in particular when the heel


23


is raised, and secondly it defines the bearing on which the element that acts on the front end


13


of the sole pivots, namely the closing element


15


with its actuating lever


33


.




As can be seen in

FIG. 2

, when the closing element


15


is closed it is held in a position above the dead point; that is, its axis of rotation


35


, defined by the cross-piece


32


of the swivel iron


31


, is above the line connecting the site


36


, where the closing element


15


rests against the sole, and the coupling


30


of the swivel iron


31


to the binding


11


.




The interlocking elements in the embodiment illustrated here are held in the engaged position by the closing element


15


, and by it alone, as indicated in FIG.


2


. To hook the sole


12


into place, on its undersurface there are disposed first interlocking elements


16


that cooperate with complementary second interlocking elements


17


on the binding


11


in such a way that when they are in the engaged position, the sole


12


and hence the boot


10


is fixed firmly to the binding. In the embodiment shown here, the sole


12


becomes hooked into place when it moves backwards, i.e. towards the heel


23


, so that the engagement is maintained by the action of the closing element


15


on the front end


13


of the sole when the closing element is in the closed position, shown in FIG.


2


.




As sole-sided interlocking elements


16


in the embodiment shown here, two retaining hooks


18


, each bent towards the back, are disposed near the edge of the sole so that they can be inserted into complementary receiving openings disposed on the binding. The binding-sided receiving openings here are defined by two wire straps


19


bent into approximately a U shape, each of which stands upright and is oriented transverse to the long direction of ski and boot. As a result, the wire straps


19


form openings through which the sole-sided retaining hooks


18


can pass in the long direction of the ski and boot. Both the retaining hooks


18


and the wire straps


19


are firmly attached, the former to the boot sole


12


by vulcanization and the latter to the binding or binding case.

FIGS. 1 and 2

further show that the sole-sided interlocking elements


16


, here in the form of backwards-bent retaining hooks


18


, are disposed within the sole


12


, so that they are below its surface; this is achieved by situating them in recesses


20


that extend in the long direction of the sole. The retaining hooks


18


thus do not project outward or downward beyond the tread of the sole.




It should also be pointed out that the actuating lever


33


with associated closing element


15


can be pivoted about the axis


35


in the direction of the double-headed arrow


21


. The swivel iron


31


is pivotable about the axis


30


in the direction of the double-headed arrow


22


(see FIG.


2


).




In the region between the interlocking sole elements and the front end


13


of the sole, an elastically yielding element, e.g. a flexor


24


, can additionally be disposed between the sole and the binding


11


or the upper surface thereof (see

FIGS. 15

to


20


).




The upper of the boot


10


, in the toe-joint region


14


, is also provided with a cross-fold


25


, which additionally facilitates raising of the heel


23


.




In the present case there are two engagement sites, each disposed near a side edge of the sole


12


; together, they define a fixation axis extending transverse to the long direction of the ski and sole and parallel to the tread of the sole, about which the front part of the sole can be rolled or pivoted, against the action of the elastic flexor


24


if the latter is provided. Provision of a flexor


24


is not absolutely necessary, however, as can be seen in

FIGS. 1

to


4


. When it is not present, of course, the front part of the sole does not pivot about the above-mentioned fixation axis; instead the front section of the sole


12


is held firmly in contact with the binding or its surface, by the interlocking elements on one hand and the closing element


15


on the other.




It can be seen in the plan view shown in

FIG. 4

that the boot is anchored at three points: the two engagement sites and the front end


13


of the sole. In addition, lateral guidance is provided by the swivel iron


31


, in particular when the heel


23


of the boot is lifted in the direction of the arrow


26


.





FIGS. 1 and 2

also show part of a ski, identified by the reference numeral


27


. The reference numeral


28


indicates the upper surface of the ski.




The closing element


15


exerts force on the front end


13


of the sole in the direction of the arrow


29


. This force arrow coincides with the connection line between the axis of rotation


30


of the swivel iron


31


and the site


36


where the closing element


15


is supported on the sole. Accordingly, the closing element


15


presses the front end


13


of the sole downwards and furthermore pushes the boot


10


backwards, thus maintaining the engagement between the elements


16


and


17


, more particularly


18


and


19


.




As lateral guide elements for the boot


10


it is also possible to use the upright cheeks in the front part of a conventional binding. However, the embodiment described above and shown in

FIGS. 1

to


4


is more elegant and less elaborate as well as equally reliable in function. The alternative is mentioned here merely to establish that variously constructed embodiments of the lateral guide elements are conceivable.




The binding arrangement according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


is further characterized by the additional integration of a ski brake. This is identified by the reference numeral


38


. According to

FIGS. 3 and 4

it comprises a fork so mounted as to be pivotable about an axis


39


that extends parallel to the upper surface of the ski and transverse to its long direction; when the boot is released and removed from the binding, the prongs


40


of the fork are acted upon by an elastic element, in particular a torsion spring, in such a way that they rotate downward past the two side walls of the associated ski into a position in which the free ends of the prongs are distinctly below the running surface of the ski. In this position the free ends can become buried in the substrate, in particular snow, so that after the ski has become detached from the boot, it is prevented from sliding uncontrolled down a slope.




In the illustrated embodiment protective caps


41


made of plastic or similar material are pushed over the free ends of the prongs. Preferably these protective caps bear downward-pointing toothlike projections


42


that dig into the substrate, in particular snow, like claws when the ski boot has been released.




To ensure that when the boot is set into the binding, the prongs


40


of the ski brake are rotated into a position in which they are well above the level of the running surface of the ski, they are attached to a sole-contact element, in particular a sole-contact plate


43


, in such a way that when the sole-contact plate


43


is pressed downward by the front part of the sole as the boot enters the binding, the prongs


40


are pivoted upward, namely clockwise in

FIG. 3

, into the position shown in FIG.


2


. The sole-contact plate


43


is rigidly attached to the fork of the ski brake


38


that comprises the prongs


40


, in the present case by means of wirelike connecting elements


44


or by wires that are integral with the prongs. At the front, free end of the connecting elements


44


the contact plate


43


is mounted so that it can pivot about an axis


45


that extends parallel to the axis of rotation


39


.




The ski brake


38


illustrated and described above is known per se, so that there is no need for a more detailed description here. This applies in particular to the spring that exerts tension on the ski brake when it is in the braking position shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

. It is of special significance that the front end of the sole-contact plate


43


comprises a sole abutment


46


, i.e. an abutment


46


against which the front end of the sole comes to rest. This makes it possible to fix the position of the ski boot


10


as it is inserted into the binding in such a way that after the sole-contact plate has been pushed down onto the upper surface


28


of the ski or the upper surface of a binding shell


48


mounted on the upper surface


28


of the ski, the sole-sided interlocking elements


16


or


18


are in a position such that they are prepared to become engaged; that is, in the illustrated embodiment, they are directly ahead of the binding-sided interlocking elements


17


or


19


. From this position the ski boot


10


needs merely to be pulled slightly backwards in order to achieve the desired engagement of the elements


16


,


18


with the elements


17


,


19


, as shown in FIG.


2


. This engagement is maintained, in the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1

to


5


, automatically once the actuating lever


33


has been pivoted into the closed position shown in FIG.


2


.




Finally, the embodiment according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


also comprises the suggestion to extend the recesses in the sole, which accommodate the sole-sided interlocking elements


16


or


18


, further backward toward the heel of the boot so as to form sole grooves, which when the boot is seated in the binding correspond to guide ribs


47


formed on the upper surface of the binding shell. The guide ribs are disposed behind the binding sided interlocking elements


17


,


19


. Below them is the axis of rotation


39


of the ski brake


38


.




The shell of the ski binding, which in the embodiment according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


has a platelike construction, is identified in these figures by the reference numeral


48


. Within this shell are pivotably mounted both the ski brake (about the axis


39


) and the swivel iron


31


(axis


30


) with closing element


15


and actuating lever


33


, as can be readily discerned in

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


3


.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the swivel iron


31


in plan view delimits a trapezoid, the shorter side of which is in front and defines the cross-piece


32


that holds the actuating lever


33


.




The above-mentioned binding shell


48


is fastened to the upper surface


28


of the ski (the remainder of which is not shown) by screws


49


.




The embodiment shown in

FIGS. 6

to


11


differs from that according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


substantially in that although the ski brake


38


is pivotably (axis


39


) mounted on the binding shell


48


in the manner described above, the swivel iron


31


bearing the closing element


15


and actuating lever


33


is not mounted as previously. Instead, this closing mechanism is pivotably held on a separate binding plate


50


; that is, the axis of rotation


30


associated with this mechanism runs through said binding plate


50


. The binding plate


50


is fixed to the binding shell


48


in the same way as described in the applicant's patent WO 94/27692. In this patent a binding plate is described onto which a ski boot is locked in such a way that the middle part of the foot and the heel can be raised freely from the upper surface of the ski. The binding plate can be swung horizontally to the side, about an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski and against the action of spring-loaded elements in a catch device, and it can swing so far out that it becomes completely detached from the ski as shown in FIG.


11


. The furthest forward end


51


of the binding plate abuts against a complementary component at the front end of the binding shell, in such a way that the plate can rotate about its forward end


51


. The catch device is associated with the back end of the binding plate


50


. The complementary component of the binding shell associated with the front end


51


of the binding plate


50


is identified in

FIG. 11

by the reference numeral


52


.




The binding plate


50


comprises a passageway


53


for a contact element


54


of the ski brake


38


that cooperates indirectly with the front part of the sole of the boot


10


, such that the contact between the front part of the sole, specifically the tread


37


of this part of the sole of the boot


10


, and the front contact element


54


of the ski brake


38


is mediated by a sole-contact plate


43


, which is mounted on the binding plate


50


so that it is pivotable about an axis


55


that extends approximately parallel to the upper surface


28


of the ski and perpendicular to the long direction of the ski (see FIGS.


6


and


8


).




At the front end of the sole-contact plate


43


, as in the embodiment according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


, an upward-projecting abutment


46


for the front end of the sole of the boot


10


is formed. When the boot


10


enters the binding, the front end of its sole comes into contact with the abutment


46


. Then the sole-contact plate


43


is pressed downward, and simultaneously the brake prongs


40


of the ski brake


38


are pivoted into a position above the level of the running surface of the ski, where they are approximately parallel to the long direction of the ski as shown in FIG.


7


. Thereafter the boot is fixed to the binding plate


50


by the closing element


15


in the manner described above, such that the boot is pushed slightly backward on the sole-contact plate


43


, into a position according to FIG.


7


. This backward displacement hooks the sole-sided interlocking elements into the binding-sided interlocking elements as described above, so that the ski boot


10


is fixed to the binding plate


50


and hence to the binding


11


as described at the outset. Also disposed on the upper surface of the binding plate


50


are the guide ribs


47


described with reference to

FIGS. 1

to


5


, which correspond to complementary grooves on the under surface of the sole of the ski boot


10


. These serve to increase lateral stability and, in particular when travelling in a curve, help to control the ski by transferring laterally directed forces from the boot to the ski by way of the binding


11


. If these forces become excessive because of a fall, the binding plate


50


becomes detached from the binding shell


48


and hence from the ski, in the manner described by the applicant in the application cited above and also illustrated in FIG.


11


.




Apart from this difference, the components of the embodiment according to

FIGS. 6

to


11


function in the same way as the components identified by the same reference numerals in the embodiment according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


.




It should again be pointed out at this juncture that both the sole-sided and the binding-sided interlocking elements in accordance with the invention are constructed so as to be immobile; that is, they comprise no parts that can move relative to the sole or the binding shell. The only movable component of the closing mechanism is the closing element


15


along with the actuating lever


33


and swivel iron


31


. This makes the binding in accordance with the invention particularly simple but nevertheless highly ergonomic and reliable in function, especially for telemark skiing.




In

FIG. 12

the front half of a ski boot


10


in accordance with the invention is shown in schematic side view, partially in schematic longitudinal section (front part of sole). In this ski boot the front part


56


of the sole comprises two recesses


20


, each disposed near the edge of the sole and within each of which an interlocking element


16


in the form of a backwards-bent retaining hook


18


is positioned in such a way that its entire extent is within the recess, so that it does not project outward beyond the tread


37


of the sole. This ski boot has been described above in connection with the previously described binding arrangement, with reference to

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The present reference to

FIG. 2

is made in order to document that the boot per se is likewise regarded as invention, i.e. it is independent of the previously described binding arrangement. This ski boot is characterized in that when necessary it can be used as a walking boot, as long as the sole


12


is sufficiently flexible to bend appropriately, e.g. consists of a suitable hard-rubber mixture.




At its end on the inner surface of the sole the retaining hook


18


is provided with an anchoring plate


57


. This anchoring plate


57


, which is preferably disk-shaped, is positioned between the insole and the sole


12


of the boot


10


and ensures that the hook


18


is securely fixed within the sole recess


20


. The back end of the retaining hook


18


is somewhat slanted, so that the surface slopes upward from back to front. This bevelling, identified by the reference numeral


61


, makes it easier to insert the hook into the binding-sided interlocking element, namely a retainer or wire strap


19


as described above.




In

FIGS. 13 and 14

a modified embodiment of a ski boot in accordance with the invention is represented by drawings that show only the structures of interest in the front part of the sole, as viewed from below and in partial cross section along the line XVI—XVI in FIG.


13


. This embodiment is distinguished by the fact that the sole-sided interlocking elements


16


comprise retaining straps


58


bent into a U or C shape and positioned within the sole recesses


20


in such a way that each extends transverse to the long direction of the sole and does not extend beyond the tread


37


of the sole, as is clearly visible in FIG.


14


.





FIG. 14

also shows that the open space between the two arms


59


of the retaining strap


58


has the same width as the open space within the entire recess


20


in the direction transverse to the long direction of the sole. This embodiment thus offers the great advantage that the recess


20


in the sole can be made very narrow as compared with the recess


20


in the embodiment according to

FIG. 12

, because in the latter case the recess


20


must be at least wide enough, in the direction transverse to the long direction of the sole, that an associated wire strap can be inserted into the recess over its full width. Accordingly, the recesses


20


in the embodiment according to

FIGS. 13 and 14

can be made considerably narrower than in the embodiment according to FIG.


12


.




On the insole side, the arms


59


of the retaining strap


58


are connected to one another by a disk-like anchoring plate


60


, which has the same anchoring function as the anchoring plate


57


in the embodiment according to FIG.


12


.





FIG. 13

also makes clear that the sole recesses


20


are preferably constructed as longitudinal grooves extending approximately parallel to the long direction of the sole.




Regarding the passageway


53


in

FIG. 9

for the contact element


54


, it should be mentioned that this element does not interfere with release of the binding plate


50


by swinging sideways under overload, because as long as the boot


10


is held firmly on the binding plate


50


, the sole-contact plate


43


is also pressed downward in such a way that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface of the binding plate


50


. The underside of the sole-contact plate


43


presses the contact element


54


so far downwards that the binding plate


50


can swing out to the side without colliding with the contact element


54


. The end of the contact element


54


that cooperates with the lower surface of the sole-contact plate


43


or the underside of the binding plate


50


is preferably rounded, so that when the binding plate


50


swings out to the side and is released, along with the boot, from the binding shell


48


, the binding plate cannot become engaged with the contact element so as to prevent the binding plate from swinging outward.




The construction just described makes it possible for the ski brake to operate effectively whenever the boot is not yet fixed to the binding plate, i.e. has not yet entered the binding or has been removed from the binding, or whenever the binding plate


50


together with the boot


10


is released from the binding shell


48


owing to overloading caused by a fall or the like, as a result of which the binding plate


50


swings out to the side relative to the binding shell


48


as described above, about an axis that extends approximately perpendicular to the upper surface


28


of the ski.




In

FIGS. 15 and 16

a third embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordance with the invention with associated boot


10


is shown in schematic side view. This binding arrangement comprises a retaining hook


62


with which is coupled a closing mechanism


65


, disposed in the binding shell


48


so as to be longitudinally displaceable (in the direction of the double-headed arrow


64


).

FIG. 15

shows the binding arrangement while the associated boot is being inserted into the binding, whereas

FIG. 16

shows binding arrangement and boot after insertion has been completed.




To fix the boot


10


to the binding


11


, the front end of the sole


13


is inserted under a retaining iron


63


, mounted on the binding shell


48


so as to be pivotable about a transverse axis


66


, as shown in FIG.


15


. The retaining iron


63


is approximately U- or C-shaped. The cross-piece at the front of the retaining iron


63


also serves as a stop against which the front end of the boot abuts when it is inserted into the binding. In this stopped position the boot


10


can be moved downward, so that the interlocking elements


16


on the sole side are in the right place to become hooked into the binding-sided interlocking elements


17


. The sole-sided interlocking elements are U- or C-shaped retaining straps


58


, positioned within recesses


20


in the sole near its longitudinal edges so that they are oriented transverse to the long direction of the sole and do not extend beyond the tread


37


of the sole, as can readily be seen in

FIGS. 15 and 16

. In this regard reference is also made to the description of

FIGS. 13 and 14

. As mentioned above, the binding-sided retaining hooks


62


are mounted within the binding shell


48


in such a way that they can be shifted back and forth. The back ends of the retaining hooks


62


are connected to a heel plate


69


by way of an elbow-lever arrangement consisting of front and back levers


67


,


68


. The connection between the two levers is a hinge joint, as are the connections between the front lever and the back end of the longitudinally displaceable retaining hook


62


and between the back lever


68


and the heel plate


69


. In the position of the longitudinally displaceable retaining hook or hooks


62


in which the boot is released, as shown in

FIG. 15

the levers


67


,


68


of the elbow-lever arrangement are deflected upward; the hinge joint between the levers


67


and


68


is accordingly above the dead-point line, which is defined as a direct line between the front attachment of the front lever


67


to the back end of the longitudinally displaceable retaining hook or hooks


62


and the back attachment of the back lever to the heel plate


69


. In this boot-release position the longitudinally displaceable retaining hook or hooks


62


is/are held in place by a tension spring, namely the extension spring


70


, the pulling force of which is exerted between the hinge joint connecting the front and back levers, on one hand, and the heel plate


69


on the other hand.




When the heel


23


of the boot is lowered after the front end


13


of the sole has been inserted below the retaining iron


63


as described above, the heel presses the elbow lever


67


,


68


downwards until the hinge joint between front and back lever has moved below the dead-point line defined above, as is shown in FIG.


16


. As a result, the retaining hooks mounted in the binding shell


48


so as to be longitudinally displaceable are shifted forward and move into the openings defined by the retaining straps disposed within the sole. The retaining hooks


62


then are in the closed position, fixing the boot as shown in FIG.


16


.




As it descends, the hinge joint between front and back levers


67


,


68


forces a longitudinally displaceable opening wedge


71


, mounted in the heel plate


69


, to move forward out of the position shown in FIG.


15


and into a position corresponding to FIG.


16


. This opening wedge


71


is connected by way of a connecting cable


72


or the like to an actuating lever


73


that is pivotably mounted on the heel plate


69


. When this actuating lever


73


is rotated downwards, in the direction of the arrow


74


in

FIG. 16

, the opening wedge


71


moves backwards and simultaneously raises the hinge joint between front and back lever


67


,


68


above the dead-point line, with the consequence that when the heel


23


of the boot is lifted up, the retaining hooks


62


are pulled back into the boot-release position. This backward movement is caused by the action of the tension spring


70


, which becomes effective after the hinge joint between front and back levers


67


,


68


has been moved upwards beyond the dead-point line.




The embodiment according to

FIGS. 15 and 16

is further characterized by the fact that between the front end of the sole and the upper surface


28


of the ski, or the front end of the binding shell


48


, a flexor


24


is disposed. The action of this element has been discussed in detail above.




The embodiment according to

FIGS. 17

an


18


is comparable to that according to

FIGS. 15 and 16

with respect to the interlocking mechanism. Furthermore, the embodiment according to

FIGS. 17 and 18

also comprises one or two retaining hooks


62


mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable. The difference between the embodiment according to

FIGS. 17 and 18

and that according to

FIGS. 15 and 16

resides merely in the closing mechanism


65


for the retaining hook or hooks


62


. The closing mechanism


65


is formed by a direct connection between the back end of the longitudinally displaceable retaining hooks


62


and an actuating lever


73


pivotably mounted behind the boot heel, on a heel plate


69


. On the upper side of this connection


75


a projection


75


′ is formed which, when the retaining hooks


62


are in the boot-release position shown in

FIG. 17

, extends upwards beyond the upper surface of the heel plate


69


. When the heel


23


of the boot is lowered, this projection


75


′ is pressed downwards, against the action of an elastic element


76


. As soon as the projection


75


′ descends below the upper surface of the heel plate


69


, a compression spring


77


that acts between the front binding shell


48


and the heel plate


69


pushes the retaining hooks


62


forwards, so that simultaneously the connection


75


moves forwards and the actuating lever


73


is pivoted upward in the direction of the arrow


78


in FIG.


18


. When this action is completed, the retaining hooks


62


are in the closed position, fixing the boot as shown in FIG.


18


. The projection


75


′ is now within the heel plate


69


, below its upper surface. In order to remove the boot from the binding, the actuating lever


73


must be rotated downwards, in a direction opposite to the arrow


78


in FIG.


18


. Then the projection


75


′ returns to a position in which, under the action of the spring


76


, it can again move upwards and out of the heel plate, through an opening in the upper surface of the heel plate


69


(FIG.


17


).





FIGS. 19 and 20

show how it is possible to affect the flexor


24


disposed between the front end of the sole and the upper surface of the ski, by means of a wedge


79


that can be pushed between the flexor


24


and the ski surface. In other respects the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 19 and 20

corresponds to that according to

FIGS. 15

,


16


and


17


,


18


, respectively.




In

FIG. 21

an embodiment corresponding to

FIGS. 1

to


4


is shown. The embodiment according to

FIG. 21

is distinguished by the fact that the axis of rotation


30


of the swivel iron


31


can be adjusted to different heights as desired, namely just below the sole


12


(position C), at about the same level as the sole


12


(position B) or just above the sole


12


(position A). By thus varying the position of the axis about which the iron


31


pivots, the resistance moment T associated with raising the heel of the boot can be correspondingly varied.

FIG. 22

shows the qualitative difference between the resistance moments for the positions A, B and C as a function of the angle ax between boot sole and upper surface of ski.




In the embodiment according to

FIG. 23

, the boot


10


is fixed to the binding


11


by retaining hooks


80


pivotably mounted on the binding side, which are inserted like a lock into sole-sided interlocking means (receiving openings) disposed in the region between the ball of the sole and its front end


13


, in particular in the toe-joint region


14


of the sole


12


. The sole-sided interlocking elements consist of at least one, in this case two retaining straps


58


bent into a U or C shape and each disposed near the edge of the sole in a recess


20


(see

FIGS. 13

,


14


), into which can be inserted one or in this case two round hooks


80


disposed on the binding side so as to be rotatable about an axis that extends transverse to the long direction of the ski and approximately parallel to its upper surface


28


, which are connected to a handle, in particular a swivelling lever not shown here. With this arrangement, no additional devices are required to fix the boot


10


to the binding


11


. The pivotability of the round hook


80


is indicated in

FIG. 23

by the double-headed arrow


81


.




For the boot to be removed from the binding, of course, the round hook


80


must be rotated far enough that its free end becomes disengaged from the retaining straps


58


. The free end of the round hook or hooks


80


is somewhat sharpened and in

FIG. 23

is identified by the reference numeral


82


.




The embodiment according to

FIG. 24

is characterized in that the sole


12


of the boot


10


comprises retaining hooks


18


that are bent forward and correspond to complementary retaining straps


19


in the binding (binding shell


48


) as shown in FIG.


24


. Here the interlocking elements


18


,


19


are kept in the engaged position by a tensioning cable


83


that passes around the heel


23


of the boot. This cable comprises at least one tension-spring element


84


. The front end of the tensioning cable is connected to a closing-lever mechanism (not shown). Because in these respects it is a known construction, no further illustration or explanation is needed here. The important point is merely that the boot


10


is held in place exclusively by the interlocking elements


18


,


19


and the tensioning cable


83


that passes around the heel


23


of the boot. Accordingly, this embodiment again has the simplest conceivable construction, which can be considered as an alternative to the construction according to

FIGS. 1

to


5


.




All the characteristics disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential to the invention insofar as they are new to the state of the art individually or in combination.















List of reference numerals


























10




Boot







11




Binding







12




Sole







13




Front end of sole







14




Toe-joint region







15




Closing element







16




First interlocking elements







17




Second interlocking elements







18




Retaining hook







19




Wire strap







20




Recess in sole







21




Double-headed arrow







22




Double-headed arrow







23




Heel of boot







24




Flexor







25




Cross-fold







26




Arrow







27




Ski







28




Upper surface of ski







29




Force arrow







30




Axis of rotation







31




Swivel iron







32




Cross-piece







33




Actuating lever







34




Arm







35




Axis of rotation







36




Sole-abutment site







37




Tread of sole







38




Ski brake







39




Axis of rotation







40




Prongs of brake







41




Protective cap







42




Tooth projection







43




Sole-contact plate







44




Connecting element







45




Axis of rotation







46




Sole abutment







47




Guide rib







48




Binding shell







49




Screws







50




Binding plate







51




Front end of binding plate







52




Front component of binding shell







53




Passageway







54




Contact element







55




Axis of rotation







56




Front part of sole







57




Anchoring plate







58




Retaining strap







59




Arm







60




Anchoring plate







61




Bevelled surface







62




Displaceably mounted retaining hook







63




Retaining iron







64




Double-headed arrow







65




Closing mechanism







66




Transverse axis







67




Front lever







68




Back lever







69




Heel plate







70




Tension spring







71




Opening wedge







72




Connecting cable







73




Actuating lever







74




Arrow







75




Connection







75′




Projection







76




Elastic element







77




Compression spring







78




Arrow







79




Wedge







80




Retaining hook (round hook)







81




Double-headed arrow







82




Free end of the round hook







83




Tensioning cable







84




Tension spring







85




Arrow














Claims
  • 1. A ski binding system, comprising:a boot having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and a sole with a tread on the underside of said sole; a binding fixedly attached to a ski; and at least one interlockable hook and strap for connecting said boot to said binding, one of said hook and strap comprising a static member rigidly fixed to said binding, the other of said hook and strap comprising a static member rigidly fixed to said boot near a side edge of said sole within said forefoot portion, said other of said hook and strap positioned with its full extent accommodated within said sole such that said other of said hook and strap does not extend beyond the tread of said sole; wherein said binding further comprises means for selectively exerting and releasing an at least partially rearwardly directed force on said forefoot portion of said boot, to maintain said hook and strap in an interlocked state while permitting the heel portion of said boot to be raised.
  • 2. The ski binding system of claim 1, wherein said means for selectively exerting and releasing comprises a swivel iron on which is mounted a rotatable closing element, said swivel iron and said closing element being moveable to a closed position in which closing element is configured to exert an at least partially rearwardly directed force on said boot and maintain said hook and strap in an interlocked state while permitting the heel of said boot to be raised.
  • 3. The ski binding system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hook and strap comprises two hooks comprising static members rigidly fixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
  • 4. The ski binding system of claim 3, wherein said two hooks are located in recesses formed in said sole.
  • 5. The ski binding system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hook and strap comprises two straps comprising static members rigidly fixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
  • 6. The ski binding system of claim 5, wherein said two straps are located in recesses formed in said sole.
  • 7. A ski binding system, comprising:a boot having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and a sole with a tread on the underside of said sole; a binding fixedly attached to a ski; and at least one interlockable hook and strap for connecting said boot to said-binding, one of said hook and strap comprising a static member rigidly fixed to said binding, the other of said hook and strap comprising a static member rigidly fixed to said boot near a side edge of said sole within said forefoot portion, said other of said hook and strap positioned with its fill extent accommodated within said sole such that said other of said hook and strap does not extend beyond the tread of said sole; wherein said binding further comprises a swivel iron on which is mounted a rotatable closing element, said swivel iron and said closing element being moveable to a closed position in which closing element is configured to exert an at least partially rearwardly directed force on said boot and maintain said hook and ad strap in an interlocked state while permitting the heel of said boot to be raised.
  • 8. The ski binding system of claim 7, wherein said at least one hook and strap comprises two hooks comprising static members rigidly fixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
  • 9. The ski binding system of claim 8, wherein said two hooks are located in recesses formed in said sole.
  • 10. The ski binding system of claim 7, wherein said at least one hook and strap comprises two straps comprising static members rigidly fixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
  • 11. The ski binding system of claim 10, wherein said two straps are located in recesses formed in said sole.
Priority Claims (4)
Number Date Country Kind
198 33 042 Jul 1998 DE
198 33 041 Jul 1998 DE
198 44 475 Sep 1998 DE
198 56 143 Dec 1998 DE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/IB99/01306 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO00/04965 2/3/2000 WO A
US Referenced Citations (18)
Number Name Date Kind
1372752 Holmes Mar 1921 A
3984124 Gertsch Oct 1976 A
4239254 Riedel Dec 1980 A
4273355 Storandt Jun 1981 A
4732405 Freisinger et al. Mar 1988 A
4932678 Makarenko Jun 1990 A
4948158 Makarenko Aug 1990 A
5066036 Broughton Nov 1991 A
5228714 Dekanovsky Jul 1993 A
5249820 Burger et al. Oct 1993 A
5664797 Haughlin Sep 1997 A
5671941 Girard Sep 1997 A
5924719 Girard Jul 1999 A
5941553 Korman Aug 1999 A
5944337 Girard et al. Aug 1999 A
6017050 Girard Jan 2000 A
6099018 Maravetz et al. Aug 2000 A
6120038 Dong et al. Sep 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number Date Country
33 06 618 Aug 1984 DE
37 07 116 Sep 1987 DE
40 07 667 Jun 1991 DE
195 22 343 Dec 1996 DE
196 01 545 Jul 1997 DE
0 679 416 Apr 1995 EP
WO 9639233 Dec 1996 NO
WO 9427692 Dec 1994 WO