Ski binding and means and method for attachment to ski

A ski binding apparatus comprising:

• a base for engagement with the upper surface of a ski;
• means for attaching said base to the ski;
• said base having a lower surface and an end surface, said base further having a longitudinally extending groove which opens in said lower surface and said end surface;
• and
• a retention element for engagement within said longitudinally extending groove of said base for retaining a fastener outside of said base prior to assembly of said base upon the ski, and for retaining said base upon the ski after assembly of said base upon the ski, said retention element comprising means for facilitating the fastening of said fastener to the ski;
• wherein said means for attaching said base to the ski is spaced from said retention element.

A method of assembling a ski binding to a ski, said ski binding having a base having a longitudinally extending groove opening in a lower surface and an end surface of said base, a retention element retaining a threaded fastener therein, said retention element extending from said end surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said ski binding, having said retention element extending from said end surface, upon said ski at a first predetermined location on said ski;
• (b) screwing said threaded fastener into said ski, thereby securing said threaded fastener to the ski;
• (c) displacing said ski binding longitudinally toward said retention element for receiving said retention element within said longitudinally extending groove;
• (d) stopping longitudinal displacement of said ski binding at a second predetermined location with said retention element being retained in said longitudinally extending groove to thereby fasten a first portion of said ski binding onto said ski;
• and
• (e) fastening a second portion of said ski binding onto said ski.

A ski binding apparatus comprising:

• a base for engagement with the upper surface of a ski, said base having a lower surface and an end surface, said base further having a longitudinally extending groove which opens in said lower surface and said end surface;
• at least one attachment device for attaching said base to the ski;
• and
• a retention device engaged with said longitudinally extending groove of said base for movement of said base
• from a mounting position, in which a portion of said retention device is maintained, by means of engagement of another portion of said retention device with said base, outside of said groove
• to a mounted position, in which said portion of said retention device is maintained, by means of engagement of at least said portion of said retention device with said base, within said groove,
• wherein said attachment device for attaching said base to the ski is spaced from said retention device.

A binding apparatus for a ski comprising:

• a body, said carrying a jaw for retention of a boot, said body having a lower portion;
• a base affixed to said lower portion of said body;
• at least one screw for mounting said base to the ski, said base having at least one hole for receiving said at least one screw for mounting said binding to the ski, said base having a lower surface and a frontal surface, said base further comprising a longitudinal groove formed in said lower surface, said longitudinal groove extending to and opening into said lower surface and said frontal surface of said base, said longitudinal groove having a slot which extends to said lower surface and a channel being larger than said slot;
• a retention device slidably mounted and partially engagable within said longitudinal groove in a transport position of said binding apparatus;
• and
• a further screw for mounting said retention device to the ski, said retention device and said groove having generally complementary transverse cross-sections for preventing substantial movement of said retention device in a direction perpendicular to said lower surface of said base, said retention device further comprising a hole within which said further screw is maintained, exteriorly of said base, in said transport position of said binding apparatus, said further screw comprising a hidden screw, being hidden within said groove in a mounted position of said binding apparatus upon the ski, said retention device having a lower surface, said lower surface of said base and said lower surface of said retention device being generally co-extensive and positioned relative to each other for engagement with an upper ski surface in said transport position and in said mounted position of said binding apparatus, said at least one screw being spaced from said retention device.

A ski binding apparatus comprising:

• (a) a base for engagement with the upper surface of a ski, said base having a lower surface and an end surface, said base further having a longitudinally extending groove which opens in said lower surface and said end surface;
• (b) means for mounting said base to the ski;
• and
• (c) a retention device longitudinally slidably engagable with said longitudinally extending groove of said base, said retention device comprising:
• (i) a screw having a head formed for engagement with a screwdriver;
• and
• (ii) means for
• (1) maintaining said screw longitudinally spaced from said longitudinally extending groove and longitudinally spaced from said end surface of said base in a transport and mounting position of said binding apparatus for facilitating unrestricted access to said head of said screw for the screwdriver;
• and
• (2) maintaining said screw hidden within said longitudinally extending groove in a mounted position of said binding apparatus;
• wherein said means for mounting said base to the ski is spaced from said retention device.