Back to results
US 6,308,979 B1Granted
Releasable cross country ski binding
OwnerJames A. Ludlowinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step-in, releasable cross country binding mechanism allowing rotational and/or forward release of the binding toe piece and skier from the ski. A cleat, mounted to the bottom of a binding toe pieces is relesably retained by spring loaded structure located between a ski boot and ski. A step-in heel piece is connected to the toe piece by a cable.
Claims21
A cross country ski binding permitting a skier to elevate a ski boot heel relative to a ski while skiing, the binding being configured and arranged to provide a safety release of the ski boot from the ski, comprising:
- a release mechanism body, structured for attachment to said ski, carrying:
- a cleat mounting plate adapted to receive structure associated with a forward portion of a cleat;
- a swing arm disposed rearward from said cleat mounting plate and rotatably mounted to said body, said swing arm being adapted to interface with a rear portion of said cleat whereby releasably to retain said cleat in captured engagement between said mounting plate and said swing arm;
- and
- a compression spring oriented and arranged to provide a variable force to resist rotation of said swing arm;
- and
- said cleat adapted for mounting to the bottom of a ski binding toe piece for association with said ski boot;
- wherein
- said ski boot may be coupled to said ski by placing said ski boot into association with said toe piece mounted to said cleat, said cleat being held in captured engagement between said cleat mounting plate and said swing arm thereby holding said cleat in an assembled position with respect to said body, said body being attached to said ski;
- and
- subsequent to said safety release, wherein said cleat is forced from said captured engagement by application of a force on said cleat sufficient to rotate said swing arm, an assembly comprising said ski boot and said toe piece and said cleat is uncoupled from said ski.
8 more elements
A safety releasable cross country ski binding permitting a heel of a ski boot to be elevated relative to a ski while in the process of skiing, the binding comprising:
- a release mechanism body adapted for connection to said ski and carrying:
- a cleat mounting plate arranged to receive a pivot structure of a cleat;
- and
- a safety release mechanism structured and arranged to resist movement of said cleat from an assembled position wherein said cleat is captured in releasable engagement between structure associated with said release mechanism and said cleat mounting plate, said release mechanism comprising a compression spring mechanism structured and arranged to provide a variable required force to effect a release;
- and
- said cleat being adapted to depend from the bottom of a ski binding toe piece which is constructed for association with said ski boot;
- wherein
- said ski boot may be coupled to said ski by placing said ski boot into association with said toe piece from which depends said cleat, said cleat being in captured engagement between said cleat mounting plate and said release mechanism thereby holding said cleat in an assembled position with respect to said body, said body being attached to said ski;
- and
- subsequent to a safety release, wherein said cleat is forced from said captured engagement by application of a force on said cleat sufficient to move said release mechanism, an assembly comprising said ski boot and said toe piece and said cleat is uncoupled from said ski.
7 more elements
A releasable cross country ski binding permitting a heel of a ski boot to be elevated relative to a ski while in the process of skiing, comprising:
- a cleat adapted to depend from structure controllable by the forefoot of a ski boot;
- and
- a release mechanism body, adapted for attachment to said ski, housing:
- locating means for receiving structure associated with said cleat;
- and
- release means to releasably retain said cleat in an assembled position between structure associated with said release means and said locating means, thereby to releasably hold said cleat in coupled relation to said body for operation of said binding while skiing;
- and
- a compression spring mechanism structured and arranged to provide variable loading on said release means whereby to vary the force required to effect a safety release;
- wherein:
- said ski boot may be coupled to said ski by placing said cleat in captured engagement between said locating means and said release means thereby holding said cleat in an assembled position with respect to said body, said body being attached to said ski;
- and
- subsequent to a release, wherein said cleat is forced from said captured engagement by application of a force on said cleat sufficient to actuate said release means and to decouple said cleat from said body, an assembly comprising said ski boot and said cleat is uncoupled from said ski.
9 more elements
A cross country ski binding assembly configured and arranged to provide a safety release of a ski boot from a ski, comprising:
- a toe piece configured for receiving a toe portion of a ski boot, said toe piece including a cleat mounted to a bottom surface of said toe piece and depending downwardly therefrom;
- a release mechanism body structured for attachment to a ski;
- a cleat mounting plate disposed within said body and configured for engagement with a forward portion of said cleat;
- a U-shaped swing arm disposed rearwardly of said cleat mounting plate within said body and rotatably mounted relative to said body, said swing arm being adapted to interface with a rear portion of said cleat;
- and
- a compression spring disposed within said body, said spring being oriented and arranged to provide a variable force resisting rotation of said swing arm, wherein said toe piece is held in a captured and safety releasable relation relative to said release mechanism body when said cleat is received within said body in an assembled position between said cleat mounting plate and said swing arm;
- and
- a heel piece operatively connected to said toe piece and configured for engagement with a heel portion of said ski boot, said heel piece functioning to maintain said toe piece secured to said ski boot while permitting a heel portion of said ski boot to be raised to an elevated position relative to said ski.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.