DE20006446U1 - Heel support device for a ski boot - Google Patents

Description

MEISSNER, BOLTE & PARTNER

Law firm GbR

PO Box 860624

81633 Munich

Applicant: Date: 5 April 2000

Rottefella AS Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

N-3490 Klokkarstua MB/PO/RB/ir Norway

Heel support device for a ski boot ^&lgr; Description -

The invention relates to a heel support device for a ski boot according to claim 1.

When cross-country skiing or touring, a ski boot is only firmly attached to the ski in the front toe or ball area and the heel area or heel of the boot can be lifted off the ski. However, when touring, in particular, long climbs often have to be overcome by walking with the skis on. Raising the heel of the boot or heel area makes it much easier to climb with the skis, similar to how stairs make climbing easier.

A conversion device for touring ski bindings is known from DT 26 21 111 Al, which has a vertically pivoting conversion bar that can be locked into three positions in the rear binding area. In an ascent position, the conversion bar serves as a support for the rear end of the binding, whereby the rear part of the binding or the rear end of the binding and the ski form an angle of approximately 15".

From EP 0 955 073 A2 a ski binding is known which can be switched between a downhill and a touring position. The binding comprises a toe and heel plate, which are both rigidly connected to each other. The toe plate is hinged and the heel plate can be raised. ^ _n cter heel plate

&iacgr; I ·* · í ·

MeiSSNER, BOLTE& PARTNER Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

Means are provided which, on the one hand, press it firmly onto the ski for the downhill position and, on the other hand, release it for the touring position, i.e. the heel plate can be freely lifted off the ski in the touring position. In a third position, the heel plate can be fixed at a certain height above the ski, so that a certain angle is enclosed between the part of the binding consisting of the heel plate and the toe plate and the ski surface.

However, the two aforementioned designs for switching between different binding positions are, on the one hand, quite complex and, on the other hand, are no longer applicable to modern touring or cross-country ski bindings, where the ski boot is coupled directly to the ski binding without the use of a binding plate.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a heel support device for a ski boot which is suitable for touring or cross-country ski bindings which do not have a binding plate hinged to the front end of a ski boot sitting in the binding, but are designed in particular like or at least similar to so-called "snap in" ski bindings.

This object is achieved by a heel support device having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the heel support device are specified in the dependent claims.

The core of the invention is a support device for the heel of a ski boot, which is designed as a single part independent of the ski binding and can therefore also be subsequently mounted on an existing touring or cross-country ski, for example by means of a

Screw and/or adhesive connection,

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE - 3 -

The support device comprises a heel plate which is essentially designed like the heel of a ski boot and can be mounted underneath the ski so that the heel of the ski boot can rest directly on the heel plate. A bracket (swivel bracket) which is made of metal and is approximately U-shaped and can be pivoted in the longitudinal direction of the ski is attached to the heel plate transversely to the ski. For this purpose, two holes are made in the side of the heel plate into which the ends of the legs of the approximately U-shaped bracket engage so that the bracket can be pivoted around the holes.

The bracket can be pivoted into a first or second position and locked in each position, in particular by being able to engage in grooves or notches on the side of the heel plate. In the first position, the bracket is approximately parallel to the ski, so that the heel of the ski boot can rest directly on the heel plate; this corresponds to the normal cross-country or touring position or non-use position of the heel support device. In the second position, the bracket is approximately vertical to the ski and forms an angle of approximately 80° with the front section of the ski. In this position, the heel of the ski boot can no longer rest directly on the heel plate because the bracket is pivoted up, but is supported by the bracket in such a way that the sole of the ski boot is at a predetermined angle α to the rear section of the ski. This second position corresponds to the ascent position of the heel support device, which can be adjusted when touring skiing when climbing.

A heel support part is also rotatably mounted on the bracket, which can be rotated from a first into at least one second position and vice versa and can be locked into place on the bracket. By means of the heel support part, the raising of the shoe heel can thus be achieved when the shoe is placed on a bracket.

MEISSNER, BOLTE & PARTNER our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

different heights. In principle, the heel support part can be designed in such a way that it can be locked into the bracket in several different positions and raises the shoe heel differently in each position. 5

In contrast to the prior art, the heel support device according to the invention is easy to manufacture; existing ski bindings can be easily retrofitted with this device and, finally, it can be used with modern touring or cross-country ski bindings that do not have their own binding plate.

Preferably, the angle α between the ski and the sole of the ski boot is in the range between about 10° and 45°, depending on the vertical position of the bracket. An angle cc of about 15° has proven to be particularly advantageous for touring skiers.

Since the heel of the ski boot is not fixed to the bracket and the heel support, there is a risk of slipping. Although the ski boot is laterally stabilized in modern touring or cross-country ski bindings, the boot usually still has a small amount of lateral play in the binding, so that it can slide back and forth, particularly on the heel support. In this respect, profiling the tread surfaces of the heel support, on which the shoe heel can step, not only prevents the shoe heel from slipping, but also from sliding back and forth, which could give a skier a feeling of instability in the ski binding.

To reduce the risk of the ski boot slipping off the heel plate, the heel plate itself can also have a profile.

I In* · ·

MeiSSNER, BOLTE & PARTNER Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

In a particularly preferred, easy-to-install embodiment, the heel support part consists of two halves that are detachably connected to one another, in particular screwed together, and which are in particular of the same design. The two halves are placed around the bar of the stirrup and screwed together. For this purpose, each of the halves has a guide in the form of a semicircular groove for receiving the stirrup bar. This embodiment is easy to install on and remove from the stirrup and also offers sufficient stability for supporting the shoe heel.

In order to lock the heel support part into the bracket, it has a groove or notch on two opposite sides, running approximately parallel to the front edges, into which the two legs of the bracket can lock.

The invention further relates to a ski with a heel support device, wherein supports, in particular made of rubber, are attached to the ski behind the heel plate, preferably glued, on which the heel support part can rest in the first (non-use) position of the bracket or the heel support device. The supports essentially prevent the heel support part from resting directly on the ski and possibly scratching it or hitting it and rattling while skiing.

Further advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a ... ..embedded image device according to the invention in

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4
Figure 5

Figure 6

Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE -&bgr;-

Side view, wherein the heel support part of the heel support device is in a first position;

the heel support device shown in Figure 1 again in side view, with the heel support part in a second position on the bracket;

the heel support device according to Figures 1 and 2 again in side view, wherein the bracket is in a first position approximately parallel to the ski;

the heel support device shown in Figure 3 in plan view;

in side view a touring or cross-country ski binding with a ski boot coupled to it, which is lifted at the heel by the heel support device shown in Figure 2; and

a second embodiment of a heel support device according to the invention in side view, wherein the heel support part of the heel support device is in a first position;

In the following descriptions of the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

Figure 1 shows a heel support device 10 with a heel plate 14, which is mounted on a ski 26. On its upper side, the heel plate 14 has a profile 21 similar to the profile of a shoe sole. The heel plate is mounted, as shown in Figure 5, below the heel 13 of a ski boot 11 behind the actual ski binding 19 so that the heel of the ski boot can step directly on the plate. A bracket 15 is attached transversely to the heel plate 14.

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

It is attached to the heel plate 14 so that it can pivot or rotate in relation to the longitudinal direction of the ski. The bracket 15 is preferably designed as an approximately U-shaped metal bracket in which the free ends of the legs are bent inwards and engage in holes on the side of the heel plate 14. The legs of the bracket 15 are approximately 4-5 cm long.

The bracket 15 is shown in Figure 1 in an approximately vertical position to the ski 26 and forms an angle of approximately 80° with the front section of the ski. To secure the bracket 15 in this second, approximately vertical position, lateral notches or recesses 28 are provided on the heel plate 14, into which the bracket sections can snap.

A heel support part 16 is rotatably mounted on the bridge of the bracket. The heel support part 16 consists of two halves 23 and 24 which are of the same design and are screwed together. The heel support part 16, like the heel plate 14, is preferably made of a hard rubber or a plastic similar to the plastic used for the binding. The heel support part 16 has two opposing tread surfaces 39 and 40 which are at different distances from the pivot point of the heel support part 16 and can be fixed in two positions on the bracket so that a shoe heel 13 can step on one of the tread surfaces 39 or 40 and is thereby lifted off the ski 26. In the embodiment shown, the tread surface 39 is approximately 1.5 cm and the tread surface 40 is approximately 0.5 cm from the pivot or bearing point of the heel support part 16 on the bracket bridge.

In Figure 1, the heel support part 16 is locked in a first position on the bracket, in which the shoe heel has the greatest possible distance, approximately 5.5-6.5 cm, from the ski 26. To lock the heel support part 16 in place, it has a groove 22 on the side, i.e. on each of its two side surfaces, which

MeiSSNER, BOLTE & PARTNER Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

runs approximately parallel to the edges of the respective side. The width of the heel support part 16 must therefore be somewhat larger than the distance between the two legs of the bracket, so that leg sections can engage in the grooves 22 of the heel support part 16. To change the position of the heel support part 16, it is manually rotated by applying force from its engagement around the bracket 15 by approximately 180° until the legs of the bracket 15 engage again in the grooves 22 of the heel support part 16, so that the heel support part is turned over compared to its previous position on the bracket.

In Figure 2, the heel support device 10 shown in Figure 1 is again shown in side view. This time, the heel support part 16 is locked into the second position. The heel 13 of the sole 12 of a ski boot 11 rests on the heel support part 16 (shown in dashed lines) and is spaced approximately 4.5-5.5 cm from the ski 26.

Figure 3 shows the heel support device 10 shown in Figure 1 with the bracket 15 in the first position in which the heel plate 14 is released, i.e. the heel of a ski boot can rest directly on the heel plate 14.

The bracket 15 is folded back and lies approximately parallel to the ski 26. The recess or notch 28 into which the legs of the bracket 15 engage when it is brought into the second position can be clearly seen. In the first position shown, the bracket 15 engages in the recesses or notches 29 shown in Figures 1 and 2 on both sides of the heel plate 14. The heel support part 16 rests on two preferably hemispherical supports 17 which are attached to the ski 26 behind the heel plate in the rear section of the ski on its surface. The two supports 17 preferably consist of a damping rubber-like material and

MEISSNER, BOLTE & PARTNER Our reference: M/WIT-0 96-DE

are intended to prevent the heel support part 16 from hitting the ski 26 during skiing, for example, and thereby generating rattling noises or even damaging the surface of the ski 26. The supports 17 can also be made of any dampening, elastic or similar material, such as felt, rubber or soft plastic. The supports 17 are preferably glued to the surface of the ski 26.

Figure 4 shows the heel support device 10 shown in Figure 3 in plan view. The shape of the heel plate 14 can be clearly seen, which corresponds approximately to the heel of a shoe. The heel plate 14 is screwed to the ski with two screws 20. In addition, the heel plate 14 can be glued to the surface of the ski 26. Together with the screw connection, this ensures that the heel plate 14 is held particularly well. Ribs of the profile 21 can be seen on the top of the heel plate 14, which can engage with a corresponding profile on a shoe heel. The distance between the two legs of the bracket 15 is slightly less than the width of the heel plate 14, so that when the bracket 15 is folded up or set up, the springy legs of the bracket are pushed apart slightly by the heel plate 14 until they snap into the recesses or notches 28 on the side of the heel plate 14. Due to the spring action of the bracket 15, it can be moved from one position to another and, on the other hand, it securely locks into the recesses or notches provided for this purpose (which define the positions of the bracket).

The heel support part 16 also has profiles 27 on the support surfaces for a shoe heel, like the heel plate 14, which are essentially intended to prevent a shoe heel standing on the heel support part from slipping sideways.

The shape of the support part .16..is roughly rectangular with

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

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two semicircular, central recesses on the longer sides of the heel support part 16. The resulting tapered central region of the heel support part 16 causes the side parts of the heel support part to spring relative to one another.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a ski boot 11 which is fastened in a touring or cross-country ski binding 19 to the front sole end of the sole of the boot 11, in particular is hinged so that the heel 13 of the boot 11 can lift off the ski 26. The binding 19, which is only indicated and not shown in detail, has a sole plate 18 which is located between the front sole section 12 (which protrudes slightly above the ball area) and between the ski 26.

The heel support device 10 according to the invention is arranged behind the sole plate below the heel 13 of the ski boot 11. A heel plate 14 of the heel support device 10 is mounted on the ski 26 for this purpose, precisely between the heel 13 and the ski 26. A bracket 15 mounted on the heel plate 14 is shown locked in a second position in which the heel 13 and thus the entire boot 11 is raised. For this purpose, the heel 13 steps on a heel support part 16 on the bracket 15. It is important that an angle α is formed between the boot sole 12 and the surface of the ski 26 due to the heel support device 10, which angle depends on the height of the bracket 15 and the heel support part 16. The angle α is preferably about 15°, since this angle has proven to be particularly easy for a touring skier when climbing. As already explained previously with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the lifting of the heel 13 can be further increased by the heel support part 16 by folding it over and locking it into a position on the bracket as shown in Figure 1.

MEISSNER, BOLTE & Partner Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE

- 11 -

Figure 6 also shows a heel support device 10 which, apart from the heel support part 30, is essentially the same as the heel support device 10 shown in Figure 1. In contrast to the heel support part 16 of the heel support device 10 shown in Figure 1, the heel support part 30 has four positions into which it can snap into place on the bracket 15. In each of the four positions, a shoe heel 13 of a ski boot 11 which rests on the heel support part 30 is raised to a predetermined, different height in relation to the ski, whereby the predetermined angle α between the shoe sole 12 and the rear section of the ski can also be varied. A skier can thus set the angle he wants according to the gradient to be overcome, for example the greatest height for steep gradients and the smallest height for small gradients.

The heel support part 30 comprises two halves 31, 32, in particular made of a plastic similar to the material of the heel plate 14, which can be connected to one another by screwing, clamping, adhesive, welding or similar, so that they can rotate around the web of the bracket 15 of the heel support device 10. The four tread surfaces 35 to 38 of the heel support part 30 are each spaced differently from the pivot point around the web of the bracket 15. On its end faces, the heel support part 30 has grooves 33 and 34 which intersect at the pivot point around the web of the bracket 15 and into which the legs of the bracket 15 can be snapped in order to lock the heel support part 30 in one of the four positions. For cyclical switching from one position to another, the heel support part 30 can be rotated by approximately 90° around the stirrup bar until the _stirrup legs engage in the next groove. The tread surfaces 35 to 38 are profiled to prevent lateral movement of the

MeiSSNER, BOLTE& PARTNER Our reference: M/WIT-0 96-DE

- 12 -

Shoe heel on or off the heel support part 30. Other designs than the heel support part 30 shown, such as a roller mounted eccentrically around the stirrup bar, are
can also be used advantageously according to the invention.
5

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

Our reference: M/WIT-096-DE - 13 -

Reference symbols

13

15 16

18 19 20 21 22 23, 25 26 27 28, 30 31, 33, 35-40

Heel support device

Ski boot

Shoe sole

Shoe heel

Heel plate

hanger

Heel support part

Edition

Sole plate

Touring or cross-country ski bindings

Screws

Profiling

Groove

Heel support half

screw

ski

Profiling

Notch or recess

Heel support part

Heel support half

Groove

Performance areas

Claims (7)

1. Heel support device ( 10 ) for a ski boot ( 11 ) which is coupled to a touring or cross-country ski binding ( 19 ), wherein the support device ( 10 ) is mounted on a ski ( 26 ) below the heel ( 13 ) of the ski boot ( 11 ), in particular screwed and/or glued, and comprises a heel plate ( 14 ) to which a bracket ( 15 ) which can be pivoted in the longitudinal direction of the ski ( 26 ), in particular made of metal, is attached transversely to the ski ( 26 ), which bracket can be pivoted into a first or a second position and for this purpose can be locked into the heel plate ( 14 ) in the respective position, wherein in the first position the bracket ( 15 ) lies approximately parallel to the ski ( 26 ) so that the shoe heel ( 13 ) can rest directly on the heel plate ( 14 ). can, and in the second position the bracket ( 15 ) is approximately vertical to the ski, in particular forms an angle of approximately 80° with the front section of the ski ( 26 ), so that the shoe heel ( 13 ) is supported by the bracket ( 15 ) in such a way that the sole ( 12 ) of the ski boot ( 11 ) is at a predetermined angle (α) to the rear section of the ski ( 26 ), and wherein a heel support part ( 16 ) is rotatably mounted on the bracket ( 15 ) and can be latched into a first or at least second position on the bracket ( 15 ) in order to raise the shoe heel ( 13 ) differently. 2. Heel support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) is in the range between approximately 10° and 45°, in particular 15°. 3. Heel support device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heel support part ( 16 ) has four tread surfaces ( 35-38 ) for the shoe heel ( 13 ) which are spaced differently from the pivot point around the bracket ( 15 ) and can be locked into place on the bracket ( 15 ) in four positions, wherein in each of the four positions one of the tread surfaces ( 35-38 ) is provided for supporting the shoe heel ( 13 ). 4. Heel support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heel plate ( 14 ) and/or the tread surfaces of the heel support part ( 16 ) have or have a profiling ( 21 , 27 ). 5. Heel support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heel support part ( 16 ) consists of two detachably connected, in particular screwed halves ( 23 , 24 ) which are fastened to the web of the bracket in such a way that the heel support part ( 16 ) produced therefrom can be rotated in predetermined positions about the bracket web. 6. Heel support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heel support part ( 16 ) has on two opposite sides a groove ( 22 ) or notch running approximately parallel to its front edges, into which the two legs of the bracket ( 15 ) can be snapped. 7. Ski with a heel support device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein supports ( 17 ), in particular made of rubber, felt, plastic or similar material, are attached to the ski ( 26 ) behind the heel plate ( 14 ), on which the heel support part ( 16 ) can rest in the non-use position.