Alpine ski binding system having release logic for inhibiting anterior cruciate ligament injury
AssigneeVermont Safety Developments
InventorsCarl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alpine ski binding system for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski. The binding system includes a secondary toe release that provides an attenuated release threshold under lateral shear loading conditions that can cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The secondary toe release responds to a trigger that senses the lateral shear loads applied to the inside (medial) afterbody of the ski and triggers the secondary toe release the boot at an attenuated release torque. Lateral shear loads applied to the ski along the leading (medial) forebody and along the entire outside (lateral side) of the ski substantially do not cause the trigger to trip.
Claims61
A ski binding configured to be secured to a snow ski and selectively retain a ski boot having a heel and a toe and worn by a skier having a tibial axis, the snow ski having a first-quadrant, a second-quadrant, a third-quadrant, a fourth-quadrant and a trailing end, the ski binding comprising:
- a heel piece for releasably engaging the heel of the ski boot;
- a toe piece for releasably engaging the toe of the ski boot, wherein said toe piece and said heel piece provide the ski binding with a non-attenuated release torque about the tibial axis of the skier when:
- the ski binding is mounted to the snow ski;
- the skier is wearing the ski boot;
- and
- the ski boot is properly captured in the ski binding;
- and
- release logic providing the ski binding with an attenuated release torque about the tibial axis in response substantially only to a lateral shear force being applied to the snow ski at a location in the third-quadrant.
An apparatus for securing a ski boot to a ski so as to from a ski system, the apparatus comprising:
- a ski binding assembly configured to be attached to the ski and to releasably secure the ski boot to the ski during use, said ski binding assembly having a first release, said ski binding assembly including release logic that causes the ski binding assembly to release the ski boot at said first release in response to a release condition, said ski binding assembly configured to:
- assess, relative to a first axis, a first loading internal to the ski system caused by an external loading applied to the ski system;
- and
- assess, relative to a second axis spaced from said first axis and substantially parallel to said first axis, a second loading internal to the ski system caused by the external loading;
- wherein said release logic is configured to:
- determine whether or not the release condition is occurring as a function of both of the first loading and the second loading;
- and
- cause said ski binding assembly to provide said first release if the release logic determines that the release condition is occurring;
- wherein said ski binding assembly is configured to determine a force-couple at a third axis from said first loading and said second loading, and said release logic is configured to determine whether or not the release condition is occurring as a function of the force-couple.
An apparatus for securing a ski boot to a ski so as to form a ski system, the apparatus comprising:
- a ski binding assembly configured to be attached to the ski and to releasably secure the ski boot to the ski during use, said ski binding assembly having a first release, said ski binding assembly including release logic that causes the ski binding assembly to release the ski boot at said first release, said release logic set to activate said first release substantially only when:
- a first loading, internal to the ski system along or about a first axis and caused by an external loading applied to the ski system, exceeds a first defined level and has a first defined sense;
- and
- a second loading, internal to the ski system along or about a second axis and caused by the external loading, exceeds a second defined level and has a second defined sense;
- wherein the ski system has a first-quadrant, a second-quadrant, a third-quadrant and a fourth-quadrant and the external loading resolves into a single virtual lateral shear force on the ski, said release logic set to activate said first release substantially only when the single virtual lateral shear force is located within the third-quadrant.
An apparatus for securing a ski boot to a ski so as to form a ski system, the apparatus comprising:
- a ski binding assembly configured to be attached to the ski and to releasably secure the ski boot to the ski during use, said ski binding assembly having a first release, said ski binding assembly including release logic that causes the ski binding assembly to release the ski boot at said first release in response to a release condition, said ski binding assembly configured to:
- assess, relative to a first axis, a first loading internal to the ski system caused by an external loading applied to the ski system;
- and
- assess, relative to a second axis spaced from said first axis and substantially parallel to said first axis, a second loading internal to the ski system caused by the external loading;
- wherein said release logic is configured to:
- determine whether or not the release condition is occurring as a function of both of the first loading and the second loading;
- and
- cause said ski binding assembly to provide said first release if the release logic determines that the release condition is occurring;
- wherein said ski binding assembly has a second release, said first release being an attenuated release relative to said second release.
An apparatus for securing a ski boot to a ski so as to form a ski system, the apparatus comprising:
- a ski binding assembly configured to be attached to the ski and to releasably secure the ski boot to the ski during use, said ski binding assembly having a first release, said ski binding assembly including release logic that causes the ski binding assembly to release the ski boot at said first release, said release logic set to activate said first release substantially only when:
- a first loading, internal to the ski system along or about a first axis and caused by an external loading applied to the ski system, exceeds a first defined level and has a first defined sense;
- and
- a second loading, internal to the ski system along or about a second axis and caused by the external loading, exceeds a second defined level and has a second defined sense;
- wherein said ski binding assembly has a second release, said first release being an attenuated release relative to said second release.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.