Ski brake

#The present invention relates to a ski brake, that is to say apparatus adapted for preventing a ski from sliding on the slope when a safety binding is released at the time of a fall and the ski is no longer connected to the skier. Such a device replaces a safety strap as currently used.

#This apparatus generally comprises at least one stop arm forming a blade pivotably mounted relative to the ski by means of a hinge. A pedal pivoted to the ski and connected to the blade through the intermediary of a connection mechanism extends above the upper surface of the ski and is acted on by an elastic member which tends to keep it raised. In this position, corresponding to the absence of a boot on the ski, the blade is in its active position for braking in which it projects below the underside of the ski. In this case, the blade penetrates, more or less, into the snow, preventing the ski from sliding down a slope so that the skier can easily recover it.

#Ski brakes are known in which the pedal is connected to the blade by a rigid mechanism. When the skier puts his skis on, the pressure of his foot on the step-on pedal, and consequently on the ski, which must cause the brake to move to its inactive position, can involve penetration of the blade into the snow. The blade can then encounter an obstacle such as a stone or cake of ice, preventing it from raising to the inactive position. If the skier exerts force to mount the ski, he can break the brake. The ski can only be correctly mounted after having been moved on the snow, which is contradictory to the desired objective, namely automatic mounting onto the foot.

#Hereinafter will be described various embodiments of the present invention, by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the attached drawing wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side view partly broken away of a ski brake in accordance with the invention, in inactive position.

#FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section taken along line II--II in FIG. 1.

#In the figures of the drawing, the same elements of the various embodiments of the ski brake in accordance with this invention are given the same reference numberals.

#Referring to the first embodiment of the ski brake according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, we see that this brake denoted in entirety by numeral 1 is associated with a safety binding 2 represented solely by a movable jaw 3 and a body 4. In this case, the binding is a heelpiece holding the rear portion of a ski boot 5. The ski brake 1 and safety binding 2 are mounted on the upper surface of a ski 6. Naturally, in this embodiment of the ski brake, as in the other embodiments described later, this ski brake could be separated from the safety binding 2.

#The ski brake 1 comprises a stop arm 7 forming a blade adapted to be embedded in the snow to stop the ski 6 when boot 5 is detached from the latter. The ski brake 1 can comprise a single blade 7 or two blades disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane of symmetry of the ski. The blade 7 comprises an upper arm 7a extending substantially vertically upwards in the inactive position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this upper arm being prolonged by a lower arm 7b bent relative thereto and fixed to a longitudinal shaft 8 rotating in longitudinally aligned bearings 9 and 10 provided in body 4 of the safety binding 2. The blade 7 is adjacent the rear transverse face of the body 4 but it could also be spaced therefrom.