Ski binding having present means and detent trigger for said present means

#This invention lies in the field of bindings for snow skis and is directed to apparatus for facilitating the attachment of skis to ski boots. It is more particularly directed to apparatus for pre-loading the latch means of the binding and restraining it until the boot is set in position and releasing it to snap into latching position.

#Since skiing has become increasingly popular throughout the world, many different types of ski bindings have been proposed and put into use. Early bindings were simple straplike devices which provided a rather unreliable connection between boot and ski, with frequent separation on bumps and hard turns. Such bindings were gradually improved until the connection was adequately secure. However, this raised a different problem. In the event of a fall, the skis would not release and tangling of the skis and digging into the snow frequently caused severe leg and ankle injuries.

#This problem was overcome by the modern types of releasable heel and toe bindings in which the toe of the boot fits into a toe cap and the heel is clamped by a latch which is spring pressed against the boot heel or some abutment attached to it. The force of the spring pressure is adjustable to accommodate skiers of different weights and skills. The spring load is sufficient to prevent separation during normal maneuvers but yields to the excessive force generated in a fall and releases the ski. Another type achieves the same general results but utilizes side clamps swinging laterally to grip the side edges of a plate attached to the sole of the boot. Usually the loading spring or force unit is located just behind the aft end of the boot. Since it must be adjusted from no-load to loading condition after the boot is in position the skier must stoop and bend awkwardly to reach the unit and adjust it. This is not too difficult at a suitable location at the top of a slope but when a skier has fallen in mid slope and is replacing his skis while attempting to maintain his balance on a steep incline it becomes very difficult.

#Various other advantages and features of novelty will become apparent as the description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the total binding assembly with the ski boot about to be secured in place;

#FIG. 2 is an inverted exploded view in perspective of the latching component of the binding;

#The ski binding incorporating the features of the invention is generally illustrated in FIG. 1, in which a latch mounting body 10 is carried by a ski 12. The body includes an aft heel stop and camming section 14 and a forwardly extending section 16 comprising a sole plate which is fixedly secured to the ski by screws 18. The aft section 14 includes two laterally spaced standards 20, each of which has a forward heel guiding surface 22 to assist in longitudinally locating the boot as it is placed in skiing position and upper and aft camming surfaces 24 to be used in loading the resilient force unit 26. Latch members 28 are movably mounted in the sole plate section of the body to move laterally in and out to secure or release the boot 30. Each boot is provided with a laterally extending boot plate 32 secured to the boot by screws, not shown, and formed at its marginal edges with latch receiver formations 34 which are engaged and gripped by the latch means when they are moved inward.

#The construction, mounting, and actuation of the latch means is illustrated in the inverted exploded view shown in FIG. 2. The under side of the sole plate is formed with a large recess 36 having an upright interrupted side wall 38. Each latch means 28 includes a lever arm 40 with an aperture 42 at its aft end for pivotal mounting on a pivot post 44 which has a central aperture 60 for passage of one of the mounting screws 18. The forward portion of each arm extends outward and back in to define a generally U-shape in planform, providing webs 46 and 48 guided in cutaway portions 50 and 52 in side wall 38, with an upstanding gripping jaw 54 formed at the base of each U. The inner ends of each U are formed with cam surfaces 56 and 58 which are angled inwardly and forwardly.

#The link means connecting the force unit to latch means 28 comprises an elongate link 62 slidably mounted for fore and aft movement in longitudinal recess 64 which extends below the basic recess 36. The link is provided with an elongate slot 66 to fit over and be slidably guided by elongated guiding and mounting rib 68 which extends up from the bottom of recess 64, and is formed at its forward end with a T-shaped head 70 having cam surfaces 72 and 74 at its outer ends which are angled inwardly and forwardly to mate with the cam surfaces 56 and 58 on the latch means. When the link moves forward it moves the latch means laterally outward and when it moves rearward it moves the latch means inward to engage formations 34 on the boot plate 32 and secure the boot to the ski. A cover plate 76 having an elongate aperture 78 near its forward end and two pilot apertures 80 at its aft end to fit onto pivot posts 44 seats within side wall 38 to retain the latching components in working position. It in turn is held in its proper position by contact with the upper surface of the ski when body 10 is secured to the ski.