U.S. patent application number 10/410007 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for telemark binding assembly.
Invention is credited to Rollins, Matthew J., Venable, Matthew E..
Application Number | 20030189315 10/410007 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28678393 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030189315 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Venable, Matthew E. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Telemark binding assembly
Abstract
A binding assembly is provided for an elongate ski. The binding
assembly receives a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion.
The assembly comprises a toe piece mountable to the ski for
receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot. A heel
piece is spaced from the toe piece with the heel piece for
receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot. A
spring mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece. A cam
member is rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with
the heel portion of the boot with the cam member releasably
retaining the boot within the heel piece wherein upon the heel
portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring
mechanism releasably secures the heel portion within the heel
piece.
Inventors: |
Venable, Matthew E.;
(Boulder, CO) ; Rollins, Matthew J.; (Boulder,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Emery L. Tracy
P.O. Box 1518
Boulder
CO
80306-1518
US
|
Family ID: |
28678393 |
Appl. No.: |
10/410007 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60371203 |
Apr 9, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/616 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 2201/06 20130101;
A63C 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/616 |
International
Class: |
A63C 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A binding assembly for an elongate ski, the binding assembly
receiving a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion, the
assembly comprising: a toe piece mountable to the ski for receiving
at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot; a heel piece
spaced from the toe piece, the heel piece for receiving at least a
portion of the heel portion of the boot; spring means for
connecting the heel piece to the toe piece; and a cam member
rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with the heel
portion of the boot, the cam member releasably maintaining the boot
within the heel piece; wherein upon the heel portion contacting and
rotating the cam member, the spring means releasably secures the
heel portion within the heel piece.
2. The binding assembly of claim 1 wherein the toe piece inhibits
the toe portion from moving transversely relative to the ski.
3. The binding assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring means
includes a first spring member having a first end and a second end
and a second spring member having a first end and a second end.
4. The binding assembly of claim 3 wherein the first end of the
first spring member and the first end of the second spring member
are pivotally secured to the toe piece.
5. The binding assembly of claim 3 wherein the second end of the
first spring member and the second end of the second spring member
are attached to the heel piece.
6. The binding assembly of claim 3 wherein the first spring member
and the second spring member include a first rod secured to the toe
piece and a second rod secured to the heel piece, and further
includes an encased spring securing the first rod to the second
rod.
7. The binding assembly of claim 1 wherein the heel piece includes
a heel aperture and the cam member includes a cam aperture
alignable with the heel aperture, and further comprising: a pin
receivable within the heel aperture and the cam aperture allowing
rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the heel
piece.
8. The binding assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam member includes
a heel receiving slot sized and shaped for receiving at least a
portion of the heel portion of the boot upon insertion of the heel
portion of the boot.
9. The binding assembly of claim 1, and further comprising: biasing
means for biasing the cam member in an unloaded, first
position.
10. A method for mounting a boot within a binding system on a ski,
the method comprising: providing a toe piece; mounting the toe
piece on the ski; providing a heel piece spaced from the toe piece;
rotatably mounting a cam member to the heel piece; connecting the
heel piece to the toe piece with spring means; inserting a toe
portion of the boot into the toe piece; contacting the cam member
with the heel portion of the boot; rotating the cam member with the
heel portion of the boot until the heel portion of the boot is
seated into the heel piece; and tensioning the spring means to
releasably securely maintain the boot between the toe piece and the
heel piece.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the spring means includes a
first spring member having a first end and a second end and a
second spring member having a first end and a second end, and
further comprising: pivotally connecting the first end of the first
spring member and the first end of the second spring member to the
toe piece; and attaching the second end of the first spring member
and the second end of the second spring member to the heel
piece.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first spring member and the
second spring member further comprise: a first rod secured to the
toe piece; a second rod secured to the heel piece; and an encased
spring securing the first rod to the second rod.
13. The method of claim 10, and further comprising: forming a heel
aperture in the heel piece; forming a cam aperture in the cam
member aligning the heel aperture with the cam aperture; inserting
a pin within the heel aperture and the cam aperture thereby
allowing rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the
heel piece.
14. The method of claim 10, and further comprising: forming a heel
receiving slot in the cam member, the heel receiving slot sized and
shaped for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the
boot upon insertion of the heel portion of the boot.
15. The method of claim 10, and further comprising: biasing the cam
member in an unloaded, first position.
16. A binding system for skiing activities, the binding system
comprising: a toe piece mountable to the ski; a free heel piece
spaced from the toe piece; cam means rotatably mounted to the heel
piece for releasably maintaining a boot within the heel piece;
means for connecting the heel piece to the toe piece and tensioning
the heel piece in a general direction toward the toe piece.
17. The binding system of claim 16 wherein the spring means
includes a first spring member having a first end and a second end
and a second spring member having a first end and a second end, the
first end of the first spring member and the first end of the
second spring member are pivotally secured to the toe piece and the
second end of the first spring member and the second end of the
second spring member are attached to the heel piece.
18. The binding system of claim 17 wherein the first spring member
and the second spring member include a first rod secured to the toe
piece and a second rod secured to the heel piece, and further
includes an encased spring securing the first rod to the second
rod.
19. The binding system of claim 16 wherein the heel piece includes
a heel aperture and the cam member includes a cam aperture
alignable with the heel aperture, and further comprising: a pin
receivable within the heel aperture and the cam aperture allowing
rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the heel
piece.
20. The binding system of claim 16 wherein the cam member includes
a heel receiving slot sized and shaped for receiving at least a
portion of the heel portion of the boot upon insertion of the heel
portion of the boot.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation and claims
priority of pending provisional patent application Ser. No.
30/371,203, filed on Apr. 9, 2002, entitled "Telemark Binding".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a telemark binding
assembly and, more particularly, it relates to a telemark binding
assembly that combines the performance of a ski area binding with
the functionality and lightweight of a backcountry binding.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Telemark skiing is an increasingly popular sport enjoyed by
many persons. In telemark skiing, a skier wears ski boots which are
attached to the telemark skis by ski bindings. Unlike downhill ski
bindings, the telemark ski bindings do not hold the heels of the
skier's boots fixed to the ski. Instead, telemark ski bindings
actually permit the skier to lift his or her heel away from the ski
while the toe remains attached to the ski.
[0006] In many instances, telemark ski bindings are typically
reinforced versions of cross-country ski bindings. In most such
bindings, the toe of a ski boot is connected to a ski by mating
three holes on the underside of the toe to three corresponding pins
on the binding. Such bindings are called "three-pin" bindings.
[0007] Telemark skiing requires a skier to carve an edge of the ski
into the snow in order to maintain control. An ideal telemark ski
binding system must provide good lateral stability. That is, while
the binding system permits the skier's heel to move away from the
ski, the binding system should not permit the skier's heel to move
from side to side relative to the longitudinal centerline of the
ski. While three-pin bindings, are generally effective, they
typically allow more lateral play between the boot heel and the ski
than is desirable for top performance. This adversely impacts skier
control. A telemark ski boot-binding system should also provide
good torsional rigidity.
[0008] Another problem with some telemark ski binding systems is
that the ski heel is able to move undesirable freely toward and
away from the ski. This is a problem because a ski is a long object
which therefore possesses a large moment of inertia about a
transverse axis. Thus a skier can have difficulty in controlling
the position of the heel portion of the boot relative to the ski as
is essential for maintaining control and effecting good telemark
turns.
[0009] In an effort to remedy the foregoing inadequacies of
telemark binding systems, binding manufacturers have added cables
to the telemark bindings. Each of these bindings has a toe piece
portion which receives a toe portion of a skier's boot and a cable
attached to the toe piece portion. The cable wraps around the heel
of a skier's boot and is secured to the binding on both sides of
the toe portion of the boot. The cable typically includes one or
more extension springs. The springs maintain the cable under
tension so that the cable pulls the boot heel forward toward the
toe piece ensuring that the toe portion remains snugly secured
within the clamp(s).
[0010] In general, the cable has two main functions. First, it
forces the toe of the boot firmly into the toe piece portion of the
binding reducing lateral play between the boot and the ski. The
forward force is greatest when the boot is in a "heel low"
position, i.e., a substantially flat position on the ski. Second,
when the skier's boot is in a "heel high" position, i.e., the boot
heel is lifted substantially away from the ski, the cable applies a
force to the heel which has a component that tends to pull the heel
back toward the ski maintaining the heel and ski in a desired
relationship during telemark turns.
[0011] Unfortunately, conventional telemark cable binding systems
have several shortcomings. For example, it is typically impractical
to make the cable tight enough to hold a ski boot firmly enough
into a binding to eliminate lateral play. When the cable is made
very tight it can exert enough force on the heel of the ski boot to
overcome the stiffness of the toe of the boot and cause the toe
portion of the boot to collapse onto the skier's foot. This very
painful phenomenon is known commonly to skiers as "toe crunch" and
can cause severe injury.
[0012] Another problem with conventional cable bindings is that the
position along the ski at which the cable pivots as the heel is
raised is spaced apart from the position where the sole of the boot
bends. This relationship of pivot points can result in "tip dive",
which is a condition wherein the ski tip rotates precipitously
downwardly into the snow. Tip dive generally unsettles the skier
and is likely to cause the skier to fall.
[0013] The springs used in the conventional cable bindings also
tend to break prematurely during normal use. Replacing broken
springs introduces undesirable costs and down time. The cables, and
their associated springs, also tend to cut, mar and/or otherwise
damage both the ski boot about which they are wrapped, and the boot
attached to the adjacent ski. Such damage can occur as a result of
the springs scraping back and forth against the outer surfaces of
the boots.
[0014] Accordingly, there remains a need for alternatives to
conventional cross-country and telemark bindings.
SUMMARY
[0015] The present invention is a binding assembly for an elongate
ski. The binding assembly receives a boot having a toe portion and
a heel portion. The assembly comprises a toe piece mountable to the
ski for receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the
boot. A heel piece is spaced from the toe piece with the heel piece
for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot. A
spring mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece. A cam
member is rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with
the heel portion of the boot with the cam member releasably
retaining the boot within the heel piece wherein upon the heel
portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring
mechanism releasably secures the heel portion within the heel
piece.
[0016] The present invention further includes a method for mounting
a boot within a binding system on a ski. The method comprises
providing a toe piece, mounting the toe piece on the ski, providing
a heel piece spaced from the toe piece, rotatably mounting a cam
member to the heel piece, connecting the heel piece to the toe
piece with spring means, inserting a toe portion of the boot into
the toe piece, contacting the cam member with the heel portion of
the boot, rotating the cam member with the heel portion of the boot
until the heel portion of the boot is seated into the heel piece,
and tensioning the spring means to releasably securely maintain the
boot between the toe piece and the heel piece.
[0017] In addition, the present invention includes a binding system
for skiing activities. The binding system comprises a toe piece
mountable to the ski and a free heel piece spaced from the toe
piece. A cam mechanism is rotatably mounted to the heel piece for
releasably maintaining a boot within the heel piece. A mechanism
connects the heel piece to the toe piece and tensioning the heel
piece in a general direction toward the toe piece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the telemark
binding assembly, constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a heel piece of
the telemark binding assembly of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance
with the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rotatable cam
member of the telemark binding assembly of FIG. 1, constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a
telemark binding assembly, indicated generally at 10, on a ski (not
shown) for receiving a boot (not shown) for use in telemark skiing
and other skiing activities. In sum, the telemark binding assembly
10 of the present invention features a simple, straightforward,
step-in binding system allowing a skier to step into the telemark
binding assembly 10 quickly without the difficulty of trying to
slip a cable around the back of a ski boot as provided in
conventional bindings.
[0022] The boot usable with the telemark binding assembly 10 of the
present invention preferably has a flexible sole with a toe portion
and a heel portion. The toe portion is generally near the front end
of the boot and has lateral edges. The heel portion is generally
near the rear end of the boot. It should be noted that the boot
does not form a part of the present invention and any type of boot
can be used with the telemark binding assembly 10 of the present
invention.
[0023] As used herein, the "ski" includes, but is not limited to,
any of a variety of telemark, cross-country or alpine skis. As used
herein, the term "boot" or "ski boot" includes, but is not limited
to, any of a variety of telemark, cross-country or alpine ski
boots. Furthermore, as described above, the boots may be made of
any suitable materials as are known to those skilled in the boot
making arts.
[0024] The telemark binding assembly 10 of the present invention
includes a secured toe piece 12, a free heel piece 14, a first
spring member 16 and a second spring member 18 with the first
spring member 16 and the second spring member 18 connecting the toe
piece 12 to the heel piece 14. The toe piece 12 of the telemark
binding assembly 10 is preferably securely mounted to the ski by
screws set through the toe piece into the ski. Other means for
connecting the toe piece 12 to the ski, including, but not limited
to, adhesive, nuts and bolts, welding, etc., are also within the
scope of the present invention.
[0025] The toe piece 12 of the telemark binding assembly 10
receives the toe portion of the boot. The toe piece 12 preferably
provides a socket 20 which receives the toe portion of the boot and
permits the toe portion to be withdrawn from the toe piece 12 in a
generally rearward direction. When the toe portion of the boot is
engaged in the toe piece 12, the toe piece 12 substantially
inhibits the toe portion from moving transversely relative to the
ski. The toe portion and the toe piece 12 mate, for example, in a
manner similar to the mating of a toe portion of an alpine ski boot
and the toe piece of an alpine ski binding, both of which are well
known in the art.
[0026] The telemark binding assembly 10 of the present invention
further includes the first spring member 16 having a first end 22
and a second end 24 and the second spring member 18 having a first
end 26 and a second end 28. The first and second spring members 16,
18 extend in a generally rearward direction from the toe piece 12
with the first end 22 of the first spring member 16 and the first
end 26 of the second spring member 18 pivotally secured to the toe
piece 12. The second end 24 of the first spring member 16 and the
second end 28 of the second spring member 18 are secured to the
heel piece 14. The heel piece 14 is free from connection to the ski
such that the heel piece 14 can move in a direction generally away
from and toward the ski. In addition, the heel piece 14 is
preferably sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the
heel portion of the boot, as will be described in further detail
below.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heel piece of the telemark
binding assembly 10 includes a heel aperture 30 for receiving a pin
32. The use of the heel aperture 30 and the pin 32 will be
described in further detail below.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the first spring member 16 and
the second spring member 18 include a first rod 34 secured to the
toe piece 12 and a second rod 36 secured to the heel piece 14. An
encased spring (not shown) secures the first rod 34 to the second
rod 36. Encasing the spring, as described, provides protection of
the encased spring from the elements and adverse environmental
conditions.
[0029] It should be noted that while in the preferred embodiment of
the telemark binding assembly 10, the first spring member 16 and
the second spring member 18 are aligned substantially along the
outside of the boot, it is within the scope of the present
invention to align the first spring member 16 and the second spring
member 18 under the sole of the boot. In addition, other spring
means are within the scope of the present invention to connect the
toe piece 12 to the heel piece 14 of the telemark binding assembly
10 of the present invention.
[0030] Preferably, the toe piece 12 and/or the heel piece 14 are
constructed from metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum. It is
within the scope of the present invention, however, to construct
the toe piece 12 and/or the heel piece 14 from other materials
including, but not limited to, high impact plastic with or without
metal inserts, ceramic, fiberglass, wood, etc. The material of the
toe piece 12 and/or the heel piece 14 can be cast or injection
molded depending on the desires of the manufacturer.
[0031] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the telemark binding
assembly 10 of the present invention includes a rotatable cam
member 38 mounted to the heel piece 14. The cam member 38 is
preferably constructed from a high impact plastic with or without
metal inserts in high stress areas, although constructing the cam
member 38 from other materials are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0032] The cam member 38 is preferably an elongated member having a
cam aperture 40 for corresponding alignment with the heel aperture
30. The pin 32 is insertable and securable within the heel aperture
30 and the cam aperture 40 to allow rotation of the cam member 38
about the pin 32 relative to the heel piece 14.
[0033] The cam member 38 additional includes a heel receiving slot
42 formed therein. The heel receiving slot 42 is sized and shaped
for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot
when the skier inserts his or her boot into the telemark binding
assembly 10. Actual use of the telemark binding assembly 10 of the
present invention will be described in further detail below.
[0034] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the cam member 38 has a biasing
member (not shown) such as a spring or the like for biasing the cam
member 38 in an unloaded, first position. After the skier has
inserted the toe portion of the boot into the toe piece 12 of the
telemark binding assembly 10, the heel portion of the boot moves in
a generally downward direction into the heel receiving slot 42 of
the rotatable cam 38. As the rotatable cam 38 rotates, the heel
piece 14 of the telemark binding assembly 10 slides in a generally
backward direction with the first spring member 16 and the second
spring member 18 applying tension between the toe piece 12 and the
heel piece 14. As the skier continues to move the boot downward,
the rotatable cam 38 rotates until the boot's heel portion is
received within the heel piece 14 and the rotatable cam 38 is
releasably secured within a loaded, second position. With the
action of the spring members 16, 18 and the cam member 38, the
skier is then "locked" into the telemark binding assembly 10 and
ready to ski. The skier can be released from the telemark binding
assembly 10 by simply urging the cam member 38 in an opposite
direction toward the unloaded, first position such as with a ski
pole or the like.
[0035] The telemark binding assembly 10 of the present invention
allows two points where force can be applied to the skier' boot.
Since conventional bindings only secure the boot to the ski at the
toe portion, there is only one point where force can be applied to
the ski. Through an interaction between the heel piece 14 and a
shim mounted to the ski under the heel piece 14, the telemark
binding assembly 10 allows two points where force can be applied
allowing the skier to make more precise turns.
[0036] The telemark binding assembly 10 of the present invention is
both unique and innovative. The telemark binding assembly 10
combines the performance of a ski area binding with the lightweight
and functionality required for the backcountry. The telemark
binding assembly 10 of the present invention is much more
convenient to use than traditional bindings with its one-of-a-kind
step-in system. It also outperforms traditional bindings by
providing an additional point to apply a force to the ski.
[0037] The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative
preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained
in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications
and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has
been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood
by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and
detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit
and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present
invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded
by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may
be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which
are disclosed herein.
* * * * *