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This invention relates to a ski binding which secures a boot to a ski,
particularly a touring or cross country ski. The binding is the type in
which the boot is held by a front extension of the sole of the boot, and
which enters into an archplate secured to the ski, and defining a space
whose form corresponds in width and in height to that of the sole
extension. The boot is secured to the ski by a fastening means which
secures the sole extension in the archplate. This fastening means assures
a good binding of the boot on the ski while giving a flexibility to the
sole at a location along the extension and in front of the boot.
An object of the invention is a ski shoe or boot which can be used with a
binding of this type, whose sole includes a forward extension formed at
the same time as the sole, by molding of plastic material. The forward
extension of the boot which enters into the archplate is joined to the
sole proper by a relatively flexible zone which makes it easier to raise
the heel of the boot. The forward extension of the sole has a shoulder
facing toward the boot. The fastening means engages this shoulder to
fasten the boot to the ski.
The extension of the sole presents an area of lesser thickness to add
flexibility to the extension, and the portion of the extension bounding
this area can be used advantageously as a shoulder for engagement by the
fastening means which secures the front portion of the extension of the
sole in the archplate.
In a preferred embodiment of the boot according to the invention, the
portion of the front extension engages in the fastening archplate, the
extension having an upper beveled transverse rear edge, facing the boot
and/or a lower beveled transverse leading edge at the front extremity of
the extension.
These bevels enhance the extent of flex of the foot of the skier as the
skier advances, because of the increased flexibility of the sole.
The invention has equally as its object a ski binding, particularly for a
touring or cross country ski of the type mentioned above, characterized by
the fact that it comprises a fastening means connected to the archplate
and furnished with a moving part which can be brought against a projecting
shoulder of the sole extension to assure fastening.
In one embodiment the binding means comprises a fastening member including
a hook connected to the archplate and pivotable about a horizontal axis
transverse to the axis of the ski. The tip of the hook can be moved
between a first or fastened position, in which the tip of the hook is
engaged against a shoulder of the sole extension which faces the boot, so
that it prevents the extension from being disengaged from the archplate,
and a second or unlocked position, in which the tip of the hook is
disengaged from the shoulder to permit the separation of the boot from the
archplate.
In this first embodiment of the invention, the hook is advantageously made
in the form of a small metal plate mounted on two arms at the upper part
of the archplate, the tip of the hook being the bent end edge of the small
plate which engages the shoulder of the boot extension.
Preferably a spring, for example a helical spring, constantly holds the
hook in the locking position.
According to a variation of this first embodiment of the invention, the
hook is advantageously formed from molded plastic material. The hook is
mounted on the upper part of the archplate by a leaf spring whose flexing
permits the movement of the hook between the fastened and unfastened
positions, and whose elasticity constantly holds the hook in the locked
position.
In a preferred form of this variation the leaf spring has the general form
of a square with an aperture in its center, one end of the square being
fixed, for example by rivets, on the upper part of the archplate of the
ski binding, while the other three sides seat in a cavity in the body of
the plastic hook, a projection integral with the body of the hook engaging
itself in the central aperture of the square and being secured by a pin
passing through the body of the hook from one side to the other.
To assure a good fastening of the extension of the boot in the archplate it
is preferable, according to the invention, that the tip of the hook have a
relatively large width and that the two points where the hook is pivoted
to the archplate be sufficiently spaced from each other to avoid any
pivoting of the hook around an axis other than its own pivotal axis.
In a second embodiment the binding has as a fastening means, a lever
capable of pivoting around a fixed axis on the archplate, a hook whose tip
is engaged against the shoulder of the sole extension, the hook itself
being joined to the lever along a pivotal axis situated in front of the
axis joining the lever to the archplate, so that in lowering the lever
toward the sole of the boot one causes the tip of the hook to engage and
abut against the shoulder, while in raising the lever, one causes the hook
to swing upward and free of the front extension of the sole.
According to a preferred embodiment, in the unlocked position the pivotal
axis of the lever is above the pivot axis between the tip of the hook and
the lever, while when in the locked position the pivot axis between the
lever and the hook moves above the pivot axis of the lever so that the
lever and the hook are in a state of equilibrium, and fixed in the locked
position.
The lever advantageously has at least one stop which after a certain upward
movement of the lever engages the hook to raise it and disengage it from
the extending shoulder of the sole extension.
There can also be a return spring to push the hook downward in relation to
the lever.
According to a variation of the second embodiment, the fastening member is
a hook whose tip, located at one of its extremities, is capable of
engaging itself against the shoulder of the forward extension of the sole
of the boot and whose other extremity is connected to the support of the
archplate by a double pivot lever. The pivot axis connecting the lever and
the base of the archplate is situated between the tip of the hook and the
pivot axis connecting the lever to the body of the hook. This provides an
over center snap action during locking and unlocking in such a manner that
the hook is kept elastically in the locked position.
According to a third embodiment, the locking means is constituted by a
horizontal transverse bar which is able to be raised and lowered in
relation to vertical sides of the archplate, the bar engaging against the
shoulder of the sole extension to assure locking.
In a particular practical embodiment of the invention, the bar is integral
with two arcuately curved arms which slide in grooves of corresponding
form made in the vertical sides of the archplate, under the action of a
swingable lever which is pivot to the end of said arcuately curved arms.
In a preferred variation of the third embodiment the upper part of the
archplate includes two inwardly extending horizontal wings fixed on the
vertical parts of the archplate and between which the lever can move
during locking and unlocking.
In such embodiment the inner extremity of the lever engages the bottom of
the horizontal wings to push the arms through the grooves in an arcuately
curved path, and to assure the raising of the bar to a position above the
boot extension, while sides of the extremity cam on edges of the wings to
pull the arms in an arcuately curved path to the locking position.
Several embodiments of the invention will now be described, purely by way
of illustration and example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the ski binding of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial view in front elevation of another embodiment of the
ski binding according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view with portions removed of the binding of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines VI--VI of FIG. 5, and showing
the boot being engaged in the binding;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views in section taken along lines VII--VII of the
embodiment of FIG. 9, and showing the binding represented respectively, in
a locked position, and in an unlocked position;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, with the hook
removed;
FIG. 10 is a bottom of the body of the hook of the binding of FIGS. 7 and
8;
FIG. 11 is a top view of the body of the hook of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of the binding according to
the invention;
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the binding of FIG. 12, with its lever partly
cut away;
FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 are side views in sections taken along line XIV--XIV
of FIG. 13 showing the lever and the hook in different positions;
FIG. 17 is a side view of another embodiment of the binding according to
the invention;
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the binding of FIG. 17;
FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 are side views in section taken along the line XIX--XIX
of FIG. 18 and showing the hook in different positions;
FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are sectional side views taken along line XXII--XXII of
FIG. 25 of another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 25 is an end view of the archplate for binding of FIGS. 22, 23 and 24;
FIG. 26 is a view in perspective of the locking bar and of its control
lever; and
FIG. 27 is a side view of the sole extension according to a preferred
embodiment.
In the binding of this invention shown at FIGS. 1 and 2, the locking member
is constituted by a horizontal steel pin 21 which extends transversally
through the rigid vertical sides 6a and 6b of the archplate 6 as well as
through a horizontal opening in the front extension 8 of the sole. This
pin 21 is held by a plastic strip 28 attached to the end 27 of the pin 21
and secured to the archplate by a knob 29 engaging a slot in the strip 28.
The plate 1 which supports the archplate 6 is fixed on ski 5 by screws 2, 3
and 4. The vertical sides 6a and 6b of the archplate are extended by
divergent wings 15 and 16, which extend beyond the sides of ski 5, and
receive the front of the boot and the sole extension between them as shown
in FIG. 1 in phantom lines. An aperture 26 is made in base plate 1 in such
a manner as to reduce its weight.
FIG. 2 shows the ski 5, base plate 1 integral with and which supports the
metal archplate 6 and the wings 15 and 16. The sole 26 of the boot is
provided with a forward extension 8 which is formed by molding the sole 26
in a single piece, for example by injection molding.
In this embodiment the sole 26 is joined to extension 8, fastened into
archplate 6, by an area 30 of lesser thickness than the front of the
extension, which area 30 gives a greater flexibility to the front of the
boot. This facilitates the raising of the heel of the boot, by the skier,
to the position shown by phantom lines.
As seen in FIG. 2, area 30 of lesser thickness forms a shoulder 27 facing
toward the boot and which, according to the invention, can be used for
fastening the extension in the archplate, as is the case for the
embodiments which will now be described.
In all the embodiments there is a plate 1 which supports the archplate 6
and which is fixed to the ski 5 by screws 2, 3, and 4. The archplate of
each embodiment has vertical sides 6a and 6b which are extended by
divergent wings 15 and 16 to receive the front of the boot shown by
phantom lines in FIG. 5.
The fastening member of one embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. The upper
part of the archplate 6 extends inwardly and upwardly to provide two wings
40 and 41 bent upwardly and having aligned openings to receive the pivot
pin of hook 42. In this embodiment the hook is a metal plate bent to
inverted U shaped at 43 appreciably in its middle so it passes around
wings 40 and 41 and is free to pivot. At one free end, the hook is bent to
form a locking tip 44.
Hook 42 also includes two vertically bent tabs 45 and 46 which have aligned
openings to receive the pin 47 which goes through them from one side to
the other and around which hook 42 pivots relative to archplate 6.
A helical torsion spring 48 (FIG. 4) has one end engaging the edge of the
archplate and its other engaging the hook body to constantly urge the hook
clockwise, as viewed at FIG. 6, toward the fastened position of the
binding. Therefore, it is clear that when one presses on the flat end of
the hook, in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 6) the locking tip 44 is
raised to the position shown in phantom lines, releasing extension 8 and
permitting the boot to be withdrawn from the binding.
As can likewise be seen in FIG. 6, extension 8 of the sole of boot 9
includes a shoulder 49 against which tip 44 of the hook engages when the
binding is in the fastened position.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the plane of shoulder 49, and
furthermore the plane of tip 44 of the hook (in the fastened position),
are tangent to the circle centered on the pin 47. This permits swinging
and easy disengaging of the hook, without requiring much clearance.
In the variation of FIGS. 7 to 11, the body 42 of the hook is made from
molded plastic material, fixed to the archplate of the binding by a metal
leaf spring 50 which is itself fastened by two rivets 51 onto the inwardly
extending walls 6 of the archplate.
In this variation the leaf spring 50 has in its center part an opening 52
which permits the fastening of plate 1 on the ski by allowing access to
screw 2 through this opening before the body 42 of the hook is mounted on
leaf spring 50.
As shown in FIG. 11, which shows a top view of the body 42 of the hook, the
body has the general form of a curvilinear isosceles triangle but with
rounded corners. The apex of the body of the hook is pointed in the
direction of the advancing of the ski. This assures a better sliding in
the snow, while the rear edge 42a is concave so as to avoid rubbing of the
end of the boot against the body of the hook when the skier moves his
legs.
The top of the body of the hook likewise presents evidence of triangular
form which can be seen on edge in FIGS. 7 and 8. This form constitutes a
groove 53 for the end of the ski pole which one can use advantageously to
bring the body of the hook into the unfastened position of FIG. 8.
As shown at FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the body 42 of the hook presents on its inner
part a transverse recess 54 designed to interlock with the archplate of
the binding. Likewise, it presents a recess whose form corresponds to that
of the leaf spring 50 and which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10.
Likewise, at its inner part, body 42 of the hook presents a rectangular
projection 55 which is a close fit in the rectangular opening 52 made in
the leaf spring 50.
As a result, body 42 of the hook is held against lateral movement on the
spring.
To fasten the spring 50 to the body of the hook 42, a metal pin 56 is
inserted through an opening 57 made in the body of the hook and in
projection 55.
One perceives easily that in this manner one can mount the plate of the
binding 1 on the ski, having access to screw 2 through opening 52 made in
the spring 50. Then one places the body 42 of the hook on the spring 50
and finally, fastens the hook and the spring together with pin 56, which
is just below the spring.
There are also two recesses 58 on the inner face of the body of the hook.
The heads of rivets 51 enter them to permit the fastening of the spring 50
on the archplate of the binding in such a manner that the hook can move
freely to the fastened position.
As in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 6, the tip 44 of the hook is inclined as
well as the shoulder 49 of the extension of the sole of the boot.
In this manner one can understand that according to the two variations
shown it is possible to automatically engage the sole extension in the
archplate by raising the tip of the hook which falls back behind shoulder
49 and thus assures fastening.
Likewise one can understand that according to the invention, all that is
needed to unfasten the boot is to press on the hook in the direction of
arrow F.
In the case of the variation of FIGS. 7 to 11, this movement can be
obtained with the help of the end of the ski pole. One engages the end of
the pole in the recess 53 located at the front of the body 42 of the hook.
The triangular form of recess 53 (FIG. 11) guides the tip of the ski pole
on the forward part of body 42.
Finally it is clear that if desired and to facilitate the introduction of
the forward extension of the sole of the boot into the archplate, one can
manually move the hook at the time of the introduction of the sole in the
archplate.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 12-16, the upper part of the archplate is
constituted by two wings or projections 100 which extend horizontally
inwardly from the upper part of vertical sides 6a and 6b of the archplate
in such a manner as to hold the extension of the sole against upward
movement.
The assembly of the different elements of the archplate is molded in one
piece out of plastic material. To augment the rigidity and the mechanical
solidity of wings 100, the wings have ribs 101 which extend upwardly from
their upper surfaces.
In this embodiment the upper part of the archplate is open in the middle.
The function of the archplate is obtained by the two wings which hold the
forward extension of the sole and keep it from lifting.
One can see in the drawing that lever 102, which in the present case is of
molded plastic material, has a width which corresponds to the existing
distance between wings 6a and 6b.
Hook 105 (FIG. 14) is a bent metal wire having the general form of a U. The
central part of the U forms the tip 106 of the hook while the sides 107
which form the body of the hook are bent inwardly at 108 toward the inside
to engage in corresponding openings in lever 102.
As can clearly be seen, in particular in FIG. 14, two stops 109 at either
side of lever 102 limit the downward movement of hook 105 in relation to
lever 102 and permit hook 105 to be raised when lever 102 is moved up to a
position in which the binding is unlocked and the hook is above extension
8.
As can be seen in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, hook 105 can pivot, around axis 108
in relation to lever 102, between two angular positions for which the line
joining tip 106 of the hook to its pivot axis 108 is below the joining
pivot axis 104 of the lever in one case (FIG. 14), and above it in the
other case (FIG. 16).
In the position shown in FIG. 14, a lateral opening made in the lever
permits the diverting of the sides 107 of the hook so as to be able to
engage the corners 108 in the corresponding openings of lever 102 in which
the hook pivots.
Proceeding to the binding of the boot to the ski, it suffices, after having
placed the lever in the position of FIG. 14, to engage the extension 8 of
the sole in the archplate. In this position, the sole extension is held
against movement laterally by vertical sides 6a and 6b and is held against
upward movement by wings 100.
Beginning with this position of the extension of the boot one can pivot
lever 102 in the direction of arrow F, one causes first of all the
simultaneous moving of hook 105 and of lever 102 to force the tip 106 of
the hook behind the shoulder of extension 8 of the sole as is shown in
FIG. 15. During this movement, wings 107 of the U which forms the hook
pass between the two wings 100 of the upper part of the archplate.
One can also place a return spring between hook 105 and lever 102 in such a
manner as to exert a slight force to separate the hook from the lever in a
way so as to be sure that at the time of movement in the direction of
arrow F and in spite of the friction which can intervene, the tip 106 of
the hook becomes securely engaged behind the shoulder as shown in FIG. 15.
If one follows the movement of the lever, from the open position of FIG.
14, in the direction of the arrow F, the moving pivot 108 of the hook on
the lever describes an arcuately curved path around axis 104 and exerts a
forward pull (towards the left as seen in FIG. 15) until the axis of pivot
108 passes pivot 104. The lever can then be further pivoted by a small
angle to take the position shown in FIG. 16 in which pivot 108 is above
pivot 104 and which lightly relaxes the force exerted on the shoulder of
the sole extension by the tip of the hook. In this last position the
different parts are in equilibrium since the joining axis 104 of the lever
is situated below the line which joins the pivot axis 108 of the hook with
the tip of the hook.
To unfasten the boot lever 102 is moved in the opposite direction
(counter-clockwise). A light force is necessary, beginning with the
position of FIG. 16, to move the lever and to cause the pivot axis 108 to
pass beneath the line which axis 108 makes with the tip of the hook.
Continuing the movement of the lever counter-clockwise, one arrives at the
position of FIG. 15 where the stops 109, integral with the lever, engage
the sides 107 of the hook to raise the hook to the FIG. 14 position,
completely freeing the extension 8.
Although the binding described is made of plastic material, it is clear
that the invention can also be realized using metallic parts of
appropriate form. In addition, in place of the hook which passes between
the two wings 100 at the upper part of the archplate, the archplate can be
completely closed, and a hook can be used which extends over the top of
the archplate and whose tip is extended to engage the shoulder of the sole
extension to assure the fastening of the binding.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 17-21, the upper part of the archplate is
constituted by two wings 100 which extend horizontally inwardly from the
upper ends of the vertical sides 6a and 6b of the archplate, so as to
support the sole extension against movement upwardly. The archplate and
wings can be advantageously molded in a single piece out of plastic
material.
One can see in FIGS. 17 to 21 how a hook 110 provided with a tip 106 is
mounted to pivot on the shaft 111 of a lever having parallel arms 112 at
each side, and outwardly bent aligned fingers 113 which enter and
pivotally mount the lever on the vertical sides 6a and 6b of the
archplate. As shown, the lever is of one piece construction, and takes the
form of a single metal rod bent to U shape and whose fingers 113 are bent
outwardly.
The sequence of positions that hook 110 can take to fasten the binding are
shown in FIGS. 19, 20 and 21.
In the position shown in FIG. 19, in which hook 110 is raised, the forward
extension 8 of the sole can be inserted in the archplate, to the position
shown. For clarity of illustration this extension 8 of the sole is shown
with a slight clearance between it and the archplate, but it is clear that
according to the invention, the form of the forward extremity of the
extension of the sole corresponds in height to the distance between the
bottom surface of wings 100, and the top surface of the archplate.
To fasten the binding one swings the hook in the direction of arrow F1 to
bring the hook into the position of FIG. 20 in which the tip 106 is
resting against the shoulder of extension 8 of the boot sole. One notices
that in this position, the axis of fingers 113 of the lever is between the
tip 106 and the axis of shaft 111, and is slightly below the line joining
axis 111 to tip 106 of the hook. The hook 110 can be brought to this
position without having to exert any notable effort.
To proceed with the fastening of the binding, the hook 110 is pressed down
to cause it to pivot around the tip 106 by exerting a force in the
direction of the arrow F2. One can thus, due to the elasticity of the
materials concerned, make the hook move around its own tip 106 and also
around the axis 113 to bring it to the position in FIG. 21, in which the
axis of fingers 113 is below the line joining axis 113 to tip 106 of the
hook.
It is understood that due to the elasticity of the materials concerned, and
such overcenter action, the position of the hook shown in FIG. 21 is quite
stable.
To proceed to the unfastening, it suffices to exert a force in a direction
opposite to the arrow F2 on tip 114, upwardly and toward the front of the
boot.
Instead of using an archplate whose upper part is made of two wings 100,
one can use an archplate having a solid part joining the wings with hook
110 then passing above the wings of the archplate and the tip of the hook,
if slightly enlongated, would then be able to engage against the shoulder
of the forward extension of the sole.
The device shown in FIGS. 22 to 26 is an embodiment of the fastening device
in which a transverse bar engages the shoulder of the extension of the
boot to assure the fastening.
As shown at FIG. 25 the body of the binding is fastened to ski 5 and
supports vertical parts 6a and 6b of the archplate to which includes
divergent wings 15 and 16, as previously explained.
Vertical parts 6a and 6b support horizontal inwardly extending wings or
extensions 100 which form the upper horizontal part of the archplate.
As shown at FIG. 26, the bar is integral with and at one extremity of two
side arms 121 and 122. The other end of the two arms is integral with a
shaft 123. Shaft 123 extends through and is pivotally joined to a front
portion 126 of lever 124. Arms 121 and 122, which have an arcuately curved
shape, slide in opposed grooves 125 of a curvature corresponding to the
curvature of the arms. These grooves 125 are formed in the inside faces of
the vertical sides 6a and 6b of the archplate. By virtue of the sliding
action of arms 121 and 122 in grooves 125, bar 120 can be raised and
lowered to unfasten and fasten the binding.
The body of lever 124 has recessed sides 124a to pass between the inside
edges of wings 100 when the lever is moved to the closed position shown at
FIG. 22. These recessed sides provide on front portion 126, cam surfaces
127 and 128. Front portion 126 also has a nose 130.
During fastening, lever 124 is moved counter-clockwise to the position of
FIG. 22, after the extension of the boot is seated in the archplate.
During such counter-clockwise movement the nose 130 of the lever engages
base plate 1 to lift shaft 123 and thus pull bar 120 to the right, to the
fastened position shown at FIG. 22. The cam surfaces 128, in the fastened
position, engage behind edges 129 of wings 100 and cooperate with nose 130
which engages base plate 1 to prevent release of the binding.
FIGS. 23 and 24 show the sequence of unfastening which occurs when lever
124 is moved in the direction of the arrows. When the lever reaches the
position at FIG. 23, the inside cam surface 128 of front portion 126
engages the lower face of wings 100 to force the arms 121 and 122 to slide
to the left in the grooves 125. This raises bar 120 to unfasten the
binding.
It is thus apparent that in this embodiment, the front extension of the
boot is held against withdrawal by the bar 120 because of the action and
cooperation of lever 124 with wings 100 and base plate 1. It is also
apparent that all the needed movement of bar 120 occurs simply by moving
lever 124 to either of its extreme positions to either securely fasten or
completely unfasten the binding.
FIG. 27 shows a preferred embodiment of the front extension 8 of the sole
26 of the boot. This extension preferably has a beveled lower front edge
8a, and a beveled rear upper edge 8a adjacent shoulder 49 which faces
toward the boot. These beveled edges 8a and 8b permit a slight rolling
action of the extension 8 in the archplate even though there is only the
sufficient slight clearance between the height and width of the extension
and archplate to permit insertion of the extension into the archplate.
Such rolling action or increased flexibility is believed to occur in part
from the slight flexibility of the material of the extension, and which
permits slight localized deformation along the edges 9a and 9b, as the
skier lifts the heel of the boot.
While several preferred embodiments of a binding according to the
invention, and a ski boot having a sole with an integral extension for use
with the binding have been shown and described, numerous changes can be
made without departing from the scope of this invention as described
herein and in the appended claims.
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