EP1385585B1 - Ski binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a ski binding (1; 1'; 1''), especially a touring, telemarking or cross-country ski binding, comprising a front fixing element assigned to the front end of the sole (7a) of a ski shoe (5), a back fixing element (21) configured to engage with an edge (7b) on the front sole of the shoe or the heel of said ski shoe and a clamping device (17; 25; 47; 17'; 17'') connecting the front and the back fixing elements, said clamping device enabling locking of the front and back fixing elements with the ski shoe and especially enabling raising of the heel of the ski shoe relative to the ski when placed in locking position, wherein the front fixing element encompasses the sole of the ski shoe on both sides in the form of a clamp, more particularly in a laterally resilient manner, in the proximity of the tip of the ski shoe and an elastic pressure element (13) is assigned to the front fixing element for pressing the upper part of the sole against the fixing element.

Description

The invention relates to a ski binding according to the preamble of claim 1.

In contrast to departure bindings, a crucial feature of touring, telemark or cross-country bindings is that the associated ski boot is held at the front sole end by a retaining element on the ski, but the rear sole end (the heel) must not be held on the ski , but must be liftable against this. The fulfillment of this elementary requirement, which derives from the movement sequences in cross-country skiing or touring skiing or downhill skiing in the telemark style, has in previous binding constructions generally been accompanied by losses in the guiding properties of the binding.

For years, however, cross-country, touring and Telemarkbindungen are also known and in practical use, in which over corresponding engaging portions of the binding and adapted to the ski boot good lateral guidance is achieved at least in the patch attached position of the ski boot.

From the DE 34 12 073 C2 is a cross-country ski binding known, in which a mounted on the ski flexible plate with a rear pivot bearing the ski boot also in the raised state relative to the ski laterally relatively well and also allows triggering of the holder at a torsional stress of the ski boot in principle. For the sliding phase with mounted on the ski boot additional stabilizing elements are provided.

From the EP 0 806 977 B1 a ski binding according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. This ski binding has in an advantageous embodiment, on the underside of the shoe front sole attacking clamping element, which is in particular designed as a flexurally elastic part in the form of a spring band or leaf.

This ski binding provides good guiding and power transmission properties, but there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of safety features as well as a simple and low-power operation.

In the unpublished German patent application 100 31 775.8 the applicant is described in this respect improved ski binding of the generic type in a number of different embodiments, which triggers both manual operation (for Austeigen, as well as the inadmissibly high Torsionsbeanspruchung of the ski or ski boot and over prior ski bindings significant progress in safety and performance characteristics has provided.

The invention is therefore the object of the development of a generic ski binding with the aim of creating a easy-to-operate safety ski binding for cross-country skiing, touring skiing or downhill skiing in telemark style.

This object is achieved by a ski binding with the features of claim 1.

A resilient design of the first holding element forming clamp advantageously makes it possible to unscrew the ski boot front tip with inadmissibly high torsional load between ski and ski boot and thus realized in a very simple manner a very important during departure safety aspect of the proposed ski binding. The invention includes the fundamental idea, constructively simple and at the same time stable perform as a clip, the front support member which engages around the sole of the ski boot near the toe from both sides. It further includes the idea to assign an elastic pressure element to the requirement of an anatomically and physiologically advantageous movement sequence while running in this holding element, which presses the sole against the retaining clip, but elastically yielding when lifting the heel under the toe.

In a manufacturing-technical aspects preferred embodiments, the holding element is designed as a cross-sectionally substantially U-shaped retaining clip made of metal (especially steel) or a high-strength plastic, wherein the ends of the legs of the "U" are angled inwards and the engaging portions with the Make up the top of the ski boot front sole. This retaining clip is facing with its base to the ski and attached to this or a binding base plate. The pressure element is preferably designed as a position of use under the sole of the ski boot lying, even at low temperatures permanently elastomeric block. The elastomer block is expediently before or partly within the retaining clip. In particular, it may have a slightly sloping sloping end towards the end of the ski and / or a slightly convex curved surface in the longitudinal section plane.

In a further preferred embodiment, on the front and rear retaining element connecting tensioning device (or in the region of the front and / or rear retaining element) on manual actuation - especially pressure from above - appealing unlocking provided, which causes a relaxation of the clamping device and a Austeigen from the binding with the ski boot allows.

With the provision of a force acting on an axis along an axis actuating element which causes an unlocking of said positive locking, the operation of the ski binding compared to the known over-center locking and tensioning devices is substantially simplified. This gives the user a further significant utility value advantage.

The tensioning device comprises in a preferred embodiment, a flexible in a longitudinal sectional plane of the ski binding biegeeleastisches connecting part, in particular a flexible plastic plate, which connects the front and rear support member at least indirectly, wherein in addition to the bending elasticity of the connecting part itself by additional means a certain, spring-loaded mobility in SkiLängsrichtung is realized. The planar connecting part is guided laterally relative to the ski, in particular by the side walls of a binding housing fastened to the ski, which partially surround the side edges of the connecting part, at least in the front region.

In the region of the front or the rear retaining element or between both a spring means for biasing the rear retaining element in the locking position with the ski boot - in a further preferred embodiment specifically with the front sole - provided. Specifically, a front spring means for biasing the first locking element in engagement position with the second locking element is provided between the front and rear retaining element, and on the rear retaining element is a rear spring means for biasing the rear retaining element in engagement position with the shoe front sole (or the paragraph Trailing edge) provided.

The two spring means cooperate during locking and unlocking of the binding, and the spring force of the rear spring means is greater than that of the front spring means predetermined. As a result, a release of the engagement state between the first and second locking element causes a slight return of the clamping device with the rear retaining element mounted therein under the action of the rear spring means and against the (weaker) effect of the front spring means. As a result, the lock between the rear support member and the corresponding engagement portion of the ski boot sole is released ("release") and the ski boot can be swung out of the binding. However, as soon as the ski boot has left the binding, the rear spring device relaxes, and then the front spring device can exert its effect and return the engagement element to the longitudinal position, which allows re-engagement with the second locking element. The binding is then back in initial position ("step-in").

To compensate for the lifting and lowering of the shoe heel with the flexion of the clamping device - in particular the flat connecting part - accompanying change in length spring means are preferably provided on the rear support member. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, this function takes over the above-mentioned rear spring device, which supplies the rest of the spring preload for locking the rear retaining element.

Furthermore, adjusting means for length adjustment of the binding are provided on the rear holding element - in an alternative embodiment also in the region of the front holding element, which expediently comprise a slider arranged in a longitudinal guide and there (for example with a locking screw).

In a preferred embodiment, the front spring device has a helical spring with a long stroke which is supported at one end against a binding mounting plate and connected to the other end with the (second) unlocking device, used as a compression spring element. This compression spring element biases the second locking element in the engaged position with the first locking element. This engagement is released (as mentioned elsewhere) by exerting pressure on the first locking element from above, so that the skier can get out of the binding.

On the first locking element in particular a restoring torsion spring element and / or a lever device is provided with a pivot lever which - can be pivoted - in particular by the Torsionsfederelement - in a closed position and by pressure on a suitably arranged and shaped actuating portion in the open position.

At least in the region of the front holding element or the tensioning device, the planar connecting element is designed as a support plate for the ski boot front sole, which is expediently roughly contoured on the underside to avoid malfunction by accumulated snow. In the embodiment of the invention with an attacking on the ski boot front sole rear retaining element behind this also one - expediently also roughly contoured - support element for the shoe heel is provided.

Fig. 1

eine synoptische Darstellung einer Skibindung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in Art einer kombinierten Seitenansicht und Längsschinttdarstellung in einer senkrechten Schnittebene, wobei zwei verschiedene Stellungen der Skischuh-Vordersohle gezeigt sind,

Fig. 2

eine weitere Darstellung der Skibindung nach Fig. 1 in Form einer mit Teil-Längsschnittdarstellungen in zur Skioberfläche parallelen Schnittebenen kombinierten Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung der wesentlichen Konstruktionselemente der Skibindung nach Fig. 1 und 2 (ohne Bindungsgehäuse).

Advantages and expediencies of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to FIGS. From these show:

Fig. 1

a synoptic representation of a ski binding according to an embodiment of the invention in the manner of a combined side view and longitudinal beam representation in a vertical sectional plane, wherein two different positions of the ski boot front sole are shown,

Fig. 2

another illustration of the ski binding after Fig. 1 in the form of a sectional plane combined with partial longitudinal sections in sectional planes parallel to the ski surface,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the essential construction elements of the ski binding after Fig. 1 and 2 (without binding housing).

Fig. 1 and 2 show a ski binding 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention in the mounted on a (not shown) ski state, one has to imagine on the left side of the figure, the ski tip and on the right side of the ski end. Fig. 3 shows the essential components of the front part of the ski binding 1 again in a spatial representation. In Fig. 1 the ski surface 3 is shown as a solid line, and it is shown the front lower part of a ski boot 5 to a fully lowered position and the other with a slightly raised paragraph. The ski boot 5 has a front sole 7 with a circumferentially protruding sole edge 7a and a rear sole end 7b, which are in engagement with essential functional elements of the ski binding 1 (see below).

The ski binding 1 comprises as essential functional units a mounting plate 9, a front holding element 11 with associated elastic pressure element 13, a rear holding device 15, a front holding element 11 with the rear holding device 15 connecting flexible plastic plate 17 and arranged in front of the front holding element unlocking 19th

The front retaining element 11 is formed as a resilient steel retaining clip with a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein the legs of the "U" inwardly directed bends 11a have, with which the retaining clip 11 from both sides of the sole edge 7a of the ski boot front sole embraces. How best in Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen, the retaining clip 11 is slightly widened in adaptation to the shape of the ski boot front sole to the rear. Their resilient design allows the action of an inadmissibly high torsional force between the ski boot and ski a resilient expansion, which is a unscrewing the front sole 7 from the retaining clip 11 and thus a release of the ski boot 5 from the binding 1 and thus allows the ski.

The elastic pressure element 13 arranged in the embodiment shown directly in front of the retaining clip 11 and designed as a solid elastomer block whose upper side is slightly convex and slightly sloping towards the rear, makes surface contact with the underside of the front sole 7, presses the upper side of the sole edge 7a against the latter Bottom of the folds 11a and thus creates a frictional resistance against rotation of the ski boot 5 about an axis perpendicular to the ski surface. This ensures that a rotation of the ski boot is only possible with larger lateral forces and unscrewing the ski boot 5 from the binding only at dangerously high lateral forces. The elastomer block 13 thus provides in this regard for reasonable guiding properties of the binding in combination with a safety trip function. On the other hand, the elastomer block 13 opposes an increase in the heel of the ski boot 5 an elastic resistance at the top of the front sole 7 and thus generates the biodynamically desirable restoring force in such a lifting.

The rear holding device 15 is - as it does not concern the core of the invention - described below only in broad terms. It comprises as a rear retaining element a spring-loaded pivoting lever 21, which is connected via a pair of rollers 23 in engagement with the rear sole end 7b. By a pivoting movement follows the (in Fig. 1 pivoting lever 21 shown in two pivoting positions, to a certain extent lifting the heel of the ski boot 5, without the engagement between the pair of rollers 23 and the rear sole end 7b is canceled. A rear one Spring means 25 embedded in a retainer housing 27 attracts the rear retainer 21 against the rear sole end 7b. An adjusting screw 29 is used to adjust the rear holding device 15th

The unlocking device 19 for opening the binding comprises substantially designed as torsionsfederbelastete pivot lever first locking element 31 and designed as a spring-loaded slider 33 second locking element. Both parts 31, 33 are approximately U-shaped in cross-section and have at the front end in each case a fold 31a, 33a as an engagement portion for mutual engagement.

The first locking element forming pivot lever 31 is pivotable about an axis of rotation 35 which is mounted in a U-shaped holder 37. To the rotation axis 35 acting as a torsion spring coil spring 39 is wound, which biases the pivot lever 31 in the engaged position with the slider 33. By pressure from above with a (in Fig. 1 Dashed line shown) ski pole 41 which is inserted into a guide opening 43 in a front binding housing 45, the pivot lever 31 can be pivoted clockwise far enough that its fold 31a out of engagement with the fold 33a of the slider 33 device.

The second locking element (slider) 33 has in addition to the aforementioned first, upwardly facing edge 33a, a second, downwardly facing edge 33b, which projects into a front spring device (coil spring) 47. This biases the slider 33 forward - ie in the engaged position with the pivot lever 31 - before. The slider 33 passes through the elastomeric block 13 in which two (not separately designated) slots are provided for this purpose, and the retaining clip 11 and is connected at its end via a fastening and pivot axis 49 with the plastic plate 17. Although this is flexurally elastic, but not stretchable, whereby a total of a tensile connection between the front end of the slider 33 (the fold 33a) and the rear holding device 15 is formed. As long as the pivoting lever 31 and the slider 33 are locked together, an elasticity of the binding in the longitudinal direction for flexion compensation is realized solely by the torsion spring loading of the rear retaining element 21.

However, if by the above-mentioned pressure from above with the ski pole 41 on the pivot lever 31 whose engagement with the slider 33 is released, pushes the rear spring means 25, the rear holding means 15 in total (and with her the plastic plate 17 and the slider 33) to the rear until the engagement with the rear sole end 7b of the ski boot 5 is released and the skier can get out of the binding. After this is done, the front spring means 47, the slider 33 and with it (via the mounting axis 49) push the plastic plate 17 forward again, the engagement with the pivot lever 31 is restored, and the binding is ready for a new boarding.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

ski binding

3

ski surface

5

ski boot

7

front sole

7a

sole edge

7b

rear sole end

9

mounting plate

11

front retaining element (retaining clip)

11a

fold

13

elastic pressure element (elastomeric block)

15

rear holding device

17

flexible plastic plate

19

unlocking

21

rear retaining element (pivot lever)

23

roller pair

25

rear spring device

27

Retainer housing

29

adjusting

31

first locking element (pivot lever)

31a

fold

33

second locking element (sliding piece)

33a; 33b

fold

35

axis of rotation

37

holder

39

Coil spring (torsion spring)

41

ski stick

43

guide opening

45

front binding housing

47

front spring device (coil spring)

49

Mounting and swiveling axis

Claims (15)

1. Ski binding (1), especially a touring, telemark or cross-country binding, having

   - a front retaining element associated with the front end (7a) of the sole of a ski boot (5),

   - a rear retaining element (21) formed for engaging an edge (7b) on the boot foresole or on the heel of the ski boot, and

   - a tensioning means (17; 25; 47) connecting the front and rear retaining elements to one another which allows locking of the front and rear retaining elements to the ski boot and, especially in the locked state, allows lifting of the heel of the ski boot away from the ski,

   characterised in that
   the front retaining element engages around the sole of the ski boot close to the tip of the boot on both sides in the manner of a clamp, especially with lateral resilience, and there is associated with the front retaining element a resilient element (13) against the action of which the front end of the sole is downwardly movable at the same time as the boot heel is raised.
2. Ski binding according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the retaining element (11) is in the form of a retaining clamp of substantially U-shaped cross-section, the base of which is attached to the ski and which especially is made of resilient metal or high-strength plastics material and the ends (11 a) of the limbs of which are inwardly angled and
   the resilient element (13) is in the form of an elastomer block located, in the use position, under the sole of the ski boot and in and/or in front of the retaining clamp.
3. Ski binding according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   with the tensioning means there is associated at least one spring-loaded unlocking device (19) for release of the locking between the ski binding (1) and the ski boot (5) on manual application of a force to a first locking element (31) having substantially interlocking-shape action.
4. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the clamping means has a flat connecting part (17), which is flexurally resilient in a longitudinal sectional plane of the ski binding, for at least indirect, resiliently non-rotatable connection of the front retaining element (11) to the rear retaining element (21).
5. Ski binding according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the flat connecting part (17) is laterally guided relative to the ski, especially by side walls of a binding housing (45) fixed to the ski which engage around the side edges of the connecting part.
6. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   in the region of the front retaining element (11) there is provided a second locking element (33) co-operating with the first locking element (31) and also a front spring device (47) for biasing the first locking element into the engagement position with the second locking element and, at the rear retaining element (21), a rear spring device co-operating with the front spring device (47) for biasing the rear retaining element into the engagement position with the boot foresole (7) or the heel, the spring force of the rear spring device being greater than that of the front spring device.
7. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rear retaining element (21) is attached to the tensioning means so that it can pivot about a pivot axle (49) located substantially parallel to the ski surface (3) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski.
8. Ski binding according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the pivot axle (49) is arranged in the region of the front retaining element (11), especially in the region beneath the foresole (7) of the ski boot.
9. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rear retaining element (21) is so constructed that it can be actuated by a projection (7b) on the ski boot foresole (7) or by the rear edge of the heel when the ski boot (5) is set down.
10. Ski binding according to claim 6 and 7,
    characterised in that
    the rear retaining element (21) is so connected to the rear spring device (25) in the manner of a lever that actuation of the retaining element is accomplished, against the spring biasing produced by the rear spring device, by setting down of the ski boot (5) behind the projection (7b) on the ski boot foresole (7).
11. Ski binding according to one of claims 6 to 10,
    characterised in that
    on the rear retaining element (21) there are provided, for flexion compensation, resilient means (25) which are formed, especially, by the rear spring device.
12. Ski binding according to one of claims 6 to 11,
    characterised in that
    the front spring device (47) has a compression spring, especially a helical steel spring, one end of which rests against a binding mounting plate (9) and the other end of which biases the second locking element (33) towards the front and therefore into the engagement position and therefore with the first locking element (31).
13. Ski binding according to one of claims 6 to 12,
    characterised in that
    the first locking element (31) is in the form of a pivot lever which can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axle oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski by manual actuation against the biasing force of a torsion spring (39) coaxial with the pivot axle.
14. Ski binding according to one of claims 6 to 13,
    characterised in that
    the second locking element (33) is in the form of a sliding piece connected to the front end of the flat connecting part (17) so that it can pivot by way of a pivot axle (49) at its rear end, its front end being in engagement with the first locking element (31) at rest and also in the use position of the ski binding but not during the manual actuation for the purpose of release.
15. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    on the rear retaining element (21) there are provided adjusting means (29) for length adjustment of the ski binding, especially having a sliding piece that is fixable in a longitudinal guideway.

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