U.S. patent application number 09/802973 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for element for retaining the front of a boot on an alpine ski.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A.. Invention is credited to Merino, Jean-Francois.
Application Number | 20010026061 09/802973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8848820 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010026061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Merino, Jean-Francois |
October 4, 2001 |
Element for retaining the front of a boot on an alpine ski
Abstract
An element for retaining a boot on a ski provided to releasably
retain one of the ends of a boot by means of a jaw movable
laterally on either side of a centered position aligned with a
longitudinal and vertical median plane of the retaining element,
and a compensating mechanism acting on the jaw or its return
mechanism so as to further facilitate its opening, where the
compensating mechanism includes two active elements, either of
which are biased as a function of the side where the jaw moves with
respect to the vertical and longitudinal median plane. The two
active elements are asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal
and vertical median plane, such that the compensating mechanism is
more or less active depending on the active element biased as a
function of the side on which the jaw moves.
Inventors: |
Merino, Jean-Francois;
(Epagny, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A.
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
8848820 |
Appl. No.: |
09/802973 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/607 ;
280/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 9/0855 20130101;
A63C 9/0846 20130101; A63C 9/001 20130101; A63C 9/08521 20130101;
A63C 9/08578 20130101; A63C 9/08564 20130101; A63C 9/08542
20130101; A63C 9/0844 20130101; A63C 9/08571 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/607 ;
280/633 |
International
Class: |
A63C 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 29, 2000 |
FR |
00 04248 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An element for retaining a boot on a ski, said retention element
comprising: a jaw provided to releasably retain one of the ends of
a boot on a ski, and an elastic return mechanism for exerting a
force toward a centered position aligned with a longitudinal and
vertical median plane of the retaining element; said jaw being
laterally movable on either side of said centered position in
response to a force having a lateral component oriented in either
of two directions against a resistance of said elastic return
mechanism; and a compensating mechanism acting on said jaw or said
return mechanism so as to further facilitate opening of said jaw,
said compensating mechanism having two active elements, either of
said two active elements being biased as a function of the side to
which said jaw moves with respect to the vertical and longitudinal
median plane, said two active elements being asymmetrical with
respect to the longitudinal and vertical median plane, such that
said compensating mechanism is more or less active depending on
which of said two active element is biased as a function of a side
on which said jaw moves.
2. An element according to claim 1, wherein said compensating
mechanism includes a transverse ramp having at least two surfaces
with a different gradients or inclinations.
3. An element according to claim 2, wherein said ramp has two
surfaces converging toward a recess, a roller being housed in said
recess when said jaw is in said centered position, said recess
being limited by two edges of different heights.
4. An element according to claim 1, wherein said compensating
mechanism includes two levers that are asymmetrical with respect to
the longitudinal and vertical median plane of the element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an element for retaining
the front of a boot on an alpine ski.
[0003] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0004] An element of the above-mentioned type is provided to retain
the front of the boot in cooperation with a rear element, and to
release the boot in the case of excessive force.
[0005] The forces exerted between the boot and the ski have a
plurality of force or moment components which can be resolved in
relation to axes, one of which is the vertical axis of the leg, and
another is the longitudinal axis defined by the foot.
[0006] One of the main components is the moment in relation to the
vertical axis of the leg. This component induces a torsion in the
skier's leg, which is found at the level of the knee joint.
[0007] It has been known for a long time that the intensity of the
stresses which a knee can withstand without damage depends on the
direction in which the leg is biased in torsion. A knee is more
fragile during a bias that drives a foot rotationally inward, i.e.,
toward the other foot.
[0008] Thus, a retaining element is known from the published Patent
Applications Nos. FR 1 503 847, FR 1 503 848, FR 1 503 849, whose
release threshold is different depending on the direction in which
the boot biases it. More recently, the Applications FR 2 722 372,
FR 2 722 373, FR 2 722 374 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,615,498, 5,639,108,
5,702,119 disclose constructions related to this problem. For these
retaining elements, the release threshold is higher on the side
where the knee is more resistant, and lower on the side where the
knee is less resistant.
[0009] Such devices yield satisfactory results insofar as the
release thresholds are better adapted to the skier's
morphology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the invention is to further improve the
performances of the front retaining elements in this function of
adapting to the skier's morphology.
[0011] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the description that follows.
[0012] The retaining element according to the invention is provided
to releasably retain one of the ends of a boot by means of a
laterally movable jaw on either side of a centered position aligned
with a longitudinal and vertical median plane of the retaining
element, in response to a force having a lateral component oriented
in either direction against the resistance of an elastic return
mechanism. It includes a compensating mechanism acting on the jaw
or its return mechanism so as to further facilitate its opening,
the compensating mechanism having two active elements either of
which is biased as a function of the side where the jaw moves with
respect to the vertical and longitudinal median plane.
[0013] The two active elements of the invention are asymmetrical
with respect to the longitudinal and vertical median plane, such
that the compensating mechanism is more or less active depending on
the active element biased as a function of the side on which the
jaw moves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will be better understood from the following
description, with reference to the annexed drawings that are an
integral part thereof, and in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side and cross-sectional view
of a retaining element according to a first embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show a second embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 5-7 relate to another embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the device shown in
FIG. 6.
[0020] FIGS. 9-11 schematically show another embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIGS. 12 and 13 relate to another embodiment of the
invention applied to a rear retaining element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2
belongs to a field of construction like that of the binding
disclosed in Patent Application FR 2 533 833, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its
entirety.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a front retaining element 1 provided to retain
the front of a boot. This element includes a retaining jaw 2 that
forms an integral assembly with a body 3. The body 3 is movably
mounted so as to rotate about a substantially vertical pivot 5. The
pivot is provided to be affixed to the gliding board. The pivot has
a flat portion 7 in its portion oriented forwardly. A piston 8 is
biased by a spring 9 supported against the flat portion 7. The
piston and the spring are housed in the body. In a known fashion,
the piston cooperates with the flat portion to elastically return
the body in a resting position that is centered on the longitudinal
and vertical median plane of the retaining element, the latter
containing the longitudinal axis defined by the ski. However, the
jaw and the body can move away on both sides from this position
against the return force of the spring 9.
[0024] A support device is further provided for the boot. This
device includes a support element 10 mounted so as to oscillate
about a horizontal and transverse axle 12. The support element is
extended forwardly beyond its axle 12 by an arm 13 whose end is
engaged beneath the body behind the pivot 5. Preferably, a roller
20 movable about a longitudinal axis is located at the end of the
arm 19. When the arm is in the resting position, the support
element is kept raised with respect to the upper surface of the ski
due to the support of the roller 20 against the base of the body
4.
[0025] In this area, the body 4 has a ramp 21. The ramp 21 includes
two lateral surfaces 21a, 21b, and a central edge or surface
21c.
[0026] The two ramps 21a and 21b are located on both sides of the
longitudinal and vertical median plane of the retaining element,
when the jaw is in its centered position, and they are oriented top
down toward the edge 21c, which is located in the median
longitudinal and vertical plane. When the body is in the centered
position aligned on the longitudinal axis defined by the ski, the
roller 20 is in support against the edge 21c. If the body pivots on
either side with respect to its centered position, the roller
describes either one of the surfaces 21a or 21b.
[0027] The support of the boot on the support element 10 is
transmitted by the roller to the ramp, which induces on the body a
lateral force that is added to the lateral force exerted by the
boot on the jaw.
[0028] During a torsional front fall, in particular, this mechanism
compensates for the frictional forces that exist between the boot
sole and its support element, and which tend to delay the release
of the boot.
[0029] Possibly, one can provide the edge 21c to be broken along a
flat portion of small width to provide a small zone on both sides
of the centered position where the compensating mechanism is
inactive.
[0030] According to the invention, and as is visible in FIG. 2, the
surfaces 21a and 21b of the ramp 21 do not have the same gradient,
such that the compensating effect is more pronounced on one side
than on the other.
[0031] In the embodiment shown, the surface 21b located on the
right side in the figure has a higher gradient than the surface
21a. Under these conditions, if the boot drives the jaw on the left
side in the figure, a same support of the boot on the support
element 10 induces a more substantial compensation on this side
than on the other. This jaw pivoting side corresponds to the leg
twisting direction where the knee is the most fragile.
[0032] For a pair of retaining elements associated with a pair of
skis, the ramps of the front elements are symmetrically arranged
with respect to one another, the surfaces with a higher gradient
being inward, and those with a lower gradient being outward,
considering the construction of the front element that has been
described.
[0033] It must be noted that the surfaces 21a and 21b of the ramp
are not necessarily rectilinear or planar. One and/or the other of
the two surfaces could be incurved so as to induce a certain
progressiveness in the action of the compensating mechanism as a
function of the lateral displacement of the jaw.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The
construction shown therein belongs to a field of construction like
that of the binding disclosed in Patent Application FR 2 248 062
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,029, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties.
[0035] The retaining element is a front element having an integral
or one-piece body 25 and jaw 26. The body is pivotally mounted on a
ball-and-socket joint including a pivoting head 27 provided to be
affixedly assembled to the ski and housed in the body 25. The
return of the body in its centered position is ensured by a ball 28
pushed by a spring 29 back into a recess 30 of the pivoting
head.
[0036] The jaw is adapted to pivot laterally on both sides of the
centered position, with respect to the pivoting head. The jaw can
also rise vertically as a function of the forces exerted by the
boot.
[0037] The vertical movement of the jaw is controlled by a ramp 32
located at the front of the spherical head. The ramp is provided to
be affixed to the ski, it includes two lateral surfaces 32a, 32b
that converge base up toward a central flat portion 32c located in
the vertical median plane of the retaining element. A rotatable
roller is mounted at the front of the body 25. It rests on the ramp
32. The roller 34 could be replaced by another equivalent
structure.
[0038] In the centered position of the jaw, the roller is in
contact with the flat portion 32c. When the jaw is driven by the
boot on either side of its centered position, the roller describes
either one of the surfaces 32a or 32b, if the force exerted by the
boot on the jaw has a vertical component in addition to the lateral
component.
[0039] When the roller describes either one of the two inclined
surfaces of the ramp, the vertical component which the boot exerts
on the jaw is transformed in the area of the roller into a lateral
component that facilitates the lateral pivoting of the body. Thus,
one has a compensating mechanism that is active in a torsional rear
fall. This mechanism compensates for the friction forces between
the jaw and the boot sole which can delay the release of the
boot.
[0040] According to the invention, the two surfaces 32a and 32b of
the ramp have a different gradient, such that the compensation is
more active on one side of the centered position with respect to
the other.
[0041] For a pair of retaining elements associated with a pair of
skis, the ramps of the front retaining elements with more
substantial gradient are located toward the inside, and the ramps
with lower gradient toward the outside, considering the element
construction that has been described.
[0042] FIGS. 5-7 relate to another embodiment of the invention and,
more particularly, to a field of retaining element like that
described in the Patent Application EP 31 740 and U.S. Pat. No.
4,398,747, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference
thereto in their entireties.
[0043] Thus, FIG. 5 shows a front retaining element having a body
35 provided to be fixedly mounted on the ski.
[0044] A jaw 36 is movably mounted with respect to the body about a
substantially vertical pivot 37.
[0045] A piston 39 and return springs 38 are housed in the body.
The springs push the piston back against a flat portion 40 of the
jaw located at the front of the pivot 37. The springs and the
piston return the jaw 36 in a centered position on the longitudinal
axis of the ski. From this position, the jaw can pivot laterally on
either side as a function of the forces of the boot.
[0046] The retaining element further includes a support element 43
provided to support the boot sole. The support element here is
laterally movable. To this end, according to the embodiment shown,
it is guided along a rail 44 fixed to the ski. The rail can be
linear and transverse or, as shown, incurved along an arch of a
circle centered approximately in the area of the heel of the boot
so as to follow the trajectory taken by the front of the boot
during a lateral release.
[0047] A roller or another equivalent structure is mounted at the
end of an arm 47 that extends on the front of the support element,
in the alignment of its vertical median plane. The roller is in
support against the ramp 48 of an element which is in the form of a
drawer 50 slidably mounted along the longitudinal direction of the
ski. On the rear, the drawer-like element 50 has a return 51 that
is inserted between the flat portion 40 of the jaw 36 and the
piston 39.
[0048] The ramp 48 includes two surfaces 48a and 48b inclined front
to rear, which converge toward a central edge 48c aligned on the
vertical and longitudinal median plane of the retaining
element.
[0049] In the case where the boot biases the jaw laterally, and
where it exerts a substantial pressure on its support element, it
tends to drive the support element along. The thrust of the roller
46 on either one of the surfaces of the ramp is transmitted to the
spring in the form of a longitudinal force that proportionately
relieves the force which the jaw must overcome to pivot laterally.
Such a mechanism compensates for the frictional forces that exist
between the boot sole and its support element.
[0050] According to the invention, the two surfaces of the ramp 48
have a different inclination with respect to the longitudinal
median plane of the ski, so that the compensating system is more or
less active depending on the pivoting side of the jaw. In the
embodiment shown, the surface 48a is less inclined than the surface
48b. As a result, the compensation is more active if the boot
drives the support element toward the top in the figure rather than
toward the bottom.
[0051] For a pair of skis equipped with retaining elements, the
ramps of the front elements are symmetrically arranged with respect
to one another, and the retaining elements are arranged such that
the least inclined surfaces are inward, and the most inclined
surfaces are outward.
[0052] This embodiment is adapted to have alternatives. For
example, as schematically shown in FIG. 8, rather than the ramp
having surfaces of different inclination, one could have
intersecting levers 51 and 52 acting on the drawer-like element 53
with different lever arms. The difference in lever arm can be
obtained either in the area of the journal axes of the levers, or
in the area of their support on the drawer-like element or the
movable support element.
[0053] FIGS. 9-11 show another embodiment of the invention and,
more specifically, one belonging to the field of construction like
that disclosed in the published Patent Application No. WO 85/03451
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,849, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties.
[0054] The construction of this front retaining element includes a
body 55 provided to be affixed to the ski, and a retaining jaw 56
movable with respect to the body. The jaw is journalled at the end
of two arms 57 and 58, which are themselves journalled with respect
to the body, such that the four journal points of the arms and of
the jaw form the four vertices of a variable quadrangle. The jaw
journalled at the end of the arms can move laterally with respect
to the body on both sides of a centered position. As shown in FIG.
9, the body covers the arms and a portion of the jaw with a cover
60. A return mechanism, not shown, opposes an elastic resistance to
a displacement of the jaw on both sides of this centered position.
Furthermore, the jaw includes two lateral wings with an unlocking
mechanism that is not shown in the figures. These elements are
known, and are secondary with respect to the invention.
[0055] The retaining element further includes a support element 62
provided for the boot. The support element 62 is affixedly
connected to the jaw 56, and it is laterally movable with the
displacements of the jaw.
[0056] A set of ramps is further provided between the jaw and the
cover, the support element and the body. A first ramp 63 is located
between the upper portion of the jaw and the cover 60. In fact, the
ramp includes two similar portions, each having two surfaces 63a,
63b, 63c, 63d, respectively, converging two by two toward the
vertices 63e, 63f.
[0057] When the jaw is in the centered position, aligned with the
longitudinal axis of the ski, rollers 64 and 65 mounted on the
cover 60 are facing the vertices 63e and 63f of the ramp. The
surfaces 63a and 63c or 63b and 63d of the ramp are facing the
rollers 64 and 65 depending on the direction of lateral
displacement of the jaw.
[0058] A second ramp 66 is located between the support element 62
and the portion of the body located beneath the support element. As
the preceding ramp, the ramp 66 is made of two similar portions,
each including two surfaces, 66a and 66b, 66c and 66d,
respectively. The surfaces converge two by two toward a recess 66e,
66f. When the support element is in the centered position, the
recesses are opposite the pins 67 and 68 projecting with respect to
the upper surface of the body.
[0059] In the centered position of the jaw, the rollers 64 and 65
are in contact with the vertices 63e and 63f, the recesses 66e and
66f are in contact with the pins 67 and 68. Depending on the
direction in which the jaw moves laterally, and depending upon
whether the bias exerted by the boot has an upward or downward
vertical force, or even a torsional component about a longitudinal
axis, a portion of the ramps 64 and/or 65 comes in contact with the
rollers or the pins, inducing a lateral component that is added to
the lateral force which the boot exerts on the jaw. This lateral
component in particular compensates for the friction existing
between the boot sole, the jaw, and the support element.
[0060] According to the invention, the surfaces of the ramps 64 and
66 have different gradients so that the compensation is more or
less active depending on the side where the jaws moves.
[0061] Thus, FIG. 11 shows the surfaces 63a and 63c located on a
same side with respect to the roller that is associated therewith,
with a steeper gradient than the other surfaces 63b and 63d.
[0062] Similarly, the surfaces 66a and 66c located on the same side
with respect to their associated pin as the surfaces 63a and 63c
have a steeper gradient than the other surfaces 66b and 66d of the
ramp.
[0063] Thus, for the same force exerted by the boot on the jaw or
the support element, the compensation is more active if the jaw is
displaced toward the right side in the figure.
[0064] For this embodiment, the relative position of the ramps and
of the rollers or pins could be reversed. One could also have only
two ramps 63 and 66.
[0065] The invention is not limited to a front retaining element.
To illustrate this, FIGS. 11 and 12 show a rear retaining element
that is said to have a diagonal release. This type of element is
disclosed in the published French Patent Application No. 2 138 694
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,219, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties. Such an
element is provided to react to a bias of the boot having a
direction that is not only vertical but also oblique.
[0066] In a known fashion, this element includes a base 70, a
retaining jaw 71 carried by a body 72 journalled with respect to
the base 70 about a transverse axle 73. The base is further movably
mounted so as to rotate about a vertical pivot 75 carried by a
plate 76 provided to be affixedly connected to the ski.
[0067] On the front, the plate has a fold 78 that has a ramp 79
that extends transversely in its upper portion. The ramp has two
surfaces 79a, 79b that converge toward a slot-shaped central recess
79c.
[0068] A roller 80 associated with the body 72 is housed in the
recess 79c when the jaw is in the low retaining position and the
body is in the aligned position on the longitudinal axis of the
ski.
[0069] The vertical movement of the body is guided by a retaining
mechanism with threshold that will not be described in detail. When
the force exerted by the boot is greater than the retention
threshold of the body, the body rises, the roller comes out of the
recess 79c, thus having the possibility of rolling over one of the
surfaces 79a or 79b depending on the direction in which the boot
drives the body.
[0070] According to the invention, the surfaces 79a and 79b have a
different gradient, so that the compensation induced by the ramp 79
is more active on one side than on the other.
[0071] According to the embodiment shown, the surface 79b is more
inclined. Concurrently, the edge that demarcates the recess 79c is
slightly lower on the side of this surface 79b, so that the
compensation induced by the surface 79b is active more quickly in
the case of a fall with a diagonal component on this side.
[0072] The invention is not limited to the constructional modes
described, and numerous variations are possible. In fact, the
constructional modes illustrate general features of the invention,
including rendering the compensation more or less active depending
on the direction of the torsional component of the leg for a
retaining element having a jaw movable on either side of a centered
position, and a compensating mechanism acting on the opening of the
jaw in the case of a torsional force.
[0073] Moreover, the invention that has been described could be
associated with a retaining element already having, by
construction, an asymmetrical release depending on the direction of
the torsional force, such that the two effects of asymmetry
cumulate.
[0074] The instant application is based upon French Patent
Application No. 00.04248, filed Mar. 29, 2000, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety,
and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119.
* * * * *