Touring ski boot heel binding

A touring ski boot heel binding adapted to be mounted on the upper surface of a touring ski and to releasably engage the heel of a touring ski boot which comprises:

• a frame adapted to be secured to the upper surface of a touring ski;
• a rotatable heel latch pivotally mounted on the frame, said heel latch being rotatable forwardly to its forwardmost position at which position it is adapted to engage the heel of a touring ski boot and being rotatable rearwardly to its rearwardmost position at which position it is out of engagement with the heel of said ski boot;
• and
• latch engagement and disengagement means for maintaining the heel latch in engagement with the heel of the ski boot when the heel latch is at its forwardmost position and for maintaining the heel latch out of engagement with the heel of the ski boot when the heel latch is at its rearwardmost position, said latch engagement and disengagement means comprising a spring loaded piston mounted for longitudinal movement on the frame rearwardly of the heel latch with the longitudinal axis of the spring loaded piston disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the heel latch, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to the spring loaded piston and also pivotally connected to the heel latch at a pivot point thereon eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the heel latch;
• the spring loaded piston urging the rotatable heel latch to its forwardmost position when the eccentric pivot connection of the connecting rod therewith is above the axis of rotation of the heel latch and urging the heel latch to its rearwardmost position when the eccentric pivot connection of the connecting rod therewith is below the axis of rotation of the heel latch.