WO1994005383A1 - Support device for a boot on a ski - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device on a ski for a boot whose ends are held by a front binding and a rear binding (1). The support device comprises a support plate (16) with a support surface (17). The support plate (16) is guided for exclusive motion in a vertical plane. An elastically compressible material block is placed between the support plate (16) and the upper surface of the ski, and said block is compressed during downward motion of the support plate (16). The device is characterized in that it is also provided with a movable slide (28) which acts on the support plate (16) to adjustably limit its travel motion.

Description

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A SHOE ON A SKI. ^'

The invention relates to a device for supporting a boot on a ski.

More precisely, the invention relates to a support device on which one end of the shoe rests, and which moreover has damping qualities in response to the vertical stresses that the shoe transmits to it.

Such support devices are generally associated by a fastening element which retains the end of the shoe. This element is either a front fixing element or a rear fixing element.

There are support devices made up of a support plate which rests directly on the upper surface of the ski. Such devices have no damping quality. The boot is then in direct connection with the ski, both for the vertical stresses which pass between the boot and the ski, as well as for the transverse stresses, in particular when taking edges and when cornering.

Such devices allow precise control of the ski, but they have the disadvantage of being uncomfortable.

Also known from PCT patent application / FR 90 009C8 is a support device for one end of the boot, which comprises a support plate movable by rotation about a horizontal and transverse axis. A block of compressible material is also interposed between the support plate and the upper surface of the ski. Such a support plate could oscillate in a vertical direction, causing the compression of the damping block. It thus absorbs the vertical stresses which pass between the boot and the ski. On the other hand, the transverse stresses pass without damping between the boot and the ski, since the hinge axis of the support plate prevents any rolling movement of the support plate relative to the ski.

Such a device improves the comfort of the skier, without detracting from the precision in driving the ski.

However, it appears in use that depending on the nature of the snow, and the nature of the relief, it may be advantageous to adjust the travel of such a support plate. In other words, depending on the nature of the snow and the terrain, and also according to the wishes of the skier, it may be advantageous to adjust the amplitude of the damping movement of the support plate.

One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to propose a support device for which the amplitude of the damping movement of the support plate can be easily adjusted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device whose construction is particularly simple.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device which contributes to the comfort of the skier, while preserving the precision in driving the ski.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge during the description which follows, this description being however given by way of indication, and not limitation.

The support device comprises a support plate with a support surface of reduced dimensions for supporting a part of the shoe sole, means for making the support plate mobile, which guide the movement of the plate. support in a vertical direction and limit its movement at a predetermined maximum altitude relative to the upper surface of the ski. It also comprises an elastically compressible block interposed between the support plate and the upper surface of the ski, which compresses during the downward movement of the movable plate and which resists it elastically towards its maximum altitude, ii is characterized by the fact that it also includes a movable cursor which acts on the support plate to limit its travel in an adjustable manner.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below, as well as to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 is a side view of a rear fastening element equipped with a support device according to a first non-limiting implementation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the slide and its trim piece.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view, in partial section, which illustrates the relative arrangement of the various elements.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the support plate.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cursor that equips the support device.

Figures 6 and 7 are alternative embodiments of the cursor teeth.

Figure 8 is a schematic side view, and in partial section, which illustrates the operation of the device.

FIG. 1 represents a rear fastening element 1, with a retaining jaw 2 carried by a body 3. In a known manner, the body is slidably mounted along a slender base 4 secured to the ski.

Referring to Figure 2, the base 4 comprises an elongate slide 5, along which the body 3 is slidably mounted. The slide is made of any suitable material, including metal.

The slide extends forwards by a base plate 6 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is located below relative to the slide 5. The base plate 6 and the slide 5 are connected by an inclined panel 7 , which has in its central part an opening or window 8 of rectangular shape, the role of which will be explained later.

The base 4 also has a covering piece 10, which envelops the slide and the base plate 6 on the underside and on the sides. In particular, the covering part 10 has under the slide 5 a slender rib which fills the space left free between the slide 5 and the upper surface of the ski, due to the elevation of the slide 5 relative to the base plate. 6. Towards the front of the slide 5, the covering piece 10 deviates appreciably from the contour of the slide 5 to form a space 11 opening out towards the front, the role of which will be described later. The covering piece is made of any suitable material, in particular plastic. Finally, the base 4 has holes 12 for assembling the ski binding element by means of screws.

However, this is not limiting, and the base 4 could be made in any other appropriate way, for example it could be made in one piece, in a synthetic material loaded with fibers. Also, the assembly of the binding element to the ski could be carried out other than by screws. In the illustrated embodiment, the covering also includes an element 13 which is attached to the front of the base.

The fastening element 1 also has a support device 15, which is intended to provide support for the rear end of the shoe sole. The support device 15 comprises a support plate 16, with, in its upper part, a support surface 17 of reduced dimensions for locally supporting the rear part of the shoe sole. Preferably, the bearing surface 17 is slightly curved upwards viewed from the side.

The support plate 16 is movable in a vertical direction, on the other hand its roll movement relative to the ski is hampered.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support plate 16 is rotatable around a horizontal and transverse articulation axis 18, which is carried by the front part of the base plate 6. We can see in the figure 2 that the base plate 6 has in its front part two lateral ears 19 and 20 which carry the axis 18.

This however is not limiting, and any other suitable means which ensures vertical movement of the support plate and hinders a rolling movement is suitable.

A means also makes it possible to limit the amplitude of the movement of the support plate 16 with respect to the base plate 6. With reference to FIG. 4, the support plate 16 presents towards the rear, on the free edge, a tongue 20 projecting horizontally. The tongue is intended to penetrate into the fβiïêué δ presented by the inclined face 7 of the base 4. The height of the window 8 therefore determines, with the tongue 20, the maximum attitude at which the support plate 16 can rise .

In the embodiment shown, the support plate 16 also constitutes the brake housing 22 which equips the rear fixing element 1. This brake 22 is of any suitable type, and it will not be described in detail. In known manner, it has brake arms 23, and an actuation pedal 24. The support plate 16 constitutes a rotation bearing for the brake arms 23. The brake is therefore mobile with the oscillating movements of plate 16.

A block of elastically compressible material 25 is also interposed between the support plate 16 and the base plate 6. The thickness of this block 25 is determined so that in the absence of a shoe, the plate support 16 is maintained at its maximum altitude, that is to say with the tongue 20 in abutment in the upper part of window 8.

The block 25 is of any suitable type, and of any suitable stiffness, depending on the type of damping desired. Optionally, this block can be of the visco-elastic type, that is to say have a variable stiffness dynamically as a function of the speed at which it is stressed in compression.

The movement of the support plate 16 is limited downwards by the base plate 6 and the block 25 in its state of maximum compression. This is not limiting, and the base plate 6 could be fitted with a frank stop to limit the downward movement of the support plate 16.

Good results have been obtained with a clearance of the support plate 16 of the order of 4 mm, measured at the level of the tongue 20. The stiffness of the material has been chosen so that, in the presence of the shoe, and in normal position of the skier, the support plate drops by about 2 millimeters. When skiing, depending on the demands of the skier, the support plate can rise or fall by about 2 millimeters from its median position, the block 25 acting as a shock absorber. In these different movements, the jaw of the binding accompanies the shoe sole and exerts on it an elastic constraint towards the bottom which adds to the weight of the skier.

This, however, is not limitative. One could in particular use materials of greater stiffness, or else put the block under prestressing.

The support device also has a movable cursor 28 which makes it possible to control the movement of the support plate 16 during skiing.

The cursor 28 which equips the fixing element 1 is shown more particularly in perspective in FIG. 5. Seen from the front, it generally has a U shape, with a bottom 29, and two lateral wings 30 and 31. The bottom 29 and the wings 30 and 31 have dimensions such that the slider 28 is movable in the space 11 located between the slide 5 and the trim piece 10, around the front part of the slide 5. The wings 30 and 31 have moreover a pusher 32 and 33, slightly thicker upwards and outwards. The pushers 32 and 33 are accessible from either side of the covering part 10, through openings 34 and 35 that the covering part 10 presents towards the front part of the slide 5. The openings 34 and 35 have a length greater than the length of the pushers 32 and 33, to allow a longitudinal movement of the cursor 28. In view of the position of the pushers 32 and 33, the cursor 28 can be grasped by a pinching action between the thumb and the index finger of a user, and thus be driven forward OR backward of the fastener.

The lateral wings 30 and 31 are extended forward and downward by teeth 38, 39. These teeth 38 and 39 have suitable dimensions, and an appropriate position, to engage under the support plate. 16 in the advanced position of the cursor 28, and to disengage from the support plate 16 in the retracted position of the cursor 28. Preferably, the support plate 16 has support pads 40 and 41 towards the rear which are intended to come to bear on the teeth 38 and 39 when the cursor 28 is in the advanced position.

FIG. 3 represents the cursor 28 in its retracted position. In this position, the teeth 38 and 39 are set back relative to the support plate 16, and the latter can oscillate between its maximum altitude and its minimum altitude, in response to the stresses on the shoe, and against the restoring force. upwards induced by the block 25. FIG. 6 also represents the cursor 28 in its advanced position. In this position, the teeth 38 and 39 limit the downward movement of the support plate 16. Depending on the height of the teeth 38 and 39, the movement of the support plate 16 can be adjusted to a variable value.

Good results have been obtained by limiting the travel of the support plate 16 to a value approximately equal to half of the maximum travel when the cursor is in the retracted position. In this configuration, given that we are at the start of the compression stroke of the block 25, the support plate 16 is however supported on the teeth 38 and 39 when the skier is in the normal position on his skis. It should be noted that when the support plate 16 is supported on the teeth 38 and 39, there is a direct transmission between the boot and the ski of the vertical stresses, but also of the transverse stresses which occur in particular when the edges and in turns. The transmission of transverse stresses is always direct thanks to the articulation and the rigidity of the parts.

The cursor is made of any suitable material, for example metal or plastic. In the latter case, the teeth can be coated with a metal jumper which strengthens their structure.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the cursor 28 is engaged in the space 11 by the front of the covering part 10. In the retracted position, the pushers 32 and 33 are in abutment against the walls of the openings 34 and 35. As a variant, the bottom 29 of the cursor is in abutment against a shoulder which the covering piece 10 presents.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the teeth 38 and 39 have a horizontal upper surface. This is not limiting, and as a variant, FIG. 7 represents a tooth 45, with a stepped upper surface 46. FIG. 8 represents a tooth 47, with an inclined upper surface 48. These two teeth 45 and 47 make it possible to adjust the movement of the support plate 16 according to the longitudinal position which is given to the slider 28.

Naturally, the present description is given for information only, and other implementations of the inventicr could be adopted. zzr.z however go beyond the framework of this one.

In particular, the cursor could be equipped with any suitable means to ensure its stability in the different positions it occupies, in particular the advanced position and the retracted position.

Claims

1 - Support device on a ski of a boot whose ends are retained by a front fastening element and a rear fastening element, comprising a support plate (16) with a support surface (17) of reduced dimensions for supporting part of the shoe sole, means (18) for making the support plate movable, which guide the movement of the support plate (16) in a vertical direction and means (20,8 ) which limit its movement to a predetermined maximum altitude relative to the upper surface of the ski, further comprising an elastically compressible block (25) interposed between the support plate and the upper surface of the ski, which compresses during movements towards the bottom of the movable plate and which recalls it elastically towards its maximum altitude, characterized in that it also comprises a movable cursor (28) which acts on the support plate (16) to limit its movement in an adjustable manner . 2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate (16) is articulated to the ski around a transverse and horizontal axis (18) fixed relative to the ski at one of its edges front or rear, that the other transverse edge of the support plate is free and that the cursor (28) acts on this other edge. 3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cursor (28) is movable in a longitudinal direction, that it comprises at least one tooth (38,39) which is able to engage under the free edge of the support plate (16). 4- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the support plate (16) has on its rear edge a tongue (20), which cooperates with a window (8) fixed relative to the ski, to limit at least upward movement of the backing plate. 5- Device according to claim 1 for a support plate (16) associated with a fastening element (1) assembled to the ski via a base (4), characterized in that the base (4 ) has a cursor guide means (28) in the longitudinal direction defined by the ski. 6- Device according to claim 1 for a support plate (16) associated with a fixing element (1) assembled to the ski by means of a base (4) comprising a slide (5) wrapped by a piece d 'trim (10), characterized in that a guide space is provided between the slide (5) and the trim piece (10) for the cursor (28). 7- Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cursor (28) has on each side of the fixing element (1) a movable pusher (32,33) in a longitudinal direction whose movement is related when the cursor is moved. 8- Device according to claim 7, for a rear fastening element, comprising a body (3) slidably mounted along a slide (5), the slide (5) being wrapped by a covering piece (10), characterized by the fact that the slide (5) is extended forward by a base plate (6), that the base plate (16) is connected to the base plate (6) by its front edge around a transverse axis (18), that the rear edge of the support plate is movable, that the slider (28) has, seen from the front, a U-shape, the vertical branches (30, 31) of which guide themselves between the slide and the covering part and are accessible through lateral openings (34,35) of the covering part 10), that the cursor has two lateral teeth (38,39) which are movable with the cursor between two extreme positions, a position where they are released from the movable edge of the support plate (16), and a position where they are engaged under the support plate (16) and limit its movement. 9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cursor (28) has teeth (45) whose upper support part (46) is stepped. 10- Device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the cursor (28) has teeth (47) whose upper support part (48) is inclined relative to the horizontal.