FR2738156A1 - AUTOMATIC FIXING AND UNLOCKING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic binding device for a sport article (2) of a corresponding shoe (3) presenting a transverse articulation axis (4) in a front area of its sole and capable of cooperating with a corresponding notch (5) provided on a binding body (8) integral with the sport article, and comprising an associated lock (6) actuatable from a locking position to an unlocking position of the transverse articulation axis (4) of the shoe (3) and reversely, by means of control members (7) arranged on the binding body (8) and acting elastically on the lock (6), characterized in that the locking or unlocking control members (7) of the lock (6) are biased during a rotation motion of one of its movable parts (7B) with respect to another fixed part (7A), which motion takes place in a horizontal plane of the sport article, about an axis perpendicular thereto in order to cause, on the one hand the pivoting of the lock (6) towards a locking position on the articulation axis (4) of the shoe (3), in place in its housing (5) when the longitudinal axis of the fixed part (7A) and of the movable part (7B) of the control members (7) are in registration with each other and with respect to that of the sport article and, on the other hand, the pivoting of said lock (6) by spring return towards an unlocking position, when after a rotation of said part (7B) of the control members (7) with respect to the fixed part (7A), the longitudinal axis of said movable part (7B) forms a predetermined angle with respect to the axes of the fixed part (7A) and the sport article.

Description

 AUTOMATIC FIXING AND UNLOCKING DEVICE.

 The present invention relates to an automatic fixing device on a cross-country ski, or other sliding member or sporting article intended to be linked to the foot of the user, of a corresponding shoe, while preserving a certain freedom of pivoting or even of the foot in relation to the article concerned.

 In this case, it is a fastening device, the closure of which is caused by the sole positioning of the boot therein, by means of a transverse axis (of circular or parallelepipedic section) provided on said shoe and able to cooperate with a locking system of the fastening device. Such fastening systems are known in particular in cross-country skiing and allow a certain rotation of the boot when its locking axis is cylindrical.

 In general, the transverse axis is disposed at the anterior end of the boot, in fact at its tip, and it is able to cooperate with a corresponding housing, formed on a body of the fastening device integral with the ski, and comprising an associated lock operable from a locking position to an unlocking position of the transverse axis of articulation of the boot and vice versa, by means of control members disposed on the body of the fastening device and acting elastically on the lock.

 A fastening device for cross-country skiing of this type already known comprises a base in which is formed a notch of U-shaped section, intended to receive the axis of the boot, which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and the upper part of which is capable of being closed by a longitudinally movable lock. The lock is biased by a spring in the locked position, and the fitting of the shoe in the binding must be carried out from top to bottom by pushing the lock into the open position. This fitting of the boot is therefore carried out against the force of the spring urging the bolt in the locked position and consequently requires the production of a significant booting force of intensity at least equal to that of ia system locking force.

 The establishment of the shoe in such a binding is not easy, because it must be accompanied by an effort having to have a longitudinal component of sufficient intensity to push the lock into an open position to allow the engagement then locking of the hinge pin in the notch. Furthermore, this booting effort is generally carried out in the same direction as the efforts produced during skiing, hence the risks of inadvertent triggering during said practice.

 French patent No. 2,635,014 proposes a fixing device which partially remedies these drawbacks, by describing a system also with automatic closure but in which the lock is locked in the open position when it is in position. footwear, so as to facilitate the fitting of the shoe.

 This is made possible by the aforementioned patent, by the fact that the lock is also movable in rotation in a vertical plane and that means are provided for pivoting it upwards in the fitting position of the binding, so as to release the passage of the shoe towards its housing in order to facilitate the positioning thereof relative to the binding.

 If this device makes it possible to solve the problem previously posed, it still presents the same risk of untimely triggering in the locking direction which is also that of rotation or bending of the foot.

 Furthermore, such fastening devices do not allow a possibility of automatic triggering of the locking in situations, during the practice of sport, in which the longitudinal axis of the athlete's foot is no longer perpendicular to its axis of rotation. Of course, this situation which does not correspond to the normal situation of practicing sport is most often encountered during a fall.

 Up to now, in this type of binding and especially for cross-country skiing, we have tended to think that because of the great freedom of movement of the foot, after all only maintained by the tip of the shoe in the binding skiing, it could not have a big impact on the torsion of the skier's ankle in the event of a fall. However, in the case of cross-country skiing, this great freedom of movement tends to decrease with the current tendency to move back the axis of articulation of the boot.

 We understand that this can have more or less serious consequences on the ankle or the foot of the skier.

 In addition, another disadvantage lies in the fact that the boot being effected in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, certain trial and error in the engagement of the transverse axis of the shoe in the notch of the binding tend to cause the sliding of the sporting item forward especially when it comes to cross-country skiing at the risk of seeing it move away from the foot when putting on.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide an automatic fastening device of the aforementioned type, that is to say of the type in which the boot is locked on a transverse axis thereof. by displacement of a lock resiliently biased in the locking position, which is easier to put on, and in particular does not require the production of a significant force during putting on, and which ensures good locking of the shoe once closed without risk inadvertent triggering during the practice of sport, while providing triggering possibilities in configurations which do not correspond to normal sport practice, while being simple and inexpensive in design.

 The binding device according to the invention must in particular not be limited to a cross-country skiing application but must also be able to be used to ensure the binding of a shoe to another sporting article such as a skate (ice, wheels), bicycle pedal, surfing, etc ...

 To this end, the invention relates to an automatic fixing device on a sports article such as a cross-country ski, of a corresponding boot having a transverse axis of articulation in an anterior zone of its sole and able to cooperate with a corresponding housing, formed on a fixing body integral with the sporting article, and comprising an associated lock which can be actuated from a locking position to an unlocking position of the transverse axis of articulation of the shoe and vice versa, by via control members arranged on the fixing body and acting elastically on the latch.

 This device is characterized in that the locking or unlocking control members of the lock are stressed during a rotational movement of one of its movable parts relative to another fixed one, taking place in a horizontal plane of the sports article, around an axis perpendicular thereto, to cause, on the one hand the pivoting of the lock towards a locking position on the axis of articulation of the shoe, in place in its housing, when the longitudinal axes of the fixed part and of the mobile part of the control members are coincident with each other and with respect to that of the sports article, and on the other hand, the pivoting of said lock by elastic return to a position unlocking, when after a rotation of said part of the control members relative to the fixed part, the longitudinal axis of said movable part forms a predetermined angle with respect to those of the fixed part and of the sporting article.

 The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows, and which should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented, with reference to the attached drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a view on an enlarged scale and in longitudinal section of a fastening device according to the invention, in the unlocked position, and mounted on a cross-country ski,
FIG. 1A is a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1,
FIG. 2 is a view on the same scale and in longitudinal section of a fastening device, similar to FIG. 1 but in the locking position of a shoe, the latter resting flat,
FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a shoe lifted during the course of the foot of a skier,
FIG. 2B is a plan view of the device according to FIG. 2.

 The device 1 generally designated in the figures is intended for the automatic attachment to a cross-country ski 2 of a corresponding boot 3. It is of course not limited to such an application.

 This fixation is effected by means of a transverse axis 4 of the shoe 3 disposed in an anterior zone of its sole.

 The axis 4 is of section such as to make it able to cooperate with a housing constituted by a corresponding notch 5, formed on a fixing body 8 secured to the ski 2 and comprising an associated lock 6, actuable from a locking position ( Figure 2) to an unlocking position (Figure 3) of the transverse axis 4 or vice versa. This axis 4 can be of circular section as shown in the drawings or of rectangular section (rectangular, square, etc.).

 These changes of position are carried out by means of control members 7 arranged on the fixing body 8 and acting elastically on the latch 6.

According to the invention, the locking or unlocking control members 7 of the lock 6 are biased during a rotational movement of one of their movable parts 7B relative to another fixed 7A and integral with the fixing body 8 , this movement taking place in a horizontal plane of the ski 2, around an axis XX 'perpendicular thereto, to cause, on the one hand the pivoting of the lock 6 towards a locking position on the axis of articulation 4 of the shoe 3, in place in its housing 5, when the longitudinal axes YY 'and ZZ' of the fixed part 7A and of the mobile part 7B of the control members 7 are in coincidence with each other and with respect to the longitudinal axis Yr of the ski 2, and on the other hand, the pivoting of said lock 6 by elastic return to an unlocking position, when after rotation of said part 7B of the control members 7 relative to the fixed part 7A, I 'longitudinal axis ZZ' of said movable part 7B forms an angle pr was determined with respect to those
YY 'of the fixed part 7A and of the ski 2. Of course, depending on the degree of precision of the fixing device, the coincidence between the axes ZZ' and YY 'is not necessarily total. The angle a will depend on the type of sport or degree of outfit desired. For example, for cross-country skiing, this angle will be of the order of 45 ". Similarly, the axis W ′ may have a specific orientation relative to the sporting article, in particular if an orientation is desired. particular of the shoe with respect to it.

 According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the locking or unlocking control members 7 of the lock 6 consist, on the one hand, of a horizontal cam 10 which fits into a circular sector 9 of the fixed part 7A and having for center the perpendicular axis of rotation XX 'of the movable part 7B, and on the other hand by an operating finger 11 produced at the lower part of the latch 6 and able to follow the cam profile 10 so as to cause the pivoting of the lock 6, in one direction or another, that is to say up or down around a horizontal and transverse articulation axis 12 of the movable part 7B on which it is mounted.

 Furthermore, the latch 6 is disposed in a housing 13 located in the longitudinal axis ZZ '(cf. FIG. 1A) of the movable part 7B and crossed transversely by the articulation axis 12 of said latch 6, the latter comprising an upper end in the form of an open hook 6a whose profile is complementary to that of the notch 5 intended to receive the transverse axis 4 of the shoe 3. Obviously, the axis 12 is disposed below the notch 5.

Said notch 5 is itself U-shaped, open upwards, and is made transversely in an upper outer zone of the movable part in rotation 7B, the relative positions of the notch 5 and of the hook 6 being provided so to allow, during a pivoting locking of the latter, to define between them a housing of shape adapted to that of the axis 4 of the shoe, and in this case of generally cylindrical shape in which is trapped the transverse axis 4 of the shoe 3 in a locking position. In the example shown,
The notch 5 extends substantially over the entire length of the hinge pin and is closed only in its middle part by the latch 6. Of course, other embodiments could be envisaged, for example a double lock blocking the longitudinal ends of the notch 5.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the return member in the open or unlocked position of the lock 6 is constituted by a spiral spring 14 and housed in a central recess 15 of that formed around its axis of articulation 12, one of the end branches 14a of said spring 14 being in abutment on an area of the latch 6, while the other 14b is intended to rest on an adjacent area of the movable part 7B, so as to exert a permanent downward stress on the operating finger 11.

 According to a particular mode of application, the profile of the cam 10 produced on the fixed part 7A is formed symmetrically, on the one hand by a boss 10A situated in the longitudinal axis W 'of the ski 2 and capable of causing the pivoting of the lock 6 of the movable part 7B towards a locking position as shown in FIG. 2, and on the other hand by two housings 10B formed in hollow on either side of the boss 10A to which they are connected by means of ramps 10C, said housings 10B being able to receive the operating finger 1 1 and being offset at an identical angle a 1 and a 2 and corresponding to the angle a, on either side of the longitudinal axis W ′ of the ski 2, and allowing in such an angularly offset position of the ski 2 relative to the boot 3 the putting on or taking off of the latter, the operating finger 11 of the lock not being then requested to be closed by the boss 10A of the cam 10, and being at contrary biased by the spring 14 inside one or the other of the housings 10B, thus allowing the opening of the lock 6 by pivoting downwards as shown in FIG. 1.

 According to a feature of the invention, a guide groove 16 in the form of an arc of a circle, having for center O the axis of rotation XX 'of the movable part 78, is formed on the fixed part 7A and cooperates with a rib 17 corresponding to said movable part 78 for guiding the latter during rotational movements.

 Also according to the invention, the fixing device 1 comprises means of indexing and relative immobilization of the movable part 7B of the control members 7 relative to its fixed part 7A, in a locked or unlocked position.

 These means are constituted, for the locking position, by a profile in the form of a symmetrical vertical cam 18 constituted by two bosses 18A projecting from the arcuate periphery of the movable part 78, and delimiting between them a central recess 188 located on the longitudinal axis ZZ 'of said movable part 78, and connected to the bosses 18A by ramps 19. For the unlocking position, the indexing and immobilization means are constituted by two lateral recesses 18C arranged outside of each of the bosses 18A.

 In this way, and as will be seen later, in the locking position of the lock, said axial recess 188 cooperates with an axial index 20, slidably mounted in an axial extension 21 of the fixed part 7A against the springs 26. The extension 21 opens into a circular arc end region 22 of the fixed part 7A, of a shape complementary to that of the circular arc periphery of the bosses 18A of the movable part 78 with which it cooperates in guiding.

 In operation, said index 20 is capable of retracting elastically in an axial direction against the springs 26 under the action of one or the other of the bosses 18A of the vertical cam 18 of the movable part 78 , during a rotation of the movable part 78 in one direction or the other, going towards an unlocking position of the lock 6.

 According to FIG. 1A, it can be seen that the locking in the unlocked position of the movable part 7A is achieved by the engagement of this index 20 in one of the lateral recesses 18C. As for the recess 188, ramps 1 9C connect each recess 1 8C to the associated boss 19.

 The return to a locking position is then carried out by pushing said index 20 towards a retracted position by rotation of the movable part 7A. This is facilitated by the cut sides forming a ramp 20a of the index 20, the angle of which moreover corresponds to the ramps 19, 19C of the housings 188 and 18C of the vertical cam 18. The locking position proper is reached when the index 20 enters the recess 18B.

 In fact, the axial index 20 of relative immobilization of the movable part 78 by control members 7 relative to their fixed part 7A is constituted by a slide 23 disposed in a corresponding housing 24 formed in the extension 21 of said part fixed 7A, the slide 23 itself comprising at its part opposite the index 20, a U-shaped recess 25 intended to receive at least one compression spring 26, bearing on the one hand on the horizontal branch 25a of the U of the recess 25 of the slide 23, and on the other hand at the bottom 24a of the housing 24 of the slide 23, to exert a push on it. The movable part 7B can thus be locked, either in the locked position with the lock 6 closed by means of the index 20 cooperating with the recess 188 of the movable part 78, or in one of the unlocking positions by cooperation of the control finger 1 1 with any of the housings 10B.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the axis of rotation XX ′ of the movable part 78 of the control members 7 relative to their fixed part 7A, is defined by a bore 27 produced thereon and capable of receiving in cooperation a corresponding pin 28 of the movable part (7B), or vice versa, the assembly thus obtained being immobilized axially in a manner known per se by means of a fixing member.

 The latter is constituted in this case by a screw, but this could just as easily be replaced by a rivet.

 Maintaining in position the indexing slide 23 in its housing 24, as well as the movable part 7B of the control members 7 on their fixed part 7A, is obtained by means of a closure plate 28 attached to the extension 21 of the fixed part 7A, and of which an end zone 28a directed towards the mobile part 78 forms an arc of circle matching the periphery of the latter, while constituting a vertical stop for the bosses 18A of the vertical cam 18 (cf. . figure 1).

 Although it adapts to all types of bottom shoes whose transverse axis of articulation is located at the extreme point of its sole, the present invention offers a particularly advantageous advantage by also allowing an arrangement of this axis, in withdrawal from the toe of the shoe, and in particular down to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the athlete's or skier's foot.

 Indeed, the current trend in cross-country skiing is that such an arrangement of this axis would tend to improve control and stability of skiing, on the other hand, "a priori" lies in the fact that this could lead to more great risk of breakage of the toes, even the ankle of the skier, due to the less freedom resulting from the shoe.

 Hence also an additional advantage of the invention in providing a fastening device for a triggerable cross-country ski boot.

 In this spirit, the transverse axis of articulation 6 of the boot 3 is located set back from its point 3a, substantially at the level of the articulation zone of the metatarsals of the foot of a skier. Similarly in the case of a fixation for a bicycle pedal, it is advantageous that the axis of articulation of the shoe is also located in the zone of articulation of the metatarsals or of flexion of the foot by which the pressure is applied. of the foot.

 According to this configuration, the mobile part 78 of the control members 7 comprises at its end part opposite its vertical cam 18, an elastic return member 29 of the shoe 3 acting on the tip 3a thereof, so as to facilitate his return to a flat position during skiing.

 In fact, the elastic return member is constituted by a lever 30, articulated by one of its ends around a transverse axis 31 located at the end of the movable part 78, and acting in compression on a spring in spiral 32 disposed between a lower face 30a of said lever 30 and the bottom of a housing 33 and able to allow the retraction thereof, during the unwinding of the foot, and to restore its energy on return.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of nonlimiting example but encompasses all the embodiments.

Claims (15)

 1- Device for automatically fixing a sports article on a corresponding shoe (3) having a transverse axis of articulation (4) in an anterior zone of its sole and capable of cooperating with a corresponding housing (5) formed on a fixing body (8) integral with the sports article (2), and comprising an associated lock (6) actuable from a locking position to an unlocking position of the transverse articulation axis (4) of the boot (3) and vice versa, by means of control members (7) disposed on the fastening body (8) and acting elastically on the latch (6),  characterized in that the locking or unlocking control members (7) of the lock (6) are stressed during a rotational movement of one of its mobile parts (78) relative to another fixed (7A) , taking place in a plane of the sports article (2), about an axis (XX ') perpendicular thereto, to cause, on the one hand the pivoting of the lock (6) towards a position of locking on the hinge pin (4) of the shoe (3), in place in its housing (5), and on the other hand, the pivoting of said latch (6) towards an unlocking position, when after a rotation of said part (78) of the control members (7) relative to the fixed part (7A), the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of said movable part (78) forms a predetermined angle (a) relative to those (W ') of the fixed part (7A) and of the sports article (2).  2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking or unlocking control members (7) of the lock (6) consist, on the one hand, by a horizontal cam (10) which fits into a circular sector (9) of the fixed part (7A) and having for center the perpendicular axis of rotation (XX ') of the movable part (78), and on the other hand by an operating finger (11) produced at the lower part of the latch (6) and able to follow the cam profile (10) so as to cause the latch (6) to pivot, in one direction or another, around a transverse articulation axis (12) of the mobile part (78) on which it is mounted, during a rotation of said mobile part.  3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the latch (6) is disposed in a housing (13) located in the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of the movable part (78) and crossed transversely by the axis d hinge (12) of said lock (6), the latter comprising an upper end in the form of an open hook (6a) whose profile is complementary to that of the housing (5) intended to receive the transverse axis (4) of the shoe (3).  4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the latch (6) is biased by a return member in the open or unlocked position, consisting of a spiral spring (14) interposed between the latch (6) and the mobile part (7B).  5- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the profile of the cam (10) produced on the fixed part (7A) is formed symmetrically, on the one hand for a boss (10A) located in the longitudinal axis (YY ') of the ski (2) and capable of causing the latch (6) of the movable part (78) to pivot towards a locking position, and on the other hand by two housings (10B) formed in the hollow on the other of the boss (10A) to which they are connected by means of ramps, and capable of receiving the operating finger (11) for the opening of the latch (6).  6- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a guide groove (16) in the form of a circular arc, having for center (O) the axis of rotation (XX ') of the movable part (78) , is formed on the fixed part (7A) and cooperates with a corresponding rib (17) of said movable part (78).  7- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means of indexing and relative immobilization of the movable part (78) of the control members (7) relative to its fixed part (7A ), in a locked or unlocked position.  8- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means of indexing and immobilization in the locked position are constituted by a profile in the form of a symmetrical vertical cam (18) constituted by two bosses (18A) projecting from the circular arc periphery of the movable part (78), and delimiting between them a recess (188) located on the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of said movable part (78), and connected to the bosses by ramps (19 ), so that in the locking position of the lock (16), said axial recess (188) cooperates with an axial index (20), capable of sliding in an extension (21) of the fixed part (7A), and opening out in an arcuate end region thereof (22), of shape complementary to that of the arcuate periphery of the movable part (78) with which it cooperates in guiding, said index (20) being likely to retract elastically in an axial direction during a rotation of the movable part in one direction or the other, under the action of one or the other of the bosses (18A) of the vertical cam (18) of the movable part (7B), going towards a position of unlocking the lock (6).  9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the axial index (20) of relative immobilization of the movable part (78) by control members (7) relative to their fixed part (7A) is constituted by a slide (23) disposed in a corresponding housing (24) formed in the extension (21) of said fixed part (7A), the slide (23) itself comprising at its part opposite the index (20), a U-shaped recess (25) intended to receive at least one compression spring (26), bearing on the one hand on the horizontal branch (25a) of the U of the recess (25) of the slide (23), and on the other hand at the bottom (24a) of the housing (24) of the slide (23), to exert a thrust on it.  10- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means of indexing and immobilization in the unlocked position are constituted by the axial index (20) and by two lateral recesses (18C) disposed outside of each bosses (18A).  11- Device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the axis of rotation (XX ') of the movable part (78) of the control members (7) relative to their fixed part (7A) , is constituted by a bore (27) produced thereon and capable of receiving in cooperation a corresponding pin (28) of the movable part (78), or vice versa, the assembly thus obtained being immobilized axially by means of 'a fixing member.  12- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the indexing slide (23) in its housing (24), as well as of the movable part (78) of the control members (7) on their fixed part (7A), is obtained by means of a closure plate (28) attached to the extension (21) of the fixed part (7A), and of which an end zone (28a) directed towards the movable part (7B) forms an arc of circle matching the periphery thereof (78), of corresponding shape, while constituting a vertical stop for the bosses (18A) of its vertical cam (18).  13- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse axis of articulation (6) of the shoe (3) is located set back from its point (3a), in an area between it ci and the metatarsophalangeal joint area of the athlete's foot.  14- Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the movable part (7B) of the control members (7) comprises at its end part opposite its vertical cam (18), an elastic return member (29) of the shoe (3) able to cooperate with the tip (3a) thereof, so as to facilitate its return to a flat position during the practice of sport.  15- Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the elastic return member is constituted by a lever (30), articulated by one of its ends around a transverse axis (31) located at the end of the movable part (78), and acting in compression on a spiral spring (32) disposed between a lower face (30a) of said lever (30) and the bottom of a housing (33) capable of allowing the retraction of this (32) during the unwinding of the foot, and restore its energy on the return.