Telemark binding with releasable riser plate assembly

A method of providing controlled release of a ski boot attached to a ski by means of a ski binding, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a ski binding which attaches the boot to the ski, said binding including a toe adaptor for receiving a toe of the boot, a cable extending from the adaptor and placed around the boot, and a heel locking mechanism operable with said cable to secure the binding to the boot;
• providing a releasable riser plate assembly including a base plate, a release plate mounted over the base plate, and a ski brake positioned between the base plate and the release plate;
• causing a force to be applied to the boot wherein the toe of the boot is forced in a direction laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the ski to which the boot is attached;
• disengaging a front surface of the release plate with respect to the base plate in response to the force applied;
• separating the release plate from the base plate after the release plate is disengaged from the base plate;
• activating the ski brake in response to separation of the release plate from the base plate, wherein the ski brake moves from a planar position to a non-planar position wherein a portion of the ski brake extends below a lower surface of the ski;
• and
• constraining a rear edge of said release plate from movement in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ski.

A ski binding assembly comprising:

• (i) a toe adaptor for receiving a toe of a ski boot, said toe adaptor including means for capturing a toe portion of the ski boot;
• (ii) a cable secured to said toe adaptor, said cable being placed around a periphery of the boot, said cable including at least one spring biased member interconnecting adjacent ends of the cable;
• (iii) a heel locking mechanism secured to said cable and adapted for engaging a heel portion of the ski boot;
• (iv) a riser plate assembly comprising:
• (a) a substantially planar base plate;
• (b) a front housing connected to a front end of the base plate, said front housing having a front spring mounted therein, and a front force transmitting member associated with said front spring for transmitting a force from the front spring;
• (c) a rear housing connected to a rear end of the base plate, said rear housing having a rear spring mounted therein, and a rear force transmitting member associated with said rear spring for transmitting a force from the rear spring;
• (d) a release plate mounted over the base plate, said release plate having a relief formed on a front edge thereof and a groove formed on a rear edge thereof, the front force transmitting member engaging the relief and the rear force transmitting member engaging the groove;
• (e) a ski brake positioned between the base plate and said release plate;
• and
• (f) a flange integral with said front housing, wherein a front edge of said release plate is received in a gap between said base plate and said flange, and wherein a rear edge of said release plate contacts said rear housing.

A releasable riser plate assembly adapted for use in a Telemark ski binding, said riser plate assembly comprising:

• a substantially planar base plate;
• a front housing connected to a front end of the base plate, said front housing having a front spring mounted therein, and a front force transmitting member associated with said front spring for transmitting a force from the front spring;
• a rear housing connected to a rear end of the base plate, said rear housing having a rear spring mounted therein, and a rear force transmitting member associated with said rear spring for transmitting a force from the rear spring;
• a release plate mounted over the base plate;
• a ski brake positioned between the base plate and said release plate;
• and
• a flange integral with said front housing, wherein a front edge of said release plate is received in a gap between said base plate and said flange, and wherein a rear edge of said release plate contacts said rear housing;
• and
• said front and rear force transmitting members each have portions thereof that are exposed through respective orifices formed in said front and rear housings.