FR2739263A1 - ASSEMBLY FORMED BY A PAIR OF SNOW SHOES, PARTICULARLY SKI SHOES, AND PAIR OF RETAINING ELEMENTS PROVIDED FOR RETAINING SUCH SHOES - Google Patents

Abstract

The system consists of front and rear retaining members (60) which are fitted to the upper surface of each ski and designed to clamp the boot automatically in place when it is pressed down on the ski. At least one of the boots has an offset recess (75) in its toe or heel to engage with a matching catch (71) in the binding mechanism to ensure that the boot is fastened to the correct ski. The two boots and binding mechanisms can have matching recesses and catches which are offset on opposite sides of their centre lines. Both recesses and catches have the same shape and dimensions. Alternatively, the boots can have projections and the catches have recesses.

Description

Set formed by a pair of sliding shoes, in particular

ski boots, and pair

  retainers for retaining these shoes.

  The invention relates to an assembly formed by a pair of sliding boots, in particular ski boots, and a pair of retaining elements provided for releasably retaining each of the boots in abutment against a sliding board, in particular a pair of skis. The invention

  also relates to a set formed by the previous set and the pair of boards.

  It is known that for alpine skiing, a pair of ski boots is used which are respectively releasably retained by a front retaining element and a rear retaining element. At present, the shoes have front and rear retaining tips with symmetrical gripping zones, that is to say that these gripping zones are identical, except for manufacturing tolerances, so that each of the shoes can be engaged indifferently in the retaining elements of either ski. Even more, the toe caps are standardized, so that

  the shoes are compatible with the various retaining elements available on the market.

  Skiers who wish to do so can personalize the skis of a pair by identifying, for example by a mark or a sticker, a right ski and a left ski, so that they put their ski on each times in the same direction. However, apart from this marking, nothing prevents

  materially putting the skis in an opposite position.

  However, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to personify a right ski and a left ski for a reason linked to the very function of the shoes or the retaining elements. For example, on this subject, the patent applications published under the numbers 1 503 847, 1 503 848 and 1 503 849 teach that the two front retaining elements of a pair can be provided to release the shoe more easily. in one direction than in the other, taking into account that a knee is more fragile in torsion

  in one direction of rotation than in the other.

  It is understood that with such retaining elements, an inversion of the skis can have serious consequences. Indeed, the inversion of the retaining elements results in an opposite effect to that sought, that is to say that the retaining element more difficultly releases the shoe in the direction o the

knee is more fragile in torsion.

  The object of the invention is to improve the conditions of use of such retaining elements so

  to avoid the possibility of such a reversal.

  3 O The assembly formed by a pair of sliding shoes and a pair of front and rear retaining elements designed to releasably hold each of the shoes in abutment against a sliding board, each shoe having a sole with a toe cap. front grip and a rear grip end, each retaining element comprising a base intended to be assembled integrally with the board, a movable jaw provided for retaining respectively the front end or the rear end of a shoe, and a support plate against which the shoe sole rests, is characterized in that at least one of the shoes of the pair of shoes has locally a hollow or raised coding element which differentiates said shoe from the another shoe, and that at least one of the retaining elements of each pair of retaining elements has a relief member in relief or in hollow position, shape and dime nsions intended to cooperate with the keying element of the shoe, which differentiates the retaining element from the other element

pair restraint.

  The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and to the drawings in

  annex which form an integral part thereof.

  Figures 1 and 2 show in top view and side view of the retaining elements

traditional mounted on a ski.

  Figures 3 and 4 show a top view shoe cut above the sole and

  side view of a traditional shoe.

  FIG. 5 shows views from the rear of two shoes according to a first embodiment of

1 0 the invention.

  Figure 6 shows a top view of two rear retaining elements intended to cooperate with

the shoes of figure 5.

  FIG. 7 shows in perspective a part of the rear of a shoe according to another mode of

implementation of the invention.

  1 5 FIG. 8 shows a front view of a jaw intended to cooperate with the sole of FIG. 7.

  FIG. 9 illustrates the mode of cooperation of the means of FIGS. 7 and 8.

  Figure 10 shows schematically an alternative embodiment.

  FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 12 is a top view of a rear retaining member in another embodiment

work of the invention.

  Figure 13 is a top sectional view of the rear of a sole provided to cooperate with

the element of figure 12.

  Figure 14 is a top view of a rear retainer according to another embodiment

2 5 work of the invention.

  Figure 15 is a bottom view of the rear of a sole provided to cooperate with the element

in Figure 14.

  Figure 16 shows a top view of the jaw of a rear retainer and the end

  rear of a shoe according to another embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 17 is a side view of the elements shown in Figure 16.

  FIG. 18 illustrates the operation of this embodiment of the invention, and shows the

  fitting the retainer with an appropriate shoe.

  Figure 19 shows conversely the fitting of the retaining element with an improper shoe.

  FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows traditional front and rear retaining elements 2 and 3 mounted on a ski 4. In known manner, the front fixing element has a base 5 intended to be secured to the ski, extended towards the rear by a plate support 6 provided to receive the shoe. The element also has a shoe retaining jaw 7, which, in the present case, forms a block with the body of the retaining element. The jaw has in known manner means for retaining the front end of the shoe in a vertical direction upwards, and in a transverse direction. Jaw and body are laterally movable against restoring force

  a spring housed in the body. This construction method is well known and will not be described in detail.

  The rear retaining element has a base or slide 8 intended to be secured to the ski. A body 9 is mounted sliding along the slide 9. The body carries a movable jaw 10 around a transverse axis 11. The jaw has two stable positions, an open position where it is ready for engagement of the shoe, and a closed position where it retains the rear end of the boot in abutment against the ski. Figure 2 shows the jaw in the open position. Preferably, the jaw has in its lower part a boot tongue 13 which is designed to cooperate with the lower edge of the shoe sole during its engagement,

  so as to cause the jaw to drive in the closed position.

  The slide 8 is extended forward by a support plate 14 provided to receive the rear end of the shoe sole. Figure 2 further shows a brake 15 with brake arms

  1 5 16 and an actuating pedal 17. All of these elements are known.

  The jaws of the front and rear elements are symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane and

  longitudinal median of which the trace 12 is represented in FIG. 1.

  FIG. 3 schematically represents a shoe seen from above, in section, just above the level of the sole. In known manner, the sole has on the front a front end piece 18, and on the rear a rear end piece 19. These end pieces have a standardized shape and dimensions. In addition, they have useful surfaces by which they stress their respective retaining member, in particular the upper edge 20 of the front end piece, the outline 21 of the end piece, and the outline 22 of the rod in its zone located at the above the end piece, the upper rim 24 of the rear end piece, and the contour 23. The rear end piece also has a lower edge 25 designed to cooperate with the pedal.

2 5 footwear.

  The end pieces 18 and 19 are symmetrical with respect to a vertical and longitudinal median plane, the

trace 26 is visible in figure 3.

  Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. According to these figures, the boot tabs are offset laterally in a different direction. In addition, they are

  3 0 offset beyond the median vertical plane. The retaining elements are thus differentiated from one another.

  The shoes have for their part, at their respective rear toe, recesses similarly offset, but inverted, so as to differentiate one from the other the shoe soles. Thus, Figure 5 shows views of the rear two right and left shoes, 27, 28, the 3 5 soles each have a recess 27a, 28b. The two recesses are offset from the

  longitudinal plane of symmetry of the tips, and they are located beyond this plane.

  FIG. 6 shows a top view of two rear retaining elements 31 and 32 with jaws 33a, 34b, the fitting tabs 33 and 34 of which are also offset on each side of the median planes of symmetry. The recesses 27a and 28b are provided wider than the tongues 33a and 34b. In addition, the position and the height of the recesses are provided so that if the shoe 27, for example, is engaged in the retaining element 32, the boot tongue 34b penetrates into the recess 28b without causing the drive of the jaw. This drive is only possible if the shoe 27 is present in the element 31. In this case, the boot tongue 33a is driven by the lower edge of the sole. The tongues and the recesses are offset beyond the planes of symmetry so as to avoid interference, ie to avoid that in the event of a bad association between a ski and a shoe, the sole of the shoe can nevertheless

  train the boot tab.

  This mode of implementation is advantageous since it does not affect the upper edge of the sole, and it has little effect on the contour of the rear toe, so that the conditions under which the shoe is retained in the element are not significantly changed. In addition,

  shoes can be used with traditional restraints.

  Naturally for this mode of implementation, the direction of offset of the recesses and the tongues for the right and left shoes has been chosen arbitrarily to facilitate the

  1 5 description of this mode of implementation. This meaning is not limiting.

  Figures 7 to 9 relate to another embodiment of the invention. According to this mode, the upper edge of the rear end piece 35 of the sole has a recess 35a offset laterally relative to the median plane of symmetry in a determined direction. The other shoe is not shown, it would have a similar recess offset in the opposite direction, so as to differentiate the soles 2 0 from one another. The jaw 36 of the rear retaining element intended to cooperate with the shoe of Figure 7 is shown in front view in Figure 8. It has in its upper part

  a tooth 36a located in a position adapted to engage in the recess 35a of the sole.

  In such a situation, the tooth and the recess do not oppose the closing of the jaw when the shoe is engaged. On the other hand, if the position of the tooth is not adapted to the position of the recess, the tooth abuts against the upper rim or the outline of the sole, which prevents the jaw from closing. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 9. Preferably, the tooth 36a has dimensions much smaller than those of the recess, and a shape adapted so as not to hinder the lateral release of the shoe. The tooth may however be active upon release

  vertical of the shoe, that is to say transmit the vertical stresses to the jaw.

  Preferably also, as can be seen in Figure 9, the tooth 36b has a depth greater than the depth of the jaw. It may indeed be that if the recoil thrust is poorly adjusted, in particular too weak, the jaw drive occurs in the case of a poor combination of a shoe and a retaining element. In this case, in fact, the body of the element moves back sharply, but the thrust of the springs is not sufficient to oppose this decline. Closure of the jaw can occur under these conditions. But, because of the great depth of the tooth, the jaw is not able to cover the upper edge of the sole, which will have

  therefore tendency to be released following a weak vertical stress.

  Advantageously, the shoes produced according to this embodiment can be used with traditional retaining elements. However, traditional shoes are not

  usable with the restraint elements described.

  FIG. 10 represents a reverse arrangement of the elements, it is the shoe sole which has in the upper part of its rear toe 39 a tooth 40 offset relative to the median plane of symmetry The jaw 41, represented schematically in this figure, has a recess 42 located in a position suitable for the tooth 40 to be able to engage therein, and of dimensions greater than those of the tooth so as not to hinder, if necessary, the lateral release of the shoe. 1 0 FIG. 11 represents another variant according to which the lower edge of the sole which is provided to cooperate with the shoeing tongue of the jaw has an oblique notch 43 whose bearing surface of the end piece on the shoeing tongue is oblique. The jaw intended to cooperate with this shoe has an oblique boot tongue 44 of the same inclination value as the notch 43. The engagement of a shoe in the jaw will only be possible if i 5 the inclination of the notch has the same direction as the inclination of the boot tongue. If the slopes are in the opposite direction, the tongue will keep the sole in a higher position than its intended position for correct fitting, and the upper edge of the jaw will not be able to cover the upper edge of the sole. According to this variant, the notches and the boot tabs are located in the middle areas of the soles and the jaws,

2 0 respectively.

  Figures 12 and 13 illustrate an alternative embodiment. According to this variant, the support plate 45 of the rear retaining element has laterally a stud 46, and the shoe sole has a recess. This sole is shown in Figure 12 seen from above, in section through a horizontal plane. Preferably, the stud is located near the lateral edge of the support plate,

  2 5 and the recess 47 is largely dimensioned, so as not to hinder the release of the boot.

  Figures 14 and 15 show another alternative embodiment. According to this variant, the brake actuation pedal 50 has large parallel ridges in relief 51 which define grooves between them 52. These grooves have a substantially flat upper surface, in addition, their shape,

  seen from above, is asymmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry.

  The shoe sole 53 also has streaks of the same shape 54 in its zone which is intended to slide along the pedal. The ridges 54 are in relief, and have a width less than that of the grooves 52. The other retainer and the other shoe have grooves and grooves in the opposite direction. That is, the ridges of the other shoe could engage in the grooves 52 of the member of Figure 14, and the grooves of the shoe of Figure 14 could engage in the grooves of the other retainer. In this way, the two soles of

  shoe and the two retaining elements are differentiated.

  An engagement of a shoe in the retaining element of FIG. 13 will only be possible if the streaks of the shoe have an opposite direction to those of the pedal. In this case, a slip of the sole on the pedal is possible, the streaks sliding against each other. If the streaks of the pedal and the sole are in the same direction, the streaks of the shoe penetrate into the grooves 52 of the pedal, thus preventing the sole from sliding on the pedal, and therefore the engagement of

  the shoe in the retainers.

  Figures 16 to 20 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Figures 16 and 17 show a jaw 60 of a rear retaining element, and the rear end 61 of a shoe. It is known to return the jaw of a rear retaining element by a piston 62, guided in a housing of the body 63 of the retaining element, and pushed back towards the jaw by a return spring 64. The piston can also be replaced by an articulated rocker. In known manner, the piston, or the rocker has a pressure nose 65 which bears against the internal face of the jaw. This internal face 1 0 has two successive ramps, an elastic race ramp 66 and an opening ramp 68. These two ramps have in common an edge 69 which produces the maximum recoil of the piston and the maximum compression of the spring. This edge corresponds to the triggering threshold of the retaining element. On either side of this edge, the spring decompresses, so as to define two stable positions of the jaw, an open position ready to receive the shoe, and a position

  1 5 closed shoe retention during skiing.

  According to the present embodiment, the jaw 60 has on its internal face a mobile ramp whose width is less than that of the ramps 67 and 68. In the illustrated embodiment, the ramp 70 is carried by a rocker 71 which is housed in a recess 72 located on the internal face of the jaw. The rocker is located on one side of the jaw, that is to say offset from 2 O to the median vertical plane of the jaw. For the two retainers of a pair, the rockers

  are offset on a different side of the median plane to differentiate the retaining elements.

  The ramp 70 is located at the height of the elastic stroke ramp 66.

  The rocker 71 which carries the ramp 70 is articulated around an axis carried in the jaw.

  It has in its upper part a nose 73 which passes through the jaw to have good contact, if necessary, with the sole of the shoe, and projects from the side of the shoe, preferably near the upper edge of the jaw. Preferably also, in the absence of a shoe, a spring (not shown) keeps the rocker with the protruding nose, that is to say in the position shown in FIG. 17. From this position, the rocker and its ramp 70 can be pushed towards inside of

  the jaw until the nose 73 is retracted into the jaw.

  3 O In the rest position of Figure 17, the rocker 71 is retracted inside its housing 72, and the ramp 70 is recessed relative to the elastic race ramp 66, that is to say that the piston 62 can bear successively on one and the other of the ramps 66 and 68. The nose 73 projects

  in the jaw under the upper rim.

  When the nose is retracted inside the jaw, the ramp 70 protrudes from the elastic travel ramp 66, and it continuously extends the opening ramp 68, for example along an arc surface of circle centered on the axis of rotation of the jaw. At the engagement of the shoe, during the tilting of the jaw from the high position to the low position, the ramp, if it is projecting, replaces the ramp 66. Given its shape, it retains the piston in its extreme position, that which corresponds to the triggering threshold, and it prevents the decompression of the spring. It is then impossible to keep the shoe engaged in the retaining element. If, on the contrary, the ramp 70 is retracted into the housing 71, the piston 62 can travel through the

  two ramps 66 and 68 in the usual way. Ramp 70 is inactive.

  A shoe intended to cooperate with the retaining element is shown in Figures 16 and 17. This shoe 61 has a recess 75 at the upper part of its rear end. This recess has a position, a shape and dimensions provided so that when the shoe is engaged, the nose 73 can engage there without causing the rocker 71 to move inward.

of the jaw.

  1 0 The shape of the nose and of the recess must be provided in a complementary manner, it must also be provided to expel snow which would have accumulated, if necessary, in the recess. For example,

  the shape of the recess can be flared, and that of the nose 73 can be bevelled.

  The recess 75 of the shoe is offset beyond the median vertical plane. It goes without saying that for the other shoe in the pair, the recess is offset inversely, so as to differentiate the

1 5 shoe soles.

  FIG. 18 illustrates the engagement of the shoe in an appropriate retaining element. When the boot engages, the nose 73 of the rocker 71 enters the recess 75, the rocker 73

  remains retracted in its housing, and the piston traverses the ramp 68 then the ramp 66.

  Figure 19 illustrates the engagement of a shoe in an inappropriate retainer. The nose 73 of the rocker 71 is in abutment against the edge of the shoe, and it is forced to retract into the jaw. Therefore, the ramp 70 protrudes, it is on this ramp that the piston comes to bear, which keeps the spring in its maximum compression state. In fact the jaw is in a state of unstable equilibrium which prevents proper fitting. In this case, the skier can easily realize his boot error, in fact, he will feel that the back of his boot is not held in abutment against the ski, moreover, he will not hear the characteristic noise which marks the

closure of the jaw.

  This embodiment is advantageous because the shoes remain compatible with the retaining elements currently on the market. However, the shoes on the market are not compatible

  with none of the retaining elements according to the invention without having been modified accordingly.

  Of course, variations are possible. For example, instead of carrying a ramp, the rocker, or another mobile element, could carry a kind of mobile wedge intended to retain the pressure nose of the piston, and prevent the crossing of the triggering threshold. Instead of being articulated, the rocker 71 could be connected to the jaw by an elastically deformable zone which

  acts as an elastic hinge. In this case, the jaw and the rocker would be in one piece.

  The recess 72 can pass through the thickness of the jaw right through. The ramp 70 could also be formed by all or part of the elastic race ramp 66 whose inclination would be made variable so as to mark the edge 39, or on the contrary to have two ramps in the extension

one from the other.

  Other means are also possible to allow the engagement of a shoe of a pair in the retaining elements of a ski of a pair, and to prevent re-engagement of the same shoe in the retaining elements of the other. ski. In particular, these means can be located towards the front of the

  shoe, and at the front retainer.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, only one of the two boots of a pair is made incompatible with the retaining elements of a ski, taking into account the fact that in order to ski, the two boots are engaged on both skis. If a shoe of a pair cannot be engaged, it is that the association between the shoes and the skis is not correct. To illustrate this, reference may be made to FIG. 20 o the shoe has above its rear end 78 a recess 79. The position of the tooth relative to the median plane of symmetry is not limiting. The recess 79 differentiates the shoe of FIG. 20 from the other shoe which is in this case traditional. The jaw 80 intended to cooperate with the end piece 78 has a projecting tooth 81 whose shape and position are provided to penetrate into the recess 79 during

  the engagement of the shoe. The jaw of the other rear retaining element is traditional.

  1 5 Under these conditions, the shoe with the toe 78 can be engaged either in one or the other of the rear retaining elements. On the other hand, the other shoe with its traditional toe cannot be engaged in the jaw 80, because of the tooth 81. It can only be engaged in the retaining element whose jaw is traditional. Overall, the commitment of

  two shoes is only possible if the association of the toe 78 with the jaw 80 is respected.

  The invention finds an advantageous application in the case where the front retaining elements are designed to release a shoe more easily on one side than on the other, as described for example in the patent applications cited in the preamble. The keying means that have

  been described ensure that when using the skis, the right shoe will be fitted on the right ski.

  In order for this effect to be obtained, it is necessary that during assembly, a correct pairing is observed between the front retaining elements and the rear retaining elements, especially if the polarizing means relate to the rear retaining element. To facilitate this pairing, the retaining elements will for example bear a marking which, during assembly, will prevent any inversion during

their assembly on the skis.

  Naturally, the present description is given for information only, and other implementations of the invention could be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention.

part of it.

Claims (5)

CLAIM   1- Set formed by a pair of sliding shoes and a pair of front and rear retaining elements designed to releasably hold each of the shoes in abutment against a sliding board, each shoe having a sole with a front grip toe and a rear grip, each retaining element comprising a base intended to be assembled integrally with the board, a movable jaw provided for retaining respectively the front end or the rear end of a shoe, and a support plate against which the shoe sole rests, characterized in that at least one of the shoes of the pair of shoes locally has a hollow or raised keying element (27a, 28b, 35a, 40, 43, 47, 54, 75) which differentiates the said shoe from the other shoe, and that at least one of the retaining elements of each pair of retaining elements has a relief member in relief or in cre ux (33a, 34b, 36a, 36b, 42, 46, 52, 73) of position, shape and dimensions provided to cooperate with the polarizing element   of the shoe, which differentiates the retaining element from the other retaining element of the pair.   2- An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the two shoes of the pair of i 5 shoes have hollow or raised keying elements which differentiate them from each other, and that the retaining elements of the pair of retaining elements have elements of   coding in relief or in relief which differentiate them from each other.   3- The assembly of claim 2, o the jaws of the rear retaining elements have a foot pedal, characterized in that the polarizing elements are pedals 2 O footing (33a, 34b) of the rear retaining elements which are offset from their respective median plane, and for the shoes, recesses (27a, 28b) located laterally with respect to their respective median plane.   4- An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the keying elements are for the shoes a recess (35a) located on the upper edge of the rear toe (35) and offset 2 5 relative to the median plane, and for the retaining elements a tooth (36a) located in the part   upper jaw (36) of the rear retainer, offset from its median plane.   - Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the keying elements are for the shoes a tooth (40) projecting from the upper edge of the rear end piece (39) and offset relative to the median plane, and for the retaining elements a recess (42) located in the part   3 O upper jaw (41) of the rear retainer, offset from its median plane.   6- An assembly according to claim 2, o the jaws of the rear retaining elements have a foot pedal, characterized in that the polarizing elements are foot pedals (44) of the rear retaining elements which are inclined, and for shoes, areas   bearing (43) on the foot pedal inclined at the same angle as the pedals.   3 5 7- assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the keying elements are for the rear retaining elements a stud (46) projecting from the upper surface of the support plate (45), and offset from the center plane of the retainer, and for shoes, a large recess (47) located under the shoe sole, and offset from the center plane. 8- assembly according to claim 2, o the rear retaining elements are equipped with a brake with an actuating pedal, characterized in that the keying elements are for the rear retaining elements of the ridges (51) defining between they not symmetrical grooves relative to the median plane of the element, and for shoes, grooves (54) complementary to the grooves located on the lower surface of the soles. 9- assembly according to claim 2, o the retaining jaw of the rear retaining elements has an elastic travel ramp (66) and an opening ramp (68) against which a pressure nose (73) is held in abutment by a spring (64), characterized in that the jaws respectively have a ramp (70) located at the height of the elastic travel ramp in 1 0 a different position relative to the median vertical plane, each ramp being movable between a position o it is set back relative to the elastic travel ramp (66) and a position o it is projecting relative to the ramp (66), the movement of the ramp being controlled by a nose (73) provided to come to the contact of the shoe sole during engagement of the shoe in the jaw, and that the shoes respectively have at the sole a recess (75) 1 5 having a different position relative to the median vertical plane which is provided so that the nose (73)   a retaining element can enter it.   - Ski equipment formed by a pair of ski boots, a pair of skis equipped with front and rear retaining elements provided for releasably retaining one and the other of the boots, characterized in that the boots and the retaining elements form a whole   2 0 according to any one of the preceding claims.