U.S. patent application number 10/362600 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-25 for ski binding.
Invention is credited to Battistella, Mirco, Gorza, Roberto.
Application Number | 20030178813 10/362600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11460103 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030178813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Battistella, Mirco ; et
al. |
September 25, 2003 |
Ski binding
Abstract
A binding structure, particularly for the interconnection of a
sports shoe to a ski, comprising a toe unit, which is provided with
at least a swivel jaw, a heel unit and a plate, which, at a first
end, is attached pivotally connected to the ski, the plate, at a
second end, being provided with means of sliding interconnection
with said swivel jaw; the swivel jaw and the plate being able to
rotate along opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the ski.
Inventors: |
Battistella, Mirco;
(Spresiano, IT) ; Gorza, Roberto; (Feltre,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Modiano & Associati
Via Meravigli 16
Milan
20123
IT
|
Family ID: |
11460103 |
Appl. No.: |
10/362600 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 15, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/07845 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/629 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 9/081 20130101;
A63C 9/084 20130101; A63C 9/0855 20130101; A63C 7/1013 20130101;
A63C 9/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/629 |
International
Class: |
A63C 009/081 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2001 |
IT |
TV2001A000096 |
Claims
1. A binding, particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe
to a ski, comprising a toe unit, which is provided with at least a
swivel jaw, a heel unit and a plate arranged between said toe unit
and said heel unit, said plate being, at a first end, pivotally
connected to said ski, characterised in that said plate, at a
second end, is provided with means of sliding interconnection with
said swivel jaw, said swivel jaw and said plate being able to
rotate along opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the said ski.
2. The binding, according to claim 1, characterised in that said
plate is connected pivotally to said ski by means of a first pin
connected perpendicularly to said ski, said plate comprising a
first and a second body, which are joined telescopically in order
to allow a variation in the length of said binding structure, means
of temporary interconnection being provided for connecting said
first body and said second body.
3. The binding, according to claim 2, characterised in that said
means of temporary interconnection between said first body and said
second body comprise a screw selectively associated to at least a
first hole, provided approximately along the center line of said
second body, and to at least a second hole provided approximately
along the center line of said first body
4. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that said means of sliding interconnection allow a
rotation of said plate and said jaw along opposite directions,
which are transverse to the longitudinal axis of said ski.
5. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that said means of sliding interconnection
comprise: a longitudinal slot, which is provided approximately
along the center line of the second end of said plate; and a second
vertical pin, which protrudes from the top of the free end of an
arm protruding from the bottom of said swivel jaw, said second
vertical pin being allowed to slide along said slot.
6. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that said plate, having a width approximately
equal to that of said ski, is provided, at the bottom, with one or
more slide plates, which are made of a material with a low friction
coefficient, so as to define at least a surface, which allows an
easy rotation of said plate with respect to said ski.
7. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the rotation of said plate and said swivel
jaw occurs simultaneously, so as cause the release of said sports
shoe from said binding structure.
8. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that it may be associated to a sports shoe,
provided with a sole at last partially made of a resilient plastic
material, having a desired friction coefficient.
9. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that a spacer, having a thickness approximately
equal to that of said plate, is positioned between said ski and
said heel unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a ski binding structure,
particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe, such as a
ski boot, to a ski.
[0002] It is known to use ski binding structures comprising a front
toe unit and a rear heel unit, which are connected at the bottom to
a plate, which is, in turn, connected to the ski.
[0003] Typically, the toe and heel units are designed to allow, in
the event of considerable stresses, the release of the sports shoe
from the ski in order to reduce the risks of injury due, for
example, to accidental falls. In particular, the toe unit is
generally provided with a pivotally mounted jaw, which accommodates
the toe of the sports shoe and which is arranged to facilitate,
upon excessive force, the release of the toe from the sports
shoe.
[0004] The main drawback of such known type of ski bindings
consists in that it is generally necessary to use sports shoes
provided at the bottom with a rigid sole made of a plastic material
having very low friction values, thereby reducing to a minimum the
frictional force that contrasts the release of the toe of the
sports shoe from the ski.
[0005] This fact makes often the user's gait difficult and
dangerous, because the sole is relatively sturdy and offers only a
quite low grip on snowy or icy surfaces.
[0006] Furthermore, it is very difficult to use sports shoes
provided with a resilient sole, which would ensure more comfort to
the user. This is due to the fact that such partially resilient
soles are typically made of materials with high friction values,
which, generally, do not comply with the current standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a
ski binding, which can be safely used also in combination with a
sports shoe fitted with a sole having one or more areas made of
materials with a relatively high friction coefficient.
[0008] Within this aim, another object of the present invention, is
to provide a ski binding, which can be safely used in combination
with a sports shoe, provided with a sole that is at least partially
made of rubber or other plastic material designed to facilitate the
user's gait, in particular guaranteeing an excellent grip on snowy
or icy surfaces.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski
binding, which can be safely used in combination with a sports shoe
provided with a sole that is at least partially resilient and
therefore suitable to facilitate walking to the user.
[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
ski binding that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing
costs.
[0011] Thus, the present invention provides a ski binding,
particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe to a ski,
comprising a toe unit provided with at least a swivel jaw, a heel
unit and a plate arranged between said toe unit and said heel unit,
said plate being pivotally connected, at a first end, to said ski
characterised in that said plate is provided, at a second end, with
means of sliding interconnection with said swivel jaw, said swivel
jaw and said plate being able to rotate along opposite directions
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the ski binding,
according to the present invention, will become better apparent
from the detailed description of some particular embodiments
thereof, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of the ski binding, according to the
present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the ski binding,
according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the heel unit of the ski binding,
according to the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the heel unit of the ski
binding, according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the toe unit of ski binding,
according to the present invention; and
[0018] FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan views of the toe unit of the ski
binding, according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] With reference to the figures, reference number 1 designates
a ski binding according to the present invention, which is
particularly suitable for the interconnection of a sports shoe 50,
such as a ski boot, to a ski 2. The ski binding 1 comprises a toe
unit 3 and a heel unit 4 the bottom whereof may be connected to the
ski 2.
[0020] The heel unit 4 is preferably provided with a ski-braking
device 5 (commonly called "ski stopper") that is designed to
prevent the ski 2 from sliding on the snow. As known, this device
is automatically deactivated upon positioning the sports shoe 50
inside the binding 1. The toe unit 3 is provided also with at least
a swivel jaw 10.
[0021] A plate 6, having a width approximately equal to that of the
ski 2 is arranged between the heel unit 4 and the toe unit 3 and is
connected thereto. The plate 6 is advantageously connected
pivotally to the ski 2 at a first end 7a. In this manner, the plate
6 is able to rotate at least partially around a first pin 8
connected perpendicularly to the ski 2. At a second end 7b, the
plate 6 is provided with means of sliding interconnection 9 that
ensures the connection of the plate 6 with the swivel jaw 10 of the
toe unit 3.
[0022] This swivel jaw 10 is advantageously counter-shaped to the
toe of the sports shoe 50. Preferably, the swivel jaw is V-shaped,
so that it can better accomodate the toe portion of the sports shoe
50. The swivel 10 is designed to allow temporary retention of the
sports shoe 50 to the ski 2. The swivel jaw 10 may rotate with
respect to the toe unit 3, which is rigidly connected to the ski.
In fact, the swivel jaw 10 is advantageously connected pivotally to
the toe unit 3 approximately at its vertex. Preferably, the swivel
jaw 10 rotates in opposition to a preloaded resilient element, not
shown in the figures.
[0023] An arm 11 protrudes from the bottom of the swivel jaw 10 and
is advantageously provided on its free end with a second pin 12,
which is substantially vertical and is arranged to slide inside the
means of sliding interconnection 9. For this aim, the means of
sliding interconnection 9 may suitably comprise a longitudinal slot
90 arranged substantially along the center line of the second end
7b of the plate 6. In this manner, the swivel jaw 10 may rotate,
with respect to the ski 2, along a direction, which is opposite to
rotating direction of the plate 6. At the bottom, the plate 6 is
provided with a surface designed to allow an easy rotation with
respect to the ski. For this aim, it is possible to mount one or
more slide plates 13, made of a material with a low friction
coefficient.
[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the length of the plate 6 may be longitudinally varied
in order to ensure the adjustability of the binding structure 1
according to the size of the user's sports shoe 50. Thus, as shown
in the figures, the plate 6 may comprise, for example, a first body
6a and a second body 6b, which are joined telescopically in order
to permit the separation or approach between the first and second
ends 7a and 7b. The temporary interconnection between the first and
the second body 6a and 6b can be, for example, achieved through a
screw 14 that may be selectively associated to at least a first
hole 15b, provided approximately along the center line of the
second body 6b, and at least a counter-threaded second hole 15a,
provided approximately along the center line of the first body 6a.
To allow positioning of the heel unit 4 above the plate 6, a spacer
16, such as a separate plate having a thickness approximately equal
to that of the plate 6, can advantageously be inserted between the
heel unit 4 and the ski 2.
[0025] Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to the
FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the user may fasten the sports
shoe 50 to the ski binding 1 in a totally similar way to a
conventional ski binding.
[0026] The sports shoe 50, however, may also be provided with a
sole partially made of resilient plastic material, such as rubber,
in order to grant the user a more comfortable, safe walking.
[0027] The sports shoe 50 may, for example, comprise a sole with a
rigid, standardised toe and heel (in a similar way to a ski boot),
so that it may be used in combination with a known type of toe unit
and heel unit; an area, made of resilient plastic material suitable
for allowing efficient adherence and a suitable deformation in the
foot arch area, can be associated between the toe and heel of the
sports shoe 50.
[0028] In the event of an accidental fall or excessive stresses on
the user's foot, the ski binding structure, according to the
present invention, guarantees the release of the sports shoe 50
from the same, since the plate 6 can rotate transversely to the ski
2, thereby moving the toe of the sports shoe 50 away from the
swivel jaw 10. Furthermore, by simultaneously rotating transversely
to the ski 2, in the opposite direction to the plate 6 (and
therefore to the toe of the sports shoe 50), the swivel jaw 10
remarkably facilitates the release of the sports shoe 50 and the
separation of the user's foot from the ski 2, thus allowing to
achieve high levels of safety.
[0029] It has thus been shown that the ski binding according to the
present invention achieves the aim and objects, since it may be
used in maximum safety also in combination with a sports shoe
provided with a sole at least partially made of a material which
has not a low friction coefficient, such as rubber. In this way, it
is possible to use sports shoes that comprise a resilient sole at
least at the arch area, thereby facilitating walking to the user
and guaranteeing an excellent grip on snowy or icy surfaces.
[0030] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
TV2001A000096 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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