US 7,451,997 B2 · Ski binding, particularly touring, telemark, or cross-country binding

Abstract

Touring, telemark or cross-country ski binding (10) for securing a ski boot comprising a leg and a sole, having a front retaining element (12) associated with the front end of the sole, a rear retaining element (15) formed to engage on the foresole or on the heel of the ski boot, and a biasing device (19), effective between the front and rear retaining elements, by means of which the ski boot is clampable between the front and rear retaining elements in such a manner that the heel thereof is freely liftable. The front retaining element (12) is pivotally mounted relative to the binding (10, 11) and the ski on the one hand, and relative to the rear retaining element (15) on the other hand, about an axis (13) which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole and approximately parallel to the sole tread.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

A binding selected from the group consisting of a ski binding, a touring ski binding, a telemark ski binding, and a cross-country ski binding, for securing a ski boot comprising a leg and a sole, said binding having

a front retaining element operatively associated in use with the front end of the sole,
a rear retaining element formed to engage on an element selected from the group consisting of the foresole and the heel of the ski boot, and
a biasing device operative between said front and rear retaining elements, by means of which the ski boot is clampable between the front and rear retaining elements in such a manner that the heel thereof is freely liftable,
wherein
said front retaining element is pivotally mounted relative to the binding and the ski on the one hand, and relative to said rear retaining element on the other hand, about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole and approximately parallel to the sole tread, and said rear retaining element is pivotally mounted about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole or ski and approximately parallel to the sole tread and to the top face of the ski,
wherein
said front retaining element is a bracket which engages over the front end of the sole of the ski boot, which bracket is pivotally mounted on the binding, about a horizontally extending transverse axis, both relative to the binding and to a component selected from the group consisting of a mounting plate associated therewith, and a housing associated therewith, and relative to the rear retaining element, and in which the pivotal axis for the rear retaining element coincides with the pivotal axis for the front retaining element;
and wherein
said rear retaining element is fixable in the open position of the binding, the fixation being releasable on stepping into the binding by means of a step-in mechanism.

6 more elements

a front retaining element operatively associated in use with the front end of the sole,
a rear retaining element formed to engage on an element selected from the group consisting of the fore sole and the heel of the ski boot, and
a biasing device operative between said front and rear retaining elements, by means of which the ski boot is clampable between the front and rear retaining elements in such a manner that the heel thereof is freely liftable,
wherein
said front retaining element is pivotally mounted relative to the binding and the ski on the one hand, and relative to said rear retaining element on the other hand, about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole and approximately parallel to the sole tread, and said rear retaining element is pivotally mounted about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole or ski and approximately parallel to the sole tread and to the top face of the ski,
wherein
said front retaining element is a bracket which engages over the front end of the sole of the ski boot which bracket is pivotally mounted on the binding, about a horizontally extending transverse axis, both relative to the binding and to a component selected from the group consisting of a mounting plate associated therewith, and a housing associated therewith, and relative to the rear retaining element and in which the pivotal axis for the rear retaining element coincides with the pivotal axis for the front retaining element,
and
wherein the said rear retaining element comprises two jaws pivotable about approximately vertical axes, which jaws can be pivoted out laterally against the action of an element selected from the group consisting of a resilient element, a compression spring, and a torsion spring, to release the ski boot laterally.

6 more elements

a front retaining element operatively associated in use with the front end of the sole,
a rear retaining element formed to engage on an element selected from the group consisting of the foresole and the heel of the ski boot, and
a biasing device operative between said front and rear retaining elements, by means of which the ski boot is clampable between the front and rear retaining elements in such a manner that the heel thereof is freely liftable,
wherein
said front retaining element is pivotally mounted relative to the binding and the ski on the one hand, and relative to said rear retaining element on the other hand, about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole and approximately parallel to the sole tread, and said rear retaining element is pivotally mounted about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the binding and sole or ski and approximately parallel to the sole tread and to the top face of the ski,
wherein
said front retaining element is a bracket which engages over the front end of the sole of the ski boot, which bracket is pivotally mounted on the binding, about a horizontally extending transverse axis, both relative to the binding and to a component selected from the group consisting of a mounting plate associated therewith, and a housing associated therewith, and relative to the rear retaining element, and in which the pivotal axis for the rear retaining element coincides with the pivotal axis for the front retaining element,
and
wherein there is associated with the front retaining element, in front of the pivotal axis thereof, a resilient element between which element and the portion of the front retaining element that engages over the front end of the sole the front end of the sole can be placed, the resilient element being removable.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,191 words

Summary1,159 words

#The invention relates to a ski binding according to the preamble of claim 1.

#Unlike alpine bindings, a defining functional feature of touring, telemark or cross-country bindings is that, although the associated ski boot is held on the ski at the front end of the sole by a retaining element, the rear end of the sole, that is, the heel, may not be held in fixed position on the ski and must be liftable in relation thereto. Meeting that elementary requirement, which is derived from the movements carried out in cross-country or touring skiing or skiing in the telemark style, is generally associated in earlier binding constructions with losses in terms of the guidance properties of the binding.

#There have been known and used in practice for years, however, cross-country, touring and telemark bindings in which good lateral guidance is achieved, at least in the locating of the ski boot mounted on the binding, by means of corresponding regions of engagement on the binding and on the ski boot fitted to the binding. A ski binding according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 0 806 977 B1. In an advantageous form of construction, the ski binding has, engaging on the underside of the foresole of the boot, a biasing element which is formed especially as a flexurally resilient element in the form of a resilient strap or plate. That ski binding has good guidance and force-transfer properties but there is still a need for improvement in respect of effort in cross-country skiing and ski touring.

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#A preferred embodiment of the binding according to the invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying diagrams in which:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a ski binding formed in accordance with the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic lateral view of the binding according to FIG. 1; and

Detailed description935 words

#The ski binding shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 to 3, which is formed as a touring, telemark or cross-country ski binding, is identified by the reference numeral 10. It comprises a mounting plate 11, mountable on the top face of a ski (not shown). A front retaining element 12 is pivotally mounted on the upper side about an axis 13 which extends parallel to the top face of the ski and to the mounting plate 11 and transversely to the longitudinal direction thereof. The front retaining element 12 is formed in the manner of a toe bail. It comprises a U-shaped bracket, which engages over the front end of the sole of a ski boot (not shown) and holds it on the binding.

#There is associated with the front retaining element 12, in front of the pivotal axis 13 thereof, a resilient element in the form of a rubber or elastomer cushion 14. The front end of the sole of the ski boot (not shown) is positionable between that resilient element or flexor 14 and the portion of the front retaining element 12 that engages over the front end of the sole. Accordingly, the heel of the boot can be raised upwards against the action of the flexor 14. If required, the resilient element or flexor 14 is removable.

#About the already mentioned pivotal axis 13 about which the front retaining element is pivotally mounted there is pivotally mounted, independently thereof, a rear retaining element 15, which is movably arranged at the rear end of a plate-like connecting member 16 so as to be longitudinally displaceable (double arrow 17). To be precise, therefore, the rear retaining element 15 is pivotally mounted on the mounting plate 11 about the pivotal axis 13 by way of the connecting member 16. This pivotal mounting is independent of the pivotal mounting of the front retaining element 12. The independent pivotal mounting of the front retaining element 12 and the rear retaining element 15 is the basis of the present construction. The connecting member 16 is preferably formed as a plate which is flexurally resilient in the longitudinal section plane of the binding 10. In principle, a rigid plate is also possible, especially when the rear retaining element 15 engages on the rear end of the foresole or in the ball region of the ski boot.

Facts

Application

10/516,977Filed 21 May 2003

Priority

DE 102 24 7464 Jun 2002

Published

US 2005/0248128 A110 Nov 2005

Granted

18 Nov 2008

Term ended

12 Nov 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 541 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

A63C 9/20
Ski bindings: non-self-releasing bindings with special sole edge holders instead of toe-straps
A63C 2201/06
Use of skates, skis, roller-skates, snowboards and courts: telemark
A63C
Skates

Timeline

4 Jun 2002Priority claimedDE 102 24 746
21 May 2003Application filedUS 10/516,977
12 Jul 2005Assigned to Rottefella ASassignment of assignor's interest
10 Nov 2005PublishedUS 2005/0248128 A1
18 Nov 2008GrantedUS 7,451,997 B2
12 Nov 2024Term endedEstimated, includes 541 days of adjustment

Ski binding, particularly touring, telemark, or cross-country binding

Life of this patent

Ski binding, particularly touring, telemark, or cross-country binding

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description2,191 words

Drawings

Description2,191 words

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent