Safety-straplike connecting member
AssigneeTMC Corporation
InventorJosef Svoboda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure for securing one end of a safety strap to a ski or to a component fixedly mounted on the ski. The other end of the safety strap is presumed to be secured to the skier by any conventional means. The structure by which the safety strap is secured to the ski structure enables the strap to hold the ski to the skier should the ski become disconnected from the skier while travelling on a chairlift or at slow speeds. However, this same structure will facilitate a release of the strap from engagement with the ski structure should the ski be pulled away from the skier with a sufficient magnitude of force, such as will occur during falls at high speeds. The thereafter released ski will be stopped by, for example, a ski brake mechanism mounted on the ski.
Claims3
A retaining device adapted for use with a ski having a ski binding mounted thereon releasably securing a ski shoe to the ski, said device comprising:
- a safety strap, one end of said safety strap being releasably securable to the leg of a skier;
- a first locking part securely attached to the end of said safety strap remote from said one end and having an enlargement thereon;
- a release lever provided on said ski binding and having two spaced slots therethrough, one said slot being adapted to receive said first locking part therein;
- a second locking part supported in the other said slot for reciprocal movement longitudinally thereof between first and second positions, having an operating plate extending substantially normal to the direction of said reciprocal movement, and having at least one locking plate which is located adjacent said one slot when said second locking part is in said first position and engages said enlargement on said first locking part when said first locking part is received in said one slot to resist withdrawal of said first locking part from said one slot, said second locking part being in a third position intermediate said first and second positions when said locking plate is engaging said enlargement;
- resilient means cooperable with said second locking part for urging said second locking part toward said first position;
- and
- means defining a sloped surface on at least one of said enlargement and said locking plate at the point of engagement therebetween;
- whereby a force of sufficient magnitude exerted through said safety strap on said first locking part will act through said sloped surface means to displace said second locking part toward said second position against the force of said resilient means, thereby disengaging said enlargement from said locking plate and facilitating withdrawal of said first locking part from said one slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.