US2573955A - Safety ski binding - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 6, 1951 M. H. CUBBERLEY SAFETY SKI BINDING 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1 Filed Jan. l5, 1949 Nov. 6, 1951 Ml H. CUBBERLEY SAFETY SKI BINDING 2 SHEETS-SHEET Filed Jan. 13, 1949 "Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,573,955 SAFETY sx1 BINDING Mitchell H. Cubberley, Belleville, N. J. Application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,739 v16 claims. (ox. 28o-11.35)

This invention relates to an improved constructionof safety ski binding or attachment harness. Y

The invention has for an object to provide a novel ski binding which is subject to quick and easy manipulation whereby to manually attach and detach a ski to the users ski boot, and, which under certain conditions, is self-releasing for freeing the boot from the ski.

The invention has for another object to yprovide a novel ski binding whereby the toe and heel of a ski boot are separately gripped and held attached to a ski by manipulatable front and rear spring-loaded clamping devices which are adapted to independently exert regulatable predetermined hold down pressure upon the boot in direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, whereby to normally bind the ski to the boot; said clamping devices (as a safety factor) being so constructed as to be independently yieldable to force tending to lift the boot toe or heel, as the case may be, away from the ski, if the lifting force exceeds the normal spring induced hold down pressure, so that, in either case, the boot is automatically vreleased. from the ski, thus reducing to a minimum risk of injury to the ankle or leg of the user.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel ski binding which Will exchangeably t both right and left ski boots, thus permitting interchanging of skis from one foot to the other so that the edges of the skis may be causedto wear evenly; it being known that the inside edges of skis are subject to greater wear in use than are outside edges thereof.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments ofthis invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a ski equipped with the novel ski binding of this invention, the clamping devices of which are respectively shown in their normal gripping relation to the toe and heel of a ski boot, whereby to operatively attach the ski to said boot; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the ski and ski binding of Fig. 1, the toe and heel portions of the engaged ski boot being shown by broken lines; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section similar to `that of Fig. 3, but showing the clamping device in released condition; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is another transverse vertical section, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views respectively showing the clamping devices of the ski binding as operative to grip ski boot toe and heel portions specially designed for cooperation therewith.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character I 0 indicates the body of a ski, and the reference characters II and I2 respectively indicate toe and heel portions of a ski boot to which the ski is to be operatively attached.

In order to adapt the ordinary or standard ski boot for cooperation with the novel toe and heel clamping devices of the ski binding of this invention, the sole of the ski boot is equipped with a specially designed toe plate I3, and the heel of the ski boot with a similar specially designed heel plate I4.

The toe` plate I3 comprises a at metallic body which is suitablyaixed to the bottom of the sole of the ski boot, as by screws I5, so that its forward portion projects somewhat beyond the eX- tremity of the toe portion I I of the ski boot sole. Said forward end of the toe plate I3 terminates in an upstanding flange or abutment I6, vwhich is preferably of a height somewhat in excess of the thickness of the ski boot sole. Integral with and extending rearwardly from the midportion of the ange or abutment I6 is a keeper tongue or lug I'I of substantially reduced width. This keeper lug I'I is downwardly bent or depressed to overlap and strongly grip the top marginal part of the toe portion II of the ski boot sole, and thus strongly reenforce the attachment of the toe plate VI3 to the ski boot against loosening or separation from the latter under lifting stresses, and especially so that said stresses need not be solely borne by the relatively short attachment screws I5 by which the toe plate I3 is aixed to the ski boot sole. The outlying top edges I8 of the flange or abutment I6, which extend from opposite sides of said keeper tongue or lug I'I, are adapted to be engaged by the toe clamping device of the ski binding, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.I

The h-eel plate lli also compris-es a flat metallic body which is suitably affixed to the bottom of the heel of the ski boot, as by relatively long screws I9, so that its rearward portion projects somewhat beyond the rear end of the boot heel.

Said rearward end of the heel plate i4 terminates in an upstanding flange or abutment 2t of suitable height, the outlying top edges 2i of which are adapted to be engaged by the heel clamping device of the ski binding, as will likewise be more fully hereinafter explained. The heel plate flange or abutment 2Q is not provided with a keeper tongue or lug, corresponding to the keeper lug or tongue il of the toe plate, as such is not necessary since heel lifting stresses are well adapted to be borne by the relatively long attachment screws I9 by which the heel plate is affixed to the ski boot heel. Y

Preferably the top of the ski it is provided with suitably shaped and located metallic support pads 22 to bear the toe plate I3 and heel plate l of` the boot, and thus prevent said' 'plates from abrading the body of the ski. Additionally support pads also raise the boot above the top surface of the ski body, and Vthus minimize the tendency of snow to lump up or accumulate about the boot and between the same and the ski.

The front and rear clamping devices of the ski binding are alike in structure and mode of operation. Each said clamp device comprises a carrier frame formed by a bottom plate 23 having at its opposite sides, adjacent to its inner end, transversely aligned, upstanding bearing ears 24. The inner end of the frame bottom plate 23 is provided with an upstanding stop member 525 of reduced width. The outer end of the bottom plate 23 is provided with an opstanding perforate thrust bearing member 2. Extending between and supported by the Vbearing ears 24 is a transverse pivot pin or shaft 2i. Fulcrumed on said pivot pin or shaft 27 is a clamp plate 28 which is provided at its opposite sides with dependent perforate side nanges 2S through which the pivot 'pin or shaft 2l extends so as to provide a fulcrum about which the clamp plate may turn. The medial forward marginal portion of the clamp plate 28 is cut back as at 3@ to form forwardly projecting clamp tongues 3i at the respective sides of said clampplate. These clamp tongues are bordered at their outer sides by the forward portions of said dependent side flanges 29. Said clamp tongues are adapted to straddle both the stop member 25 of the carrier frame and the keeper tongue or lug il of the toe plate I3. Integral with the clamp plate 2d, and extending upwardly and rearwardly from said out back forward marginal portion 3o thereof, is a lever member 32 by means of which the clamp plate may be manually manipulated. Integral Vwith the medial rearward marginal portion of the clamp plate 28 is a pair of laterally spaced knuckle members 33. Pivotally joined to the rear end of `said clamp plate by a cross-pin Sli, which is carried by said knuckle members 33, is the forward end of a rearwardly extending thrust rod 35. The rearward end portion of said thrust rod 35 extends slidably through the perfcrate thrust bearing member 25 of the carrier frame, being thus fulcrumed by the latter substantially in the horizontal plane of the pivot pin or shaft 2'! about which the clamp plate 23 turns. The

vforward Yportion of the thrust rod 35 is provided with screw-threads 36, and threaded thereon is an adjustable thrust nut 3l. Mounted on and around the thrust rod 35, intermediate the thrust nut 37 and the thrust bearing member 25 of the carrier frame, is a compression spring 38.

To attach a ski to the users boot, the latter is applied to the ski between the toe and heel clamping devices. To permit this, the clamping devices are first opened to released positions (such e. g. as shown in Fig. 4) `by swinging outward their lever members 32, thus upswinging the clamp plates 28 to raise the clamp tongues Si out ofthe way, so that the boot with its toe and heel plates may be passed down between the clamping devices and footed upon the ski. Such 35 come to rest against stop posts B with which the bottom plates 23 of the `carrier frames are provided. Under these circumstances, the thrust of the compression springs upon the thrust nuts 3l is transmitted through the thrust rods itt' to the downswung outer ends of the clamp plates 28, whereby the latter and their clamp tongues 3i are held in the aforesaid upswung released positions.

The boot being in position upon the ski, the lever members 32 of the clamping devices are swung inwardly toward the boot, thus swinging down the clamp plates 23 so as to carry their clamp tongues 3i respectively down upon the top edges i8 of the toe plate flange or abutment iii and upon the top edges 2l of the heel plate flange or abutment 26. Such downswinging of the clamp plates 28 causes the thrust rods 35 to be upswung across the previously mcntioned deadY center planes, whereby the compression springs 38 exert strong thrust through the thrust nuts 37 and thrust rods 35 upon the upswung' outer ends of the clamp plates 23, whereby the: latter and their clamp tongues 3i are downwardly urged so as to effect strong gripping pres-V sure upon the iianges or abutments le and 2B of the respective toe and heel plates. It will benoted that the gripping pressure thus exerted by the clamping devices is in direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, and in direct opposition to stresses tending to lift either the toe or the heel of the boot away from its operative footing upon the ski.

Since, when the clamping devices are operative, the side flanges 29 of the clamp plates 28 lappingly abut the opposite vertical edges of the flanges or abutments I6 and 20 of the toe and heel plates, sidewise movements or shifting of the boot relative to the ski are prevented, and consequently twisting movements of the foot and boot assure proper steering control of the ski.

It will be understood that the clamping devices operate independently, and that the gripping pressure respectively exercised thereby the toe and heel of the boot may be independently regulated, especially as to amount of release force to which theyk will respectively respond. Such regulations may be independently made by manipulating the thrust nuts 3lV to predetermine the respective loads exerted by the compression springs 38. This is of great advantage, since the heel clamping pressure should be greater and require higher safety release force than is required at the toe of the boot, so as to better resist the greater heel lifting force which is normally due to stresses resulting from forward leaning of the body of the skier relative to the plane of the ski when skiing. The adjustability and regulation of clamping pressures is also of advantage since such pressures may be readily accommodated to the requirements of individual skiers; e. g. a large manwould require to use s. greater gripping pressure than would a small man or a woman. Y

It will be obvious, in the event of a fall or rother occurrence which induces a vforce tending to separate either the toe or heel of the boot from the ski, and which is in excess of the spring loaded gripping force, that either the toe or the heel clamping device, as the case may be. will snap open, and thus release the boot from the ski. If one clamping device snaps open, the boot will lift away therefrom and will pull away from the other clamping device, even if the latter remains closed.

The heel clamping device holds the heel of the boot firmly down upon the ski so long as vthe force of the gripping pressure thereof (which acts perpendicularly to the plane of the ski) is not exceeded by a counter release force. This makes for improved performance and control in downhill skiing, and is a substantial improvement over bindings of the heel cable type which allows the heel to lift relative to the ski, since the holding force of the heel cable is not exercised perpendicularly to the plane of the ski, and since the component of such force which does act perpendicularly is relatively small.

It will be noted that forward and backward movements or shifts of the boot relative to the ski are prevented by the stop members 25 of the respective clamping devices which are respectively opposed to the upstanding flanges or abutments I6 and 20 of the toe and heel plates i3 and I4.

In order to permit relative adjustment ofthe toe and heel clamping devices with respect tol their longitudinally spaced apart relation, whereby to accommodate their positions for cooperation with ski boots of varying size or length, the carrier frames of the clamping devices can be mounted on the ski subject to longitudinal shifting adjustment toward and 4from one another. One means to this end comprises the provision of elongated slots t!) in the bottom plate 23 of the carrier frames, through which slots are passed fastening screws di by which the carrier frames are aiiixed to the ski body It. It will be obvious that by loosening said fastening screws 4I, the carrier frames can be longitudinally shifted, and, when thus adjusted in desired relative disposition, can again be rrnly secured to the ski body by tightening home said fastening screws 4I The toe and heel clamping devices of the novel ski binding of this invention are of such construction and design that they will readily cooperate and engage with either a left or right ski boot. As a consequence of this, a pair of skis equipped with the ski bindings of this invention can be interchangeably applied to and worn on either the left or the right foot of the skier. Such interchangeability is of real advantage since it allows the skis to be exchanged from one foot to the other from time to time, whereby to assure even wearing of the ski edges; it being known that inside edges of skis wear faster than do the outside edges thereof.

The toe and heel plates I3 and I4 are provided in order to adapt the standard designs of ski boots now in common use for cooperation with the clamping devices of the ski binding of this invention, but it will -be realized that it might well be desirable to have the clamping devices operate directly upon the toe sole and the heel portions of a ski boot. It is therefore contemplated that it may well prove to be economical and advantageous to manufacture ski boots with `specially shaped toe and heel portions adapted to be respectively engaged directly by the respective toe and heel clamping devices of the binding. An illustrative suggestion to this end is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein (in Fig. '7) the toe sole of a ski boot is provided with a suitably shaped extension 42 which is adapted to be directly engaged by the toe clamping device, and wherein (in Fig. 8) the heel of the ski boot is provided with a suitably shaped extension 43 which is adapted to be directly engaged by the heel clamping device.

It will be understood that changes could be made in the safety ski binding of this invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It is,

therefore, intended thatthe matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devices adapted to engage a ski boot respectively attoe and heel portions thereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, and a compression spring purchased against the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrust rod,

2. A ski binding as defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier frames are provided at their inner ends with upstanding stop members for opposition to the ski boot, whereby to prevent longitudinal shifting displacement thereof relative to the ski.

3. A ski binding comprising longitudinally .spaced clamping devices adapted to engage a ski Acomprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said lthrust, nut and the outer end of said frame.

4. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devices adapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portions thereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame, means for securing said carrier frame in longitudinally adjusted position on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by said frame on said shaft, said clamp plate, in its downswung crevaison boot;- enga-ging position, beingadapted to exert gripping pressure substantiall-y perpendicular to the plane of the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at' its rearward end portion by the outer end of said. frame with its forward end portion pivotally connected withY said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame.

5. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devices adapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portions thereof, eachclarn-ping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate having dependent side iianges, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski with its side flanges holding the engaged boot against lateral displacement relative to the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the cla-mp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its, tor-ward end portion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, and a compression spring purchased against the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrust rod.

6. A ski binding comprising longitudinally stantie-ily perpendicular to the plane of the ski with its side flanges holding the engaged boot against lateral displacement relative to the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connected with said ciainp plate, said thrust rod having a screw threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame.

A ski binding as defined in claim S'Wherein the carrier frames are provided at their inner ends with upstanding stop members for oppositionY to the ski boot, whereby to prevent longi- Y tudinal shifting displacement thereof relative to the ski.

8. A'ski binding as defined in claim 6 including a toe plate and a heel plate afxed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having an upstanding abutment member exteriorly of the boot which is adapted to be engaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side anges thereof.

S. A ski binding as dened in claim 6 including a toe plate and a heel plate afxed to the adjacent clamp plate and embraced bythe side anges thereof, and the abutment,l member of said; toe plate having an angular keeper tongue to engagey over the toe end of the ski boot sole.

10. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devices adapted to engage, a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portions thereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame. mounted on. the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp. plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate having a lever member for manipulating the same, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to theA plane of the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod pivotally andv slidably supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame in a horizontal plane which intersects that of the axis of the clamp plate pivoting shaft, means for pivotally coupling the forward end of said thrust rod with the rearward end of said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame.

l1. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devices adapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portions thereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate having a lever member for manipulating the same, said clamp plate having dependent side iianges, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski with its side flanges holding the engaged boot against lateral displacement relative to the ski, spring actuated thrustY means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame in a horizontal plane which intersects that of the axis of the clamp plate pivoting shaft, means for pivotaily coupling the forward end oi said thrust rod with the rearward end of said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame, said carrier frames having upstanding stop members at their inner ends for opposition to the ski boot, whereby to prevent longitudinally shifting displacement thereof relative to the ski. Y

l2. A ski binding as dened in claim 11 including means for securing the carrier frames in longitudinally adjusted positions on the ski.

13. A ski binding as dened in claim ll including a toe plate and a heel plate aihxed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having an upstanding abutment member exteriorly of the boot which is adapted to be engaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side flanges thereof.

14. A ski binding as dened in claim 11 including a toe plate and a heel plate aflixed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having an opstanding abutment member exteriorly of 9 the boot which is adapted to be engaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side flanges thereof, and the abutment member of said toe plate having an angular keeper tongue to engage over the toe end of the ski boot sole.

15. In a ski binding, a clamping device to engage a ski boot, said device comprising a carrier4 frame mounted on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, a spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame.

16. In a ski binding, a clamping device to engage a ski boot, said device comprising a carrier frame mounted on the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said 10 clamp plate, in its downswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod slidably supported at its rearward end portion by the outer end of the frame With its forward end portion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, and a compression spring purchased against the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrust rod.

MITCHELL H. CUBBERLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,372,752 Holmes Mar. 29, 1921 2,373,128 McIlVane Apr. 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 38,014 Norway Oct. 1, 1923 57,945 Norway May 3, 1937 348,634 Great Britain May 15, 1931 845,670 France May 22, 1939

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