Ski binding

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot for skiing, comprising:

• a base including a center block constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a pair of boot support members pivotally supported at a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said center block;
• said lateral side members being tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged;
• said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position;
• a cross bar disposed transversely between the pair of boot support members for engaging the front top of the boot over the duckbill;
• and
• a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and including a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever;
• the center of said cross bar receiving the front of the toe box of the boot and the ends of the cross bar extending rearwardly by a distance in a range of 0.25 to 1.75 inches;
• wherein the dimension from the cross piece to the ends of the lateral support members is on the order of 2.0 to 4.5 inches.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a pair of boot support members pivotally mounted from a front side of said base, disposed laterally on either side of said base and extending rearwardly;
• said lateral side members adapted to receive and guide the ski boot as it is received;
• said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position;
• a cross bar disposed transversely between the pair of boot support members for engaging the front top of the boot toe box over the duckbill;
• and
• a release lever mounted at the front of said base, readily accessible to the skier and including a release member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot released position upon activation of said release lever;
• said lateral support members extending rearwardly from the center of said cross bar by a distance in a range on the order of 2.0 to 4.5 inches.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• and a carriage pivotally supported from a front side of said base and comprising;
• a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and that are adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot,
• said boot support members having locked and released positions,
• and an overlying member that pivots with the pair of boot support members, is disposed over the base and engages a top surface of the sole of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the carriage,
• said carriage, upon receiving said boot, being cantilevered downwardly from the released position to the locked position wherein the sole of the ski boot is clamped by the overlying member against the fixed position base, and
• further including a ski brake integrated into the base and having opposite legs that engage with respective boot support members, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the carriage from the locked position to the released position.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constricted and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• and a carriage pivotally supported from a front side of said base and comprising;
• a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and that are adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot, said boot support members having locked and released positions, and an overlying member that pivots with the pair of boot support members, is disposed over the base and engages a top surface of the sole of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the carriage, said carriage, upon receiving said boot, being cantilevered downwardly from the released position to the locked position wherein the sole of the ski boot is clamped by the overlying member against the fixed position base;
• wherein the center of said overlying member receives the front of the toe box of the boot and the engagement surfaces of the overlying member extending rearwardly by a distance in a range of 0.25 to 1.75 inches
• wherein the base has an elevated front top surface to firmly engage the underside of the boot.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• and a carriage pivotally supported from a front side of said base and comprising;
• a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and that are adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot, said boot support members having locked and released positions, and an overlying member that pivots with the pair of boot support members, is disposed over the base and engages a top surface of the sole of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the carriage, said carriage, upon receiving said boot, being cantilevered downwardly from the released position to the locked position wherein the sole of the ski boot is clamped by the overlying member against the fixed position base;
• wherein the center of said overlying member receives the front of the toe box of the boot and the engagement surfaces of the overlying member extending rearwardly by a distance in a range of 0.25 to 1.75 inches
• wherein the boot support members flare in an outward and rearward direction forming a platform on which the boot sole rests.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a fixed position base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extend rearwardly forming a platform on which the boot sole rests, and an overlying cross member that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against the fixed position base;
• and cross member in said carriage is spaced rearwardly of the pivot axis by a dimension on the order of 0.75 to 2.25 inches.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extended rearward forming a platform on which the boot sole rests, and a cross bar that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against a ton surface of the base wherein said boot support members extend rearwardly from the center of said cross bar by a distance in a range on the order of 2.0 to 4.5 inches.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extended rearward forming a platform on which the boot sole rests,
• and a cross bar that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against a top surface of the base
• wherein the base has an elevated top surface to firmly engage the underside of the boot.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extended rearward forming a platform on which the boot sole rests, and a cross bar that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against a top surface of the base
• wherein the cross bar is supported by the carriage and has engagement means that interlocks with a top surface of the duckbill of the boot when the carriage is cantilevered in a downward or locked position.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extended rearward forming a platform on which the boot sole rests, and a cross bar that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against a top surface of the base
• including a ski brake integrated into the base and having opposite legs that engage with respective boot support members, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the carriage from the locked position to the released position.

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski;
• a carriage pivotally mounted from a front side of said base;
• the carriage containing a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and extended rearward forming a platform on which the boot sole rests, and a cross bar that engages with a top surface of the boot sole that pivots in unison with the laterally disposed boot support members;
• said carriage being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the carriage and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position forcing the boot against a top surface of the base;
• wherein there is a first member supported by said base for engaging or interlocking with the bottom of the boot;
• wherein there is a second member supported by the carriage for engaging or interlocking with the top of the boot;
• wherein the first member is supported by the base and vertically disposed above the front top surface of the base;
• and interlocks with the duckbill of the boot sole when the carriage is cantilevered in a downward or locked position;
• wherein the second member is supported by the carriage and vertically disposed below the cross bar of the carriage;
• and interlocks with the duckbill of the boot sole when the carriage is cantilevered in a downward or locked position.