Patent Grant
9452343
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 14 000 249.4 filed Jan. 24, 2014 and European Patent Application No. 14 180 081.3 filed Aug. 6, 2014, the specifications of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The present invention relates to a ski binding for fastening a ski boot with a firm or flexible sole onto a ski. More precisely, it comprises a ski binding that has a Telemark downhill mode, a cross-country or climbing mode and/or an alpine downhill mode
Skiing is a popular winter recreational activity for many people. In addition to alpine skiing on the piste, there are a number of other different skiing types or techniques.
General social trends suggest that users are also striving toward individualization and active delineation when it comes to skiing. Equipment providers are responding with an appropriate market differentiation. As a result, former niches ski touring, so-called “freeriding” and “freestyle skiing” have developed into separate market segments.
A. Ski Touring
Ski touring describes a form of alpine skiing where the skier is looking not only for downhill runs remote from prepared pistes, but also for the climb for this purpose. While the pure ski tourist tries to do completely without ski lifts and only selects downhill runs that he or she has personally worked out beforehand, off-piste skiing, also referred to as “freeriding”, describes an alpine version in which the skier uses an upper terminus of a lift as the starting point for his or her tour. Both share in common the downhill run into unprepared terrain and, even if to a varying extent, the climb.
In order to enable this climb, ski tour and freeride bindings have a climbing function, which allows the heel to release from the automatic heel bracket that is locked for the downhill run, and lets the boot rotate in the area of the toes without resistance.
Two fundamentally different types or mechanisms exist in the area of alpine ski tour binding systems. One type involves so-called plate bindings, in which the entire boot is fastened to a plate or a frame, which in turn is rotatably mounted to the ski. The boot is fastened to the plate or frame with binding elements, which essentially resemble those used under alpine downhill conditions. The rear end of the plate or frame is locked to the ski for the downhill run. In the climbing mode, the rear end of the plate or frame is released, so that the heel of the ski boot can be lifted during a pivoting motion of the plate or frame. However, the plate or frame is rigid, as is the sole of the conventional tour ski boot, so that the foot cannot carry out a rolling movement.
Another alpine ski tour binding system was developed in its basic form already 30 years ago by the Dynafit company, and has in the meantime become broadly used. In this system, the front area of the boot has an insert, which provides a hole-like depression in the sole extension of the ski boot on both sides, into each of which a respective mandrel of the binding engages. As a result, the boot is mounted so that it can rotate around this mandrel relative to the ski. An automatic heel bracket can block this movement, thus allowing a downhill run in the alpine style. To this end, the corresponding boot has another insert in the heel section, into which two pins of the automatic heel bracket engage from behind, preventing the boot from moving both vertically and laterally.
While ski boots with a rigid sole are normally also used even with these frameless types of alpine ski tour bindings, this binding in principle allows the use of ski boots with a flexible sole, even though the sole must be prevented from bending during a downhill run, for example by means of a suitable support, so as to achieve a defined release behavior.
The ski touring boots with a rigid sole, which are the boots used almost exclusively in alpine ski touring, are well-suited for downhill runs, and for climbing in steep terrain, which physiologically resembles “stair stepping”, in which the foot rolls only slightly if at all. When striding over an even or slightly inclined terrain, however, a physiological gait would involve a rolling of the foot, which is prevented by the rigid tour ski boots.
B. Telemark Technique
Telemark technique describes a form of skiing in which the heel is not fixed in place on the ski at any time. Historically, alpine skiing has developed from telemark-downhill skiing. Since in the Telemark downhill skiing, a turn is initiated as the result of angular momentum generated by a step change, before the curve is traversed during the lunge, the downhill run is characterized by its Telemark-typical step posture. Herein, the heel of the front outermost foot relative to the curve is fixed in place on the ski during the turn, similarly to the alpine style, while the heel of the innermost foot relative to the curve lifts up to realize a step posture, during which the knee and hip joint are bent, the knee gets closer to the ski, and the ski innermost to the curve is pushed relatively toward the back. As opposed to alpine downhill ski runs and alpine ski touring downhill runs, only the forefoot is rigidly joined with the ski during Telemark downhill runs, while the heel can be lifted from the ski against a resistance that grows as the knee increasingly bends.
Contrary to the climbing function of a ski tour or freeride binding, the forefoot in Telemark bindings is not fixed in place in a translational manner by a hinge, but the boot tip is instead clamped in torque-proof to enable optimal control of the ski. The front boot portion bends to allow the heel to lift, primarily by way of a kink fold provided therein. The ski is controlled by the ball of the foot, which then remains close to the ski even with the heel lifted due to the flexibility of the boot.
When the heel is lifted from the ski and the knee gets closer to the ski during a Telemark turn, this takes place against a resistance generated in part by the bending or “buckling” resistance of the boot, hereinafter also referred to as “boot bending resistance”, and in part by a binding bending resistance. As the heel lifts up, this movement is counteracted by the clamping of an often beak-shaped front sole extension into a receptacle (so-called “toe box”), so that the sole bends, and the kink fold area deforms, thereby generating the boot bending resistance. At the same time, however, a restoring torque is also generated by the binding as the heel lifts and the boot bends, which in conjunction with the torque resulting from the boot bending resistance makes it possible to exert pressure on the ski tip, i.e., to actively load the tips of the skis. The precise control of this load constitutes the basis for executing a controlled turn.
The restoring force generated by the Telemark binding while lifting the heel stems from the tensile force in a cable normally used to fix the ski boot in place in the binding, which increases as the heel lifts. This force arises due to the kinematic arrangement of the toe box, cable and heel relative to each other as the boot is kinked by lifting the heel. Herein, however, it turns out that the restoring force generated by the Telemark binding is not ideal, or at least not for all applications. Unfortunately, however, the restoring force or torque generated by the binding cannot be preset as desired in such cable-based bindings. One limiting factor here is that the cable also serves to fix the boot in place in the binding. This means that the tensile force in the cable can at no point be too low. On the other hand, too high a tensile force in the cable causes the boot to be too rigidly fixed in the binding, which then makes it harder to release the boot from the binding in the event of a fall. In this regard, it is particularly problematical that the tensile force in the cable is greatest when the heel is lifted the furthest, i.e., when the knee is bent the most. Studies in sports medicine have shown that susceptibility to ligament injuries is especially high in falls where the knee is bent. However, it is precisely in this injury-prone position that the conventional cable-based Telemark binding usually has the highest release resistance.
Due to this observed safety deficiency, it has been proposed that Telemark bindings be entirely mounted on a release plate, which is released when excessive loads are placed on the ski, similarly to the rotatory safety release of the boot known for alpine ski bindings. In this case, the separation between the ski and skier does not take place between the boot and binding given a safety release, however, but rather inside of the binding, so that part of the binding remains on the boot. This results in a comparatively complicated structural design and cumbersome handling.
As evident from the above description, Telemark bindings and alpine ski tour bindings currently differ fundamentally in their construction, so that structural details from one can hardly be applied to the other, and even less so are shared components used in the disparate binding types, which would be advantageous in the eyes of a manufacturer having both binding types in its product line. There are also no known ski bindings for which the alpine mode and Telemark mode would be options for a downhill run. For the comparatively high number of skiers familiar with alpine downhill runs, this raises the inhibition threshold when it comes to trying the Telemark style, since a complete second set of equipment is required for this purpose. A trained alpine skier with little Telemark experience will often hesitate to stray from the piste wearing exclusively Telemark equipment, fearing that he or she might be unable to master difficult passages in the Telemark style. The ability to switch from the Telemark mode to the alpine downhill mode as needed would tangibly diminish any reservations about enlisting the far less common Telemark technology.
The object of the present invention is to provide a ski binding and accompanying ski boot, which solves all or parts of the aforementioned problems associated with conventional Telemark bindings and alpine ski tour bindings.
This object is achieved with a ski binding according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are indicated in the dependent claims.
The ski binding of the present invention is used to fasten a ski boot with a firm or flexible sole onto a ski. The ski binding according to the invention comprises a forefoot-fixing module with a mounting section for mounting onto a ski and a movable section that can be rotated or pivoted relative to the mounting section in such a way that at least a rear end of the movable section can be lifted off the ski. In this regard, “rotated” or “pivoted” does not mean that the motion of the movable section relative to the mounting section must be a purely rotating or pivoting motion. Instead, the relative motion need only have a rotation component, wherein a translational or an additional rotating motion can indeed be superimposed upon the latter.
The ski binding further comprises a support for the heel of the ski boot.
The movable section of the forefoot-fixing module comprises a front receptacle for receiving a front end of the ski boot, in particular a front sole extension of the latter, and a rear receptacle, which is suitable for receiving an engagement element situated on or in the underside or to the side of the sole of the ski boot. The front and rear receptacles are together suitable for fastening a front section of the ski boot in the forefoot-fixing module. The front and/or rear receptacle is further associated with a releasing mechanism, which causes the front section of the ski boot to be released from the forefoot-fixing module once a threshold has been exceeded by a torque of the ski boot relative to the forefoot-fixing module, which torque corresponds to a rotation of the ski boot in the sole plane.
Finally, the ski binding according to the invention provides at least one of the following operating modes:
Let it be noted that the Telemark downhill mode described above is intended first and foremost for downhill skiing in the Telemark style. However, a similar style can also be used in ski jumping, for example, and is here to be encompassed as well.
While the ski binding can have all three operating modes in an especially preferred embodiment, the invention also comprises embodiments in which the ski binding only realizes one or two of said modes. The core element of the ski binding in its varying configurations is a respective forefoot-fixing module, which fixes in place a front section of the ski boot by means of a front receptacle and rear receptacle. Descriptively speaking, this forefoot-fixing module makes it possible to “flatly” fix a portion of the ski boot in place without bending this front portion of the ski boot between the front receptacle and rear receptacle. This distinguishes the forefoot-fixing module from known Telemark bindings, in which the boot tip, i.e., the front sole extension or “beak”, is clamped in a torque-proof manner, and the sole necessarily bends as the heel in the binding lifts, which for reasons mentioned above brings with it unresolved problems associated with finding a suitable compromise between a reliable release response and a suitable restoring torque.
The forefoot-fixing module also differs from known ski tour bindings, in which only plates or frames with front and rear receptacles that fix the entire boot in place are known as movable sections. In the invention, only the front portion of the boot is held in the forefoot-fixing module, in particular the portion that extends from the front end of the ski boot up to the engagement element, which is located on or in the underside or to the side of the sole of the ski boot. Herein, the length of this section is preferably shorter than half the length of the sole of the ski boot, in particular shorter than one third of the overall length of the boot. The absolute length from the front end of the ski boot, without considering the sole extension that protrudes over the shell of the ski boot at the front, until the rear end of the engagement element is typically shorter than 15 cm, preferably shorter than 13 cm, and in particular shorter than 11.5 cm, so as to allow the sole to kink behind the rear receptacle, thereby enabling a physiological rolling. This length preferably exceeds 4 cm, especially preferably exceeds 5 cm, and in particular exceeds 6 cm. A range of 7 cm to 10 cm has proven to be especially advantageous.
In the mentioned Telemark downhill mode, the spring mechanism generates a restoring force, in particular a restoring torque, between the movable section and the mounting section of the forefoot-fixing module, which corresponds to the binding bending resistance in conventional cable-based Telemark bindings, but also at least partially replaces the contribution of a boot bending resistance in conventional Telemark bindings that is generated by bending the boot in the area of the forefoot, which is no longer present in the invention. However, let it be noted that this no longer involves a “bending resistance” in the proper sense of the term, which was generated by bending the ski boot in the binding, instead the front section of the ski boot received in the forefoot-fixing module is precisely not bent or kinked, but rather “flatly” fixed in place, as explained above. This means that the restoring force/restoring torque can be freely preset by properly designing the spring mechanism, without having to focus on an adequate fixation or potentially too strong a fixation of the boot in the binding. Instead, the release torque for releasing the boot from the binding and the restoring force/restoring torque can be optimally set completely independently from each other.
The front and rear receptacles of the movable section of the forefoot-fixing module are preferably fastened to a rigid plate or a rigid frame.
In an advantageous further development, the restoring force or restoring torque of the spring mechanism can be set according to the physical constitution of the skier, the terrain to be traversed and/or personal preferences. The level of restoring force or restoring torque here determines how high a pressure is exerted on the tips of the ski while lifting the heel in the Telemark step. However, the spring constant of the spring mechanism is preferably chosen such that the restoring force in the Telemark downhill mode generates a torque of at least 15 Nm, preferably of at least 16 Nm, especially preferably of at least 17 Nm, even more preferably of at least 18 Nm, even more preferably of at least 19 Nm, and in particular of at least 20 Nm when the movable section of the forefoot-fixing module rotates or pivots by 35° out of the position in which the heel of the ski boot rests on the support.
In an advantageous further development, the spring mechanism can be switched between at least two preset configurations, in which differing levels of restoring forces or restoring torques are generated for the Telemark downhill mode. According to this further development, the skier can use the above basic setting of the restoring force or restoring torque of the spring mechanism to switch between two already preset restoring forces or restoring torques during operation. For example, while skiing downhill on a prepared piste, during which a high tip pressure is desired, the skier can in this way switch into the configuration with the higher restoring force or higher restoring torque, so as to generate a higher tip pressure. On the other hand, a skier traversing deep snow can switch into the configuration with a lower restoring force or lower restoring torque, so as to generate a lower tip pressure given the same movement, thereby preventing the tip of the ski from “burying” itself in the deep snow.
The spring mechanism preferably has allocated to it a control, with which the spring mechanism can be preloaded to generate the restoring force or restoring torque, or be preloaded while switching between said at least two preset configurations, wherein the control is preferably actuated with the foot. This embodiment is based on the consideration that the different restoring forces/restoring torques are particularly easy to generate by varying the preloading levels of the spring mechanism. If the spring mechanism is not preloaded at all or has been entirely released, for example, the resistance-free or approximately resistance-free climbing or cross-country mode can be realized. At least two different preloading levels can further generate said at least two preset configurations. However, significant forces are required in practice for suitably preloading the spring mechanism. For this reason, it is advantageous to actuate the accompanying control with the foot, since the skier can exert high enough forces comparatively easily with his or her foot, in particular assisted by the ski boot.
In an advantageous further development, the control takes the form of a preloading lever. Using a lever for preloading purposes further reduces the required forces. In an especially advantageous further development, the preloading lever simultaneously serves as a platform for the ski boot. Even a comparatively longer preloading lever can be readily accommodated in this way without making the binding as a whole too voluminous or unwieldy.
The spring mechanism preferably comprises a spring, in particular a compression spring, which preferably is situated under the sole of a ski boot when received in the ski binding. In particular, the spring can be located underneath a platform formed by said preloading lever. This also facilitates a compact structural design, wherein the preloading lever can additionally protect the compression spring against damage, and to a certain extent also against icing by compacted snow.
In an advantageous further development, the preloading lever accommodates an additional lever, which can interact with a section of the spring mechanism in such a way as to convert a rotating motion of the preloading lever into a preloading motion of the spring mechanism. While preloading the spring mechanism, the additional lever preferably runs through a maximum preloading dead point. Until this dead point has been reached, actuating the preloading lever leads to an increase in preloading. Once this dead point has been exceeded, however, the preloading mechanism easily slackens, and the preloading lever is held in this position by the preloading of the spring mechanism. In this embodiment, no additional locking means are then required to fix the spring mechanism into its preloaded position.
In an advantageous further development, the position of the rotational axis of the additional lever can be adjusted by the preloading lever between at least two stable positions, so as to realize said at least two configurations of the spring mechanism.
In an advantageous embodiment, the front and/or rear receptacle comprises at least one claw-like element, which can be moved between an open and closed position. When in its closed position, the claw-like element is suitable for engaging around or engaging into the front end of the ski boot, in particular the front sole extension or said engagement element. Herein, the claw-like element is biased into the closed position. Said release mechanism further exhibits a first cam surface or abutment surface, which is associated with the receptacle, in particular with the claw-like element itself. The first cam surface or abutment surface is designed and situated to interact with a ski-boot-fixed release element in such a way that the claw-like element can be moved into the open position by means of the ski-boot-fixed release element and the first cam surface or abutment surface when the ski boot is rotated in the sole plane. In this embodiment, turning the ski boot thus causes the claw-like element to move into the open position by having the ski-boot-fixed release element and the first cam surface or abutment surface interact with each other. However, since the claw-like element is biased into the closed position, this rotation of the ski boot must take place against the preloading of the claw-shaped element in the closed position. As a result, adjusting the preloading or biasing force of the claw-like element into the closed position makes it possible to set the aforementioned threshold for the torque of the ski boot in relation to the forefoot-fixing module, which when exceeded causes the front section of the ski boot to be released from the forefoot-fixing module. In this way, a reliable release function can be realized with comparatively simple means. This structural design can further be used to realize a so-called “step-in” function, in which the skier simply inserts his or her forefoot into the claw-like element, which is open or opens when entered, and thereby switches the latter into the closed position.
In an advantageous further development, the ski-boot-fixed release element is formed by a portion of said engagement element, in particular by a cam surface or abutment surface provided on the engagement element. Of course, only one cam surface provided on the ski-boot-fixed release element or on the receptacle, in particular on the claw-like element, is necessary to convert the rotating motion of the ski boot into an opening of the claw-like element. While this cam surface can interact with a cam surface of the respective other element, it is in many cases sufficient for this other element to exhibit only one “abutment surface”. The “abutment surface” is understood to mean any surface that can interact with the cam surface in the manner described, wherein this abutment surface can in particular also be formed by the tip of a peg, pin or the like, and can essentially be as small as desired.
In an advantageous further development, the front or rear receptacle exhibits two of said claw-like elements, of which a first can be moved into the open position by inwardly rotating the ski boot, and a second by outwardly rotating the ski boot. The torque of the ski boot required for this purpose can be variably adjustable in relation to the forefoot-fixing module for the first and second claw-like elements, in particular so that the torque required to open the first claw-like element is smaller than the torque required to open the second claw-like element. This means that the ski boot releases more easily given an excess inward rotation of the leg, for example in the event of a fall, than during a corresponding outward rotation. Studies in sports physiology have shown that ligament injuries happen more frequently precisely during an inward rotation, because in particular the cruciate ligament apparatus is more sensitive to inward rotation. In this regard, it is advantageous that the binding be released more easily especially during such injury-prone movements.
The asymmetry with respect to the release values can also be effected by varyingly positioned flanks or abutment surfaces of the engagement element fixed in place in the boot.
The claw-like element can preferably pivot between the closed and open position.
In an advantageous further development, the release mechanism comprises a second cam surface or abutment surface, which is associated with the receptacle, in particular with the claw-like element. This second cam surface or abutment surface is configured to interact with the ski-boot-fixed release element in such a way that a force exerted by the ski-boot-fixed engagement element perpendicular to the sole plane supports or counteracts said biasing or preloading force of the claw-like element in the closed position, in particular in such a way that an upward pulling force directed perpendicular to the sole plane counteracts said preloading force of the claw-like element in its closed position. As mentioned at the outset, one problem associated with conventional Telemark bindings is that, the higher the heel is lifted from the ski or the more the knee is bent, the harder it is to release the ski boot from the binding. One special advantage to the structural design according to the invention is that this negative influence on the release behavior so prevalent in prior art can be avoided. According to the embodiment described here, this behavior can instead be reversed, so that a pulling force that is upwardly directed perpendicular to the sole plane, i.e., encountered when the heel lifts in the Telemark step, counteracts said biasing force of the claw-like element into its closed position, and thereby even raises the release sensitivity. It can be ensured in this way that the binding will activate easily in particular in situations where the knee is bent, which are especially susceptible to injury.
The movable section is preferably joined by way of a connecting mechanism with the mounting section of the forefoot-fixing module in such a way that the movable section can be moved in relation to the mounting section so that a pure rotating or pivoting motion overlaps with a translational motion, in order to facilitate a physiologically favorable rolling of the forefoot. Herein, the connecting mechanism can preferably be formed by a roller bearing or mechanical linkage.
The present invention further relates to a ski boot, whose front end, in particular with a front sole extension, can be received in a front receptacle of a ski binding according to one of the embodiments described above, and which has an engagement element on or in its underside or to the side of the sole that is suitable to be received in the rear receptacle of such a ski binding. The ski boot can exhibit a kink fold.
The ski boot preferably comprises a cable mechanism, with which the sole of the ski boot can optionally be stiffened. This makes it possible to give the ski boot a comparatively soft and flexible design, thereby permitting a physiological and energy efficient climbing on flatter terrain. At the same time, the sole can be partially stiffened by the cable to generate a boot bending resistance favorable for Telemark downhill runs, or completely stiffened to enable an alpine downhill or steep, staircase-like climb without any bending of the sole. Instead of being stiffened by a cable, the sole can alternatively also be stiffened with pressure applied by a suitable element.
The cable mechanism can preferably be actuated by a lever, wherein the lever can be set to a closed position in which the cables of the cable mechanism that run under the sole of the ski boot are tensioned, and can be adjusted to an open position in which the cables underneath the sole of the ski boot are loose or less tensioned.
The ski boot further preferably comprises a boot bending resistance module allowing to set a bending resistance of the ski boot in relation to a bending of its sole. This boot bending resistance module makes it possible to generate a boot bending resistance suitable for Telemark downhill runs in an inherently comparatively flexible ski boot.
In an advantageous further development, the ski boot allows a rotation by the shaft of the ski boot in relation to its bottom part with said lever in an open position, wherein this rotation is blocked in the closed position of the lever. This enables an easy and error-free switching of the ski boot between a rigid position with stiffened sole and fixed shaft and a soft position with flexible sole and rotatable/pivotable shaft by actuating a single lever. However, it is preferably optionally possible to block the shaft of the ski boot in relation to its bottom part with the lever in an open position, for example to permit a Telemark downhill run with a fixed shaft, but flexible sole. For example, in addition to a lever that locks and releases the rotation of the shaft and boot, another lever can also be provided to preload the cable mechanism and hereby activate any boot bending resistance module that might be present. The two levers can be functionally interconnected in such a way that, even though four different modes would theoretically be possible, only the three states that make sense for practical application are allowed, specifically
Additional advantages and features of the invention become apparent from the following description, in which the invention is explained in greater detail based on several exemplary embodiments, making reference to the attached drawings. Shown on:
As depicted on
In the illustration on
As further discernible from
The rear receptacle 26 is associated with a release mechanism (not visible in
As further evident from
Let it be noted that a rigid ski boot sole is as a rule required for an alpine downhill mode, while the sole of the ski boot 22 is flexible, and the ski boot 22 also permits some bending due to the kink fold 28. In the embodiment on
The lever 36 can also be adjusted to an open position (not shown), in which the shaft is unlocked so that it can rotate in relation to the bottom part of the boot, and in which the tension on the cables 38 is simultaneously relaxed, so that the sole of the ski boot 22 can be bent. However, it is optionally preferably also possible to block the shaft of the ski boot in relation to its bottom part with the lever in the open position, for example to permit a Telemark downhill run with a fixed shaft, but flexible sole, as explained above.
When the cables 38 are completely slack, the bending resistance of the ski boot 22 is given exclusively by its intrinsic flexibility. However, it is also possible to set the bending stiffness of the ski boot 22 with the cable mechanism 34, so that the bending stiffness is higher than the intrinsic bending stiffness of the ski boot itself, but lower than in case of a completely rigid bracing. Provided for this purpose is a boot bending resistance module 40, which generates a bending resistance force that depends on the bending state, and can comprise a spring or a spring system, for example. This boot bending resistance module 40 is used to exert (additional) pressure on the tips of the skis while the boot sole bends in the Telemark step. In conventional Telemark ski boots, the intrinsic bending resistance is rather high, for example as compared with a walking boot, so that it can offer enough bending resistance for the Telemark downhill run, but is often harder than would be desirable for purposes of walking uphill. By contrast, the boot bending resistance module 40 can be used to adjust the bending resistance of the boot to the application. For example, varying bending resistance levels can be prescribed to generate a varying level of tip pressure in the Telemark style, typically a higher tip pressure for downhill runs on a prepared piste and a lower tip pressure for downhill runs in deep snow. In addition, the bending resistance generated by the boot resistance module 40 can be further lowered or raised to enable energy-efficient climbing or cross-country skiing on level terrain. As a result, the intrinsic bending resistance of the boot can be set lower from the very outset than usually the case for conventional Telemark boots, in order to generally optimize the rolling behavior for climbing or skiing on level terrain.
Finally, the cable mechanism 34 comprises an element 42, which when activated can influence the progression of the cable 38, for example by activating an eccentric (not shown). Changing the progression of the cable 38 under the boot sole makes it possible to affect how the bending resistance of the ski boot 22 develops, i.e., how the bending resistance depends on the bending state of the sole, e.g., from linear to progressive. Let it be noted that the Telemark bindings with bottom cables extending under the sole of the boot available on the market often develop a strong, progressive resistance, while the resistance typically develops less progressively or is almost linear for lateral cable bindings. This method known for conventional Telemark bindings can to some extent be reproduced by setting the bending resistance of the boot 22.
Finally, the binding 10 comprises a spring mechanism 44, which is only schematically denoted on
Let it be noted that the cable necessary for generating the tip pressure at the same time forces the boot more rigidly into the toe box, and thus leads to a more rigid fixation of the boot in the binding, which leads to safety problems given excessive loads, for example during a fall. The release sensitivity of the boot from the binding on the one hand and the resistance generated by the binding to a lifting of the heel required to build up a tip pressure are thus interlinked in conventional Telemark bindings for construction-related reasons. This means that only unsatisfactory compromises can often be arrived at in practice between a reliable release and a desired lifting resistance. This problem is exacerbated even further in practice, since the strongest tension in the cable is generated with the heel lifted or knee bent. Studies in sports medicine have shown that ligament injuries are encountered precisely in falls involving a bent knee, i.e., that having the boot be easily released from the binding would be especially desired with the knee in a bent state. By contrast, the tension in the cable is especially high when the knee is bent in conventional Telemark bindings, so that it becomes more difficult to release the boot from the binding, thereby increasing the risk of injury.
By contrast, the fixation of the boot 22, more precisely of a front section of the boot 22, in the forefoot-fixing module 12 of the ski binding 10 on
The spring mechanism 44 can be deactivated, so that the movable section 18 can also be rotated or pivoted without a restoring torque, which then allows an energy efficient walking on flat terrain, or an energy efficient ascent with climbing skins under the ski 16.
The variant of the ski binding 10 depicted on
As a consequence, the ski binding 10 in the embodiment shown on
In comparison to a conventional Telemark binding, the Telemark binding on
A special advantage in the ski binding 10 on
At the same time, let it be acknowledged that the ski binding 10 in the form shown on
Finally, the ski binding according to the invention can also be designed as a cross-country binding, which contains neither the spring mechanism 44 (or a spring mechanism 44 weakened for purposes of cross-country skiing) nor a heel element 32. This makes it possible to obtain a cross-country binding that is safer than conventional cross-country bindings in terms of injury, since use is made of the release function of the forefoot-fixing module 12.
In the embodiment on
The preloading mechanism of the claw-like element 46 has a bistable configuration, in which the claw-like element 46 passes through a metastable position while being switched into the open position against the preloading force, and snaps into the open position (not shown) after surmounting the metastable position. As an alternative, the preloading mechanism of the claw-like element 46 can be designed in such a way that it only opens upon entering into the binding.
Two adjacent claw-like elements 46 of the kind depicted on
As evident in particular from
By contrast, when turning the engagement element 50 clockwise, the cam surface 52 of the lower claw-like element 46 is pushed by the cam surface 53 of the engagement element 50, so that the claw-like element 46 at the bottom in the illustration on
The claw-like elements 46 permit a so-called “step-in function”, in which the claw-like element 46 is closed when the engagement element 50 is treaded into the open claw-like element 46 from above.
As evident when referring back to
The spring mechanism 44 further comprises a preloading lever 66, which is hinged to the mounting section 14 so that it can pivot around an additional horizontal axis 68. The preloading lever 66 has an approximately (inversely) U-shaped cross section, and thus forms a hollow space in which the compression spring 54 is accommodated. In order to visualize the compression spring 54, the preloading lever 66 depicted on
Situated at a rear end of the preloading lever 66 is an additional lever 72, which is hinged to the preloading lever 66 so that it can pivot around an additional horizontal axis 74. The additional lever 72 engages into a recess 76 in the rear end of the rear spring stop 58. In order to preload the compression spring 54, the preloading lever 66 is first brought into a starting position, which is turned counterclockwise by about 30° relative to the position shown on
Let it be noted that the additional lever 72 in the illustration on
The base load of the compression springs 54 can be preset independently of setting the two Telemark downhill modes via the displacement of the rotational axis 74 of the additional lever 72, for example by increasing the length of a spacer (not shown) between one end of the compression spring 54 and the front or rear spring stop 56, 58, or by having the additional lever 72 exhibit an adjustable length, for example in the form of a push rod designed with a left/right-handed thread. For example, this presetting step can be performed at the ski workshop, so as to adjust the base load of the compression spring 54 with respect to the physical constitution of the skier, such as height, weight, leverage ratios, force, etc., the type and length of the ski, skiing ability, and/or subjective preferences. This basic setting is typically not changed during the ski tour or ski day. Only for purposes of adjustment to the prevailing conditions, in particular to the snow conditions, a selection can be made between two different, preset restoring torques through the activation of the eccentric element 78 on
A cam surface 96 is formed in the groove-like recess 94. As the fixed ski boot turns, the ends 98 of the pins 92 slide along the cam surface 96 of the engagement element 50, thereby turning the two claw-like elements 46 in the illustration on
The tip or end 98 of each pin 92 forms an “abutment surface”, whose function is similar to that of the cam surface 52 of the claw-like element 46 on
Similarly to the embodiment on
Let it further be noted that in the closed illustration depicted on
By contrast, the release behavior of the rear receptacle 26 is independent of a vertical pull on the engagement element 50. However, the structural design on
In the embodiments shown above, the movable section 18 of the forefoot-fixing module 12 is always hinged to the mounting section 14 so that it can rotate around a horizontal axis 20. Combined with a flexible sole of the ski boot 22, this already permits a comfortable and energy efficient stride, especially over flat terrain, for example where ski touring with a stiff sole forces a comparatively non-physiological gait. However, it is possible within the framework of the invention to further improve the mobility between the movable section 18 and the mounting section 14, so as to superpose another translational or rolling motion onto an essentially present pivoting or rotational motion, so that the resulting motion better corresponds to a natural rolling movement of the foot.
Provided on the underside of the upper part 104 are rolling surfaces 108, which accommodate a natural rolling motion of the forefoot. In particular, the rolling kinematics 100 on
A front and rear receptacle 24, 26 can also be mounted on the upper plate 116, as shown on
As evident from the preceding description, one essential aspect of the inventive ski binding lies in the fact that a spring mechanism is used to generate a restoring force, in particular a restoring torque, between the movable section 18 and the mounting section 14 of the forefoot-fixing module 12, which counteracts a lifting of the rear end of the movable section 18 of the forefoot-fixing module 12 from the ski. This can be achieved in an especially practical manner with a compression spring 54, which is situated between a front and rear spring stop 56, 58, wherein, during operation, the position of the rear spring stop 58 is fixed in place relative to the mounting section 14, and the movable section 18 of the forefoot-fixing module 12 interacts with the front spring stop 56 in such a way that the front spring stop 56 is pushed toward the back against the preloading of the compression spring 54 when the rear end of the movable section 18 of the forefoot-fixing module 12 is lifted, i.e., moved away from the ski. As explained in conjunction with
While the position of the rear spring stop 58 during operation basically remains unchanged in relation to the mounting section 14 of the forefoot-fixing module 12, i.e., does not move as the ski boot is raised and lowered, the position of the rear spring stop 58 can nevertheless be set, so as to generate a desired preloading or restoring force. One example relating thereto was described in conjunction with the embodiment on
In the embodiment shown on
Instead of the preloading lever 66 and the additional lever 72 from
The multifunction eccentric 120 is circularly cylindrical, and has a circularly cylindrical internal hollow space 122, whose longitudinal axis is offset, i.e., “eccentrically arranged”, in relation to the longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder. The multifunction eccentric 120 incorporates slits 124 extending in the circumferential direction, which each expand into an opening 126.
The front ends of the spring mandrels 118 are each provided with a head 128, which is visible on
How the multifunction eccentric 120 works will be explained below drawing reference to
Activating the operating lever 130 then makes it possible to rotate the multifunction eccentric 120 into a second position shown on
If the multifunction eccentric 120 is further adjusted from the second position on
a to 13c so far depicted only the mounting section 14 of the forefoot-fixing module 12.
Much the same as already described in conjunction with
The description of preferred exemplary embodiments and drawings serves only to illustrate the invention and advantages achieved therewith, but is not intended to limit the invention. The scope of the invention is derived solely from the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14000249 | Jan 2014 | EP | regional |
| 14180081 | Aug 2014 | EP | regional |
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| Uploaded by Jarl Berg, Screen shot: NTN+Dynafit = FrankenTele!!!, downloaded from the Internet at: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?y=m-1H3BCorK4, (uploaded on Dec. 30, 2007). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150209650 A1 | Jul 2015 | US |
