US3790185A - Ski safety binding - Google Patents

Abstract

A ski safety binding for connection to a ski board with heel holding means for clamping the heel of a ski boot, in which magnetic means supported by base plate means cooperate with a soft iron plate which has connected thereto heel grasping means comprising tongue means for supporting a ski boot from below and also comprising a clamping member for grasping a ski boot heel from behind and holding the same in position.

Description

United States Patent 91 [111 3,790,185 Sommer 5] Feb. 5, 1974 SKI SAFETY BINDING 3,149,854 9/1964 Marker 2550/! 1.35 T R 2 .35 T [751 Inventon Reinhold Sommer, Germany 3:253:52 311333 551220,, 2335 35 T [73] Assignee: Hans Muller, Kettwig, Germany; a

part interest Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song [22] Flledi May 1! 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker [21] Appl. No.: 249,251

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 67,080, Aug. 26, 1970, Pat. No. [57] ABSTRACT A ski safety binding for connection to a ski board with Forelgn Application Priority Data heel holding means for clamping the heel of a ski Aug. 27, 1969 Germany P 19 43 518.8 boot, in which magnetic means supported by base plate means cooperate with a soft iron plate which has [52] US. Cl 280/1 1.35 T connected thereto heel grasping means comprising [51] Int. Cl. A63c 9/00 tongue means for supporting a ski boot from below [58] Field of Search 280/1 1.35 T and also comprising a clamping member for grasping a ski boot heel from behind and holding the same in po- [56] References Cited sition.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,3l7,217 5/1967 Poiger 280/1 1.35 T 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 51974 SHEET 1 OF 2 SKI SAFETY BINDING This is a division of co-pending Ser. No. 67,080- Sommer filed Aug. 26, I970, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,687,47l-Sommer issued Aug. 29, 1972.

The present invention relates to a ski safety binding in which holding means comprising a magnet and a soft iron plate cooperating therewith are arranged within the region of the heel while mechanical holding means are provided within the region of the tip of the ski boot.

It is an object of the present invention to improve a ski safety bindingof theabove mentioned type.

With ski safety bindings of the above mentioned type it may happen that a tilting momentacts upon themagnet or the soft iron plate so that between the magnet and the soft iron plate a wedge-shaped air gap will form. Furthermore, with the magnetic holding means in open position, foreign bodies may deposit upon the connecting surface which foreign bodies, if not carefully removed, will likewise form an air gap. Theconnecting force of the magnet will, however, be fully effective only. when the contacting surfaces of the magnet and the soft iron plate engage each other without an air gap therebetween.

The abovementioned object and other objects and advantages of theinvention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section through magnetic heel holding means according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the heel holding means of FIG.

FIG. 3 represents a section taken along the line III- III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section similar to that of FIG. 3 through a modified heel holding means according to the invention.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a mechanical boottip holding means according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the boot tip holding means of FIG. 5. i

The ski safety binding according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the magnetic holding means is equipped with a tongue which extends below the sole of the ski boot and which together with an angle member forms a U-shaped clamp, said angle member extending over a portion of the heel of the ski boot. In this way the occurrence of tilting moments is prevented.

In order to make sure that the holding means can be adjusted for any size of a ski boot, the angle member engaging the heel is adjustable relative to the tongue.

According to a further feature of the invention, the tongue is arranged in a recess provided in the base plate of the magnetic holding means whereby a lateral slipping of the ski boot is prevented.

The U-shaped clamp formed by the tongue and the In order to assure that the above referred to force can always act only perpendicularly so that only the vertical component of the force will become effective, an elastic disc is arranged below the head of the bolt, said disc acting in the manner of a ball joint. Furthermore, the elastic disc is adapted to absorb shocks. The elastic disc will prevent the soft iron plate from detaching itself from the magnet in response to the occurrence of short,

shock-like forces which act in a direction counter to the holding force of the magnet.

, According to a further development of the invention, the bolt is hollow and has its upper portion provided with an inner thread receiving a screw while below said screw there is provided a pressure: spring which through the intervention ofa pin exerts a pressure upon the magnet which pressure is directed counter to the direction of the magnetic force. In this way, the effective magnetic force may be varied. The stronger the pressure exerted by-the pressure spring, the weaker will become the effective magnetic holding force. By exchanging the pressure spring, the holding force may be selected precisely in conformity with the holding force necessary for the respective skier.

The magnetic holding force may also be controlled by exchanging the soft iron plate. When purchasing the ski safety binding according to the invention, the salesman will determine the thickness of the soft iron plate in conformity with the requirements of the respective buyer so that accidents due to an incorrect adjustment ofthe release force can no longer occur. In order to keep the structural height constant, the thinner soft iron plates are supplemented by a plate of non-magnetizable material the thickness of which is so selected that the space between the soft iron plateand the elastic intermediatelayer iscompletely filled.

The clamping member of the magnetic holding means is provided with a longitudinal bore for the passage of a bolt which establishes the connection between the U-shaped clamp formed by the tongue and the angle member on one hand and the magnet or soft iron plate on the other hand. In this way a certain displacement of the clamping member relative to the magnet or soft iron plate is possible. Such displacement may occur when skiing through a dip in the terrain inasmuch as the ski will bend in such circumstances.

According to a further development of the invention, an elastic abutment member is inserted into the base plate. The end of the tongue rests against said abutment member so that a shortening of the distance between the magnet and the mechanical holding means when skiing through a dip will be compensated for.

In order to close off the magnetic system with regard to the outside .in a dust-free manner, the magnet and the soft iron plate are surrounded by an elastic sleeve which expediently has the shape of a bellows. When lifting the soft iron plate off the magnet, the soft iron plate and the structural elements which are connected thereto and pertain to the magnetic holding means are connected by means of said bellows to the base plate so that additional devices, such as a catching line or the like, will'not be necessary.

For connection to the ski, the base plate is provided with a plurality of oblong openings the longitudinal axis of which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ski. By a simple displacement of the base plate, the holding means can be adjusted for any desired show or boot size.

In order to prevent an accidental displacement of the base plate, the latter is laterally of the oblong openings at its top side provided with grooves which in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ski are located one behind the other and which are engaged by the teeth of a washer.

In order to avoid to have to open the magnetic holding means each time when it is intended to detach the ski boot from the ski, the holding means for the tip of the shoe is provided with a jaw which by means of a horizontal shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the shoe is pivotally arranged on a support which by means of screws is connected to the ski and which is adapted to be locked in its lowermost position by means of a pin. In this way the bellows of the magnetic holding means is protected so that it has a nearly unlimited life.

One end of the pin is screwed into the jaw while its other end engages a bore ofa lever pivotally connected to the support while the lever rests against an elastic block inserted into the support. In response to the exertion of a pressure upon the lever, the lever will yield while the elastic block is compressed so that the pin is freed. Expediently, the lever is within the region of a recess in the jaw provided with a depression for insertion of a ski stick so that the skier can loosen the ski binding while standing up.

In order to allow the skier while standing up also to close the jaw, the top side of the jaw is provided with a depression for insertion of a ski stick.

That surface of the jaw which faces toward the ski boot is inclined so that an adjustment of the jaw in conformity with the thickness of the sole of the respective ski boot is not necessary. In order to furnish a safe hold for the ski boot, the surface facing the boot is roughened, for instance, knurled.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the holding means for the heel portion according to FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a magnet l which rests on an elastic support 2 and by means of a base plate 3 is connected to the ski board, and furthermore comprises a soft iron plate 5 which through the intervention of an elastic intermediate layer 6 is connected to a clamping member 7 having fixedly connected thereto a tongue 8 while an angle member 9 is adjustably connected to said clamping member 7. The tongue 8 and the angle member 9 form a U-shaped clamp which may be adapted to the thickness of the heel of a ski boot. Tongue 8 is arranged in a recess 10 of the base plate 3. The connection between the soft iron plate 5 and the clamping member 7 is effected by a bolt 11 which has its lower end provided with a groove for a spring ring 12. Bolt 11 is so arranged that its axis 13 is in alignment with the axis 14 of the magnet 1. An elastic disc 15 is arranged below the head of bolt 11. The hollow bolt 11 has its upper portion provided with an inner thread into which is screwed a screw 16. Below screw 16 there is provided a pressure spring 17 which through the intervention of a pin 18 exerts a pressure on the magnet l which pressure is directed counter to the adhering force. The pressure spring 17 is exchangeable. An oblong hole 24 is provided in the clamping member 7 for passing the bolt 11 therethrough. Inserted into the base plate 3 is an elastic abutment member 25 against which rests the end of tongue 8.

Magnet 1 and soft iron plate 5 are surrounged by an elastic sleeve 19 which forms a bellows. The lower end of sleeve 19 is clamped between the magnet l and a collar 20 of base plate 3, whereas the upper end of sleeve 19 is clamped between the soft iron plate 5 and the elastic intermediate layer 6. However, also the upper end of sleeve 19 itself may form an elastic intermediate layer 6.

The base plate 3 is provided with oblong holes 21. Laterally of said holes 21, the base plate 3 is provided with grooves 22 engaged by teeth of washers 23.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate possible cross-sectional shapes of tongue 8. However, also other cross-sectional shapes are feasible. In order to prevent a lateral displacement of tongue 8, a ball, a pin or the like may be inserted in the ski board 4, and tongue 8 may be provided with a bore for receiving that portion of the ball, pin or the like which protrudes from the ski board 4.

According to the binding or holding means illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 for the tip of the ski boot, a jaw 26 is by means of a bolt 27 arranged on a support 29 which is fastened to the ski board 4 by means of screws 28 so that the jaw 26 can be folded into the dot-dash line position (FIG. 5). The locking of the jaw 26 in its lower position is effected by a pin 30 which has one end screwed into the jaw 26 and has its other end engaging a bore of a lever 31 which is pivotally connectable to the support 29.

A nut 32 screwed onto the pin 30 prevents the pin 30 from being accidentally loosened. An elastic block 33 is inserted into the support 29. Against the said block rests a lever 31 which, however, may also be connected to the block 33, for instance, by being cemented thereto. Within the range ofa recess 34 provided in the jaw 26, lever 31 is provided with a depression 35. A ski stick may be inserted by the skier into the said depression 35 so that the lever 31 can be pressed downwardly and the pin 30 is freed while the jaw 26 can be folded into the dot-dash line position. Jaw 26 has its upper side likewise provided with a depression 36 which serves for closing the jaw 26 by means of the ski stick. That surface 37 ofjaw 26 which faces toward the ski boot is inclined. The surface 37 is furthermore roughened, for instance, knurled.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. For use in connection with a ski board, a holding device for holding the tip ofa ski boot, which includes: supporting means detachably connected to a ski board, pivot means supported by said supporting means, jaw means pivotally connected to said supporting means by said pivot means extending in horizontal direction perpendicular to the ski boot and selectively pivotable into and out of its ski boot clamping position relative to said supporting means, pin means for selectively locking said jaw means in its ski boot clamping position, one end portion of said pin means threadedly engaging said jaw means, leverv means pivotally connected to said supporting means and provided with recess means adapted to be engaged by the other end portion of said pin means, and elastic block means forming part of said supporting means and yieldably and elastically supporting said lever means which yields while said elastic block means is compressed so that said pin means is freed.

pression for insertion of a ski stick.

4. A holding device according to claim 1, in which face of said jaw means which is remote from said pivot means is inclined.

5. A holding device according to claim 4, in which said inclined face is roughened.

Claims (5)

1. For use in connection with a ski board, a holding device for holding the tip of a ski boot, which includes: supporting means detachably connected to a ski board, pivot means supported by said supporting means, jaw means pivotally connected to said supporting means by said pivot means extending in horizontal direction perpendicular to the ski boot and selectively pivotable into and out of its ski boot clamping position relative to said supporting means, pin means for selectively locking said jaw means in its ski boot clamping position, one end portion of said pin means threadedly engaging said jaw means, lever means pivotally connected to said supporting means and provided with recess means adapted to be engaged by the other end portion of said pin means, and elastic block means forming part of said supporting means and yieldably and elastically supporting said lever means which yields while said elastic block means is compressed so that said pin means is freed.

2. A holding device according to claim 1, in which said jaw means adjacent said lever means is provided with a recess, and in which adjacent said last mentioned recess said lever means has a depression adapted to receive the lower end of a ski stick.

3. A holding device according to claim 1, in which the top surface of said jaw means is provided with a depression for insertion of a ski stick.

4. A holding device according to claim 1, in which face of said jaw means which is remote from said pivot means is inclined.

5. A holding device according to claim 4, in which said inclined face is roughened.

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