U.S. patent application number 11/543002 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for ski brake.
Invention is credited to Helmut Holzer, Franz Resch.
Application Number | 20070152426 11/543002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37887237 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070152426 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Resch; Franz ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Ski Brake
Abstract
The invention relates to a ski brake (1) for braking a ski (2)
detached from a sports shoe, with a bearing device (3) for a brake
lever arrangement (4) for placing on the upper side (5) of a ski
(2). The brake lever arrangement (4) comprises brake levers (8, 9)
arranged essentially symmetrically relative to the longitudinal
middle axis (7) of the ski (2), which each have actuating arms (10,
11) and brake arms (12, 13). The brake arms (12, 13) project
relative to the bearing device (3) and are pivotable over at least
one pivot axis (15, 16) from a position of readiness located above
the running surface (17) of the ski (2) by the force of a spring
device (18) into a brake position projecting under the running
surface (17). The actuating arms (10, 11) extend from the bearing
device (3) in a direction facing away from the brake arms (12, 13)
and are connected by a pivot bearing arrangement (21) with a foot
plate (22) that can be loaded by the sole of a sports shoe. In this
way an adjusting device (26) is formed whose adjusting force (28)
forces the foot plate (22) continually into a pivot position (27)
angled as far as possible relative to the actuating arms (10,
11).
Inventors: |
Resch; Franz; (Schladming,
AT) ; Holzer; Helmut; (Johann, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM COLLARD;COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
37887237 |
Appl. No.: |
11/543002 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/604 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 7/1033
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/604 |
International
Class: |
A63C 5/00 20060101
A63C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 7, 2005 |
AT |
A 1640/2005 |
Claims
1. Ski brake for braking a ski detached from a sports shoe, with a
bearing device for a brake lever arrangement, which is to be fitted
onto the upper side of a ski, whereby the brake lever arrangement
comprises brake levers arranged essentially symmetrical to the
longitudinal middle axis of the ski which comprise respectively
activating arms and brake arms, and whereby the brake arms project
relative to the bearing device and are pivotable by at least one
pivot axis from a position of readiness located above the running
surface of the ski by the force of a spring device into a brake
position projecting under the running surface, and whereby the
actuating arms extend from the bearing device in a direction facing
away from the brake arms and are connected via a pivot bearing
arrangement with a foot plate that can be loaded by the sole of a
sports shoe, wherein an adjusting device is formed, the adjusting
force of which forces the foot plate continually into a pivot
position that is angled as far as possible relative to the
activating arms.
2. Ski brake according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting device
comprises an elastically flexible spring element that restores
itself automatically, which is connected at its first end section
to at least one spring arm of the spring device adjoining the
actuating arms in one piece or directly to the activating arms and
is connected at its second end section to the foot plate.
3. Ski brake according to claim 2, wherein the spring element is
designed to be essentially L-shaped and the transition section
between the legs of the L-shaped spring elements is designed to be
an elastically restoring deformation zone.
4. Ski brake according to claim 2, wherein at the first end section
of the spring element a coupling extension is formed for the
form-closed connection with at least one spring arm of the spring
device or with the actuating arms.
5. Ski brake according to claim 2, wherein the second end section
of the spring elements is secured between an upper and a lower
plate part of the foot plate.
6. Ski brake according to claim 2, wherein the spring element is
formed by an injection moulded part made from an elastomeric
plastic.
7. Ski brake according to claim 4, wherein the form-closed
connection is designed as a length compensation guide between the
coupling extension and the spring arms or the actuating arms in
their longitudinal direction.
8. Ski brake according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting device is
formed by a weight distribution of the foot plate that is uneven in
relation to the pivot bearing arrangement between the foot plate
and the actuating arms or by a one-sided overweight of the foot
plate.
9. Ski brake according to claim 8, wherein the front part section
of the foot plate has a greater mass relative to the pivot bearing
arrangement than the rear part section of the foot plate lying
behind the pivot bearing arrangement.
10. Ski brake according to claim 8, wherein the front part section
of the foot plate is designed to be longer in relation to the pivot
bearing arrangement than the rear part section of the foot plate
lying behind the pivot bearing arrangement.
11. Ski brake according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting device is
formed by at least one permanent magnet.
12. Ski brake according to claim 11, wherein at least one permanent
magnet is secured to the foot plate in particular onto the
underside.
13. Ski brake according to claim 11, wherein a functional pair is
formed from a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet,
whereby a first permanent magnet is arranged on the foot plate and
a second permanent magnet on the actuating arms or on the adjoining
spring arms and said permanent magnets are in mutually repelling
interaction.
14. Ski brake according to claim 13, wherein the first permanent
magnet of the functional pair is arranged in relation to the pivot
bearing arrangement in the rear part section of the foot plate.
15. Ski brake according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
permanent magnet is in magnetically attracting interaction with the
actuating arms or with at least one spring arm adjoining the
actuating arms which is made of ferromagnetic material, in
particular a steel wire.
16. Ski brake according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
permanent magnetic is arranged in relation to the pivot bearing
arrangement in the front part section of the foot plate.
17. Ski brake according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
permanent magnet is secured to the actuating arms or to at least
one spring arm of the spring device connected thereto and is in
magnetic force effect with a foot plate consisting of ferromagnetic
materials.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a ski brake for braking a ski that
is detached from a sports shoe, as described in the preamble of
claim 1.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] A similar type of ski brake is known from DE 25 54 110 A.
The brake lever arrangement of this ski brake comprises brake
levers arranged essentially symmetrically to the longitudinal
middle axis of the ski, which are mounted in a pivotable manner on
a ski-fast bearing device. By means of the force of a flexible
tongue supported on the ski or on the bearing device the brake
levers are forced into their active position, i.e. into a brake
position projecting under the running surface. Said flexible tongue
can be formed by a bow-like shaping of the strap for the brake
arms.
[0005] It is also known to provide this type of a ski brake that
has a virtually integral flexible element with a foot plate, which
is pushed down by the sole of a sports shoe in order to move the
ski brake into the inactive, spring-preloaded position of
readiness. Said foot plate in the upper end section of the ski
brake is mounted pivotably so that it can orient itself when pushed
by the sole of a sports shoe relative to the pivotal movements of
the actuating arms, or better adjust to the varying inclinations of
the shoe sole when a person climbs into the ski binding. The
disadvantage here is that the foot plate mounted pivotably in the
upper end section of the actuating arms is responsible for
undefined tilted or pivoted angular positions of the foot plate
relative to the actuating arms when the footplate is not loaded by
a sports shoe, particularly when the ski brake is active and the
ski binding is already ready for use.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The underlying objective of the present invention is to
provide a ski brake in which the foot plate to be loaded by a
sports shoe has a defined initial position or position of rest and
at the same time is designed to be as inexpensive as possible and
to be functionally stable for a long period.
[0007] The objective of the invention is achieved by a ski brake
according to the features in claim 1.
[0008] The advantage here is that the elastically flexible
adjusting device produces a defined initial position or a
predetermined pivot position for the foot plate relative to the
brake lever arrangement, so that it is possible to climb into the
ski binding as simply and easily as possible, since the position of
the ski brake when the foot plate is loaded by a sports shoe can be
predefined precisely and it can thus be moved as easily as possible
into the inactive position or into a position of readiness. It is
also advantageous that any rattling or impact of the foot plate
against the actuating arms is prevented by the pivot bearing that
is preloaded or forced into a specific pivotal position. In this
way any uncontrolled displacement of the foot plate relative to the
brake lever arrangement is impossible, for example during
transportation of the ski equipment provided with the ski
brake.
[0009] An embodiment according to claim 2 is advantageous as
thereby a flexible connection is created between the foot plate and
the actuating arms or the spring arms, which ensures in a
structurally simple and durable manner that the foot plate in the
active position of the ski brake or in the position of readiness is
aligned to be as horizontal as possible and thus facilitates entry
into a ski binding equipped with this kind of ski brake.
[0010] In the development according to claim 3 it is an advantage
that the elastic bending stiffness of the L-shaped spring element
is used in order to create the adjusting device. The use of the
bending elasticity of the spring element is preferable to the use
of expanding elasticity, as the bending elasticity of the L-shaped
spring element remains largely unchanged and almost constant even
after numerous cycles of use.
[0011] In the design according to claim 4 it is an advantage that a
simple assembly or an easy integration of the spring element into
the mechanical structure of the ski brake is made possible. In
particular, by simply coupling the first end section of the spring
element to the mechanical components of the ski brake a rapid and
thereby inexpensive assembly of the ski brake can be achieved.
[0012] By the means according to claim 5 the spring element which
is elastically soft compared to the foot plate can be coupled
securely and stably to the foot plate.
[0013] The design according to claim 6 enables the formation of an
inexpensive and durable functionally reliable spring element.
Furthermore, the mass of the spring element can be kept much lower
than metallic spring elements, so that in an advantageous manner
the sports equipment can have a low overall weight.
[0014] In the embodiment according to claim 7 it is an advantage
that any stretch-loading of the spring element can be avoided as
far as possible and the spring action similar to a flexural member
is rather produced by the elastically restoring bending stresses of
the spring element.
[0015] In the adjusting device according to claim 8 it is an
advantage that by structural means with respect to the positioning
of the pivot bearing arrangement a simple operating adjusting
device can be achieved without expensive structural means.
[0016] By using the structural measures according to claim 9 or 10
an adjusting device is created in a simple manner which ensures
that the foot plate adopts a precisely predefined basic position
ready for use, even when unloaded by a ski shoe, i.e. in the active
brake position.
[0017] A particularly effective adjusting device can be achieved by
the design according to claim 11. It is particularly advantageous
in this case that by using structurally simple means a reliable
adjusting device can be created which ensures that the foot plate
adopts the desired predefined initial position or basic position,
even in an unloaded state or in a state of readiness.
[0018] In the design according to claim 12 it is an advantage that
the magnetic effect of a permanent magnet can be used particularly
efficiently. If a permanent magnet is arranged on the underside of
the foot plate it is an advantage that the permanent magnet can be
protected from damage or pressure loading and that furthermore a
high magnetic force can be created to force the foot plate into a
predefined initial position or position of rest relative to the
actuating arms or relative to the spring arms.
[0019] By the measures according to claim 13, even when using
permanent magnets with relatively low magnetic force, a high level
of adjusting force is achieved for the adjusting device. It is also
an advantage that the foot plate is shifted by the repelling
permanent magnets from an extended position relative to the
actuating arms in a pulsing manner or energetically into the angled
position relative to the brake arms or spring arms, when the foot
plate is no longer loaded by the sole of a sports shoe, as occurs
e.g. after a fall or after opening the ski binding. In this way the
foot plate can be shifted reliably into the pivot position angled
relative to the brake arms or spring arms.
[0020] By the means according to claim 14 the magnetic repelling
effect of the permanent magnet pair can be converted effectively
into a suitable adjusting force for the adjusting device.
[0021] The design according to claim 15 is also particularly
advantageous as thereby only one permanent magnet is required to
shift the adjusting device. Moreover, in a simple manner the
already existing mechanical components or the already necessary
metal components of the ski brake are also used to create an
effective and structurally simple adjusting device in connection
with the permanent magnet.
[0022] By the means according to claim 16 the adjusting device or
force effect required for the adjusting device is shifted by
structurally simple but efficient means.
[0023] Lastly, the design according to claim 17 is advantageous, as
it is thereby possible for the permanent magnet not to be secured
onto the foot plate loadable by the sole of the ski shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention is explained in more detail in the following
by way of the embodiments shown in the drawings. Shown are:
[0025] FIG. 1 a ski brake for a ski or a not shown ski binding with
a flexible elastic adjusting device for the foot plate, in side
view and a simplified, exemplary view;
[0026] FIG. 2 the ski brake according to FIG. 1 in front view;
[0027] FIG. 3 the ski brake according to FIG. 1 without the ski
from below;
[0028] FIG. 4 a different embodiment of the ski brake with a
weight-dependent adjusting device in side view;
[0029] FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the ski brake with a magnetic
adjusting device in side view;
[0030] FIG. 6 a different embodiment of the ski brake with a
magnetic adjusting device in side view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Firstly, it should be noted that in all of the variously
described embodiments, the same parts are given the same reference
numbers and same component names, whereby the disclosures contained
throughout the description can be applied to the same parts with
the same reference numbers or same component names. Also the
details on position used in the description such as e.g. top,
bottom, side etc. refer to the figure currently being described and
shown at the time and if there is a change in position these should
be changed to relate to the new position. Furthermore, individual
features or combinations of features of the embodiments shown and
described represent in themselves independent, inventive solutions
according to the invention.
[0032] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an advantageous embodiment of a ski brake
1. Said ski brake 1 is used--as already known--for braking or
stopping a ski 2 detached from a sports shoe, for example due to a
skier falling and the safety ski binding opening because of
this.
[0033] The ski brake 1 comprises a bearing device 3 for a brake
lever arrangement 4 which bearing device 3 can be secured to the
upper side 5 of a ski 2. The bearing device 3 can be secured or
fastened either by means of at least one screw or by a form-closed,
relatively adjustable connection with the ski 2, as can be seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the bearing device 3 can be secured
in a sliding manner via a ski-fast guiding device 6 to the ski 2 in
its longitudinal direction. In this case the bearing device 3 of
the ski brake 1 is coupled movably with the heel piece of the ski
binding. As can be seen best in FIG. 2 the bearing device 3 can
have a basic body that is essentially C-shaped in cross section,
which engages in a form-closed manner with the skifast guiding
device 6, and permits the relative adjustability of the bearing
device 3 or the entire ski brake 1 in longitudinal direction of the
ski 2.
[0034] The brake lever arrangement 4 comprises brake levers 8, 9
arranged essentially symmetrical to a longitudinal middle axis 7 of
the ski 2. This means that the brake lever arrangement 4 consists
of two essentially symmetrical brake levers 8, 9, in particular a
pair of brake levers. Each brake lever 8, 9 comprises respectively
an actuating arm 10, 11 located above the bearing device 3. The
brake levers 8, 9 comprising respectively an actuating arm 10, 11
and an adjoining brake arm 12, 13 are made from metal wire or rod
or preferably from a one piece metal wire as shown best in FIG. 2
or 3. This means that the brake lever arrangement 4 is preferably
made from a one piece metal element that has been shaped many
times, whereby the ends of the brake arms 12, 13 facing away from
the bearing device 3 preferably each comprise a brake claw, which
preferably consists of a plastic element injection moulded onto the
brake arms 12, 13, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0035] The brake levers 8, 9 are--as already known--mounted
pivotably relative to the bearing device 3, whereby the brake arms
12, 13 in the active position of the ski brake 1, shown by way of
example, starting from the bearing device 3 project downwards and
the actuating arms 10, 11 project upwards starting from the bearing
device 3.
[0036] The bearing device 3 hereby forms a pivot bearing 14 for the
brake lever arrangement 4 and defines at least one pivot axis 15,
16 aligned to be essentially horizontal via which the brake arms
12, 13 coming from a position of readiness located above a running
surface 17 of the ski 2 are pivotable by the force of a spring
device 18 into a brake position projecting under the running
surface 17 and vice versa.
[0037] The spring device 18 for an adjustment of the brake lever
arrangement 4 into the active position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is
preferably formed by a spring element that is virtually integrated
into the brake lever arrangement 4. In particular, the spring
device 18 is defined by at least one spring arm 19 adjoining the
actuating arms 10, 11 in one piece. Said spring arm 19 is thereby
arranged to be inclined at an angle 20, preferably an acute angle
20, relative to the plane mounting the actuating arms 10, 11. Said
spring arm 19 or the corresponding spring device 18 therefore is a
kind of torsional spring which exploits the elastic restoring force
of the preferably metallic element for the actuating arms 10, 11.
In particular, the torsional force or the material-dependent
elastic restoring force in the transitional region between the
actuating arms 10, 11 and the relatively inclined spring arms 19 is
used in order to create the spring device 18 for lowering or
activating the brake arms 12, 13.
[0038] The actuating arms 10, 11 extend from the bearing device 3
in a direction facing away from the brake arms 12, 13. The
actuating arms 10, 11 are connected at their upper end via a pivot
bearing arrangement 21 with a foot plate 22 that can be loaded or
is loadable by the sole of a sports shoe. Said pivot bearing
arrangement 21 between the actuating arms 10, 11 and the foot plate
22 forms an essentially horizontally aligned pivot axis 23 running
perpendicular to the longitudinal middle axis 7. The pivot bearing
arrangement 21 or the pivot axis 23 is preferably formed by bends
24, 25 of the actuating arms 10, 11 running perpendicular the
longitudinal middle axis 7, which then pass into spring arms 19
running essentially at right angles thereto which define the spring
device 18. The pivotably movable foot plate 22 or the so-called
pedal is used essentially to distribute the activating forces to be
a transferred from the sole of the sports shoe to the brake device
or the actuating arms 10, 11, in particular at specific points or
in linear loading sections.
[0039] It is essential here, that an elastically flexible adjusting
device 26 is formed which forces the foot plate 22 in the position
unloaded by a sports shoe or from the outside continually into a
pivot position 27 angled relative to the actuating arms 10, 11 as
far as possible or as strongly as possible. This maximum angled
pivot position 27 can be defined here as an angle of 100.degree. to
160.degree., preferably about 130.degree., between the foot plate
22 and the actuating arms 10, 11. Preferably, the maximum angled
pivot position 27 or the smallest angle between the foot plate 22
and the actuating arms 10, 11 is delimited by at least one stop
surface within the pivot path between the foot plate 22 and the
actuating arms 10, 11. In the pivot position 27 elastically
preloaded by the adjusting device 26 shown in FIG. 1 between the
footplate 22 and the actuating arms 10, 11 the corresponding angle
is about 140.degree.. In any case the elastic adjusting device 26
prevents the foot plate 22 from forming a virtually straight line
extension of the brake arms 10, 11. The adjusting device 26
therefore prevents the angle between the actuating arms 10, 11 and
the foot plate 22 from forming a flat angle, in particular of about
180.degree., provided that no external blocking or counter forces
are acting on the foot plate 22.
[0040] The adjusting device 26 for the foot plate 22 in any case
always exerts an adjusting force 28 according to the arrow shown,
which adjusting force 28 pushes the foot plate 22 continually into
a position that is aligned as horizontally as possible or which
adjusting force 28 pushes the foot plate 23 in a direction in which
the foot plate 22 runs as parallel as possible to the upper side 5
of the ski 2. By means of this continually acting adjusting force
28 of the adjusting device 26, the foot plate 22 is placed in a
ready-to-use position and by loading the foot plate 22 via the sole
of a sports shoe a reliable and simple deactivation of the ski
brake 1 is made possible. With this deactivation of the ski brake
1--as already known--the brake arms 12, 13 are pivoted against the
spring force of the spring device 19 into a position above the
running surface 17.
[0041] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 the adjusting
device 26 is formed by an elastically flexible and automatically
restoring spring element 29. With said spring element 29 the
inherent, bending elastic properties of the spring element 29 are
used. This means that the spring element 29 can be bent elastically
or deformed and that the spring element 29 after unloading returns
back to the original initial position or position of rest, in which
the foot plate 22 adopts a pivot position 27 that is as angled as
possible relative to the actuating arms 10, 11. The spring element
29 is in this case preferably connected at its first end section 30
with at least one of the two spring arms 19 or alternatively is
connected directly to the actuating arms 10, 11. In the second end
section 31 the elastically flexible and restoring spring element 29
is connected with the foot plate 22. The spring element 29 is
hereby designed to be essentially L-shaped and is an essentially
L-shaped flexural member. Mainly the transitional section between
the legs 32, 33 of the L-shaped spring element 29 is designed as an
elastically restoring deformation zone. In particular, the spring
element 29 is deformed from the essentially L-shaped initial
position into a comparatively elongated form when corresponding
loads are applied. After the removal of the external pivot or
tilting loads on the foot plate 22 the spring element 29 returns
into the L-shaped position of rest or initial position illustrated
in FIG. 1 and the spring element 29 thereby exerts a restoring
force according to arrow 28, which means that the foot plate 22
adopts a pivot position 27 that is angled as possible relative to
the upwards projecting actuating arms 10, 11.
[0042] It is preferable, if at the first end section 30 of the
spring element 29 a coupling extension 34 is formed for a
form-closed connection with the spring arms 19. Preferably, two
essentially parallel spring arms 19 are formed, which at the end
section lying closest to the upper side 5 or the bearing device 3
are supported on a supporting surface 35 of the bearing device 3 in
a sliding manner. Preferably, the two essentially parallel spring
arms 19 pass into one another in a curve at the lower end section
closest to the support surface 35. At its opposite upper end
section the spring device 18 is designed to be open. This means
that the spring device 18 with the spring arms 19 is designed as a
bow that is open at the upper end section closest to the foot plate
22 or as a loop that is open at the top, as can best be seen from
FIG. 2. This has the advantage that at the end section open towards
the top between the two spring arms 19 of the spring device 18 the
form-closed coupling extension 34 of the spring element 29 can be
inserted. In particular during the assembly or the connection of
the foot plate 22 with the actuating arms 10, 11 the foot plate 22
or its parts are placed from above onto the bends 24, 25, and
thereby the coupling extension 34 between the two spring arms 19 of
the spring device 18 are pushed in a form-closed manner and thus
coupled with the latter. Afterwards, the foot plate 22 is secured
rotationally onto the bends 24, 25, in particular to be prevented
from lifting off the angles 24, 25.
[0043] It has proved to be preferable if said form-closed
connection via the coupling extension 34 at the same time forms a
length compensation guide 36 between the coupling extension 34 or
between the first end section 30 of the spring element 29 and the
spring arms 19 in their longitudinal direction. The advantage of
this length compensation guide 36 between the first, in particular
between the lower end section 30 and the spring arms 19, is that
the spring element 29 is loaded mainly by bending or deformation,
and there is only a comparatively small longitudinal extension of
the spring element 29. In this way the period of use or durability
of the spring element 29 is extended since only relatively small
extension forces act on the spring element 29, if the foot plate 22
when putting the ski shoe into the ski binding is subjected to
pivotable movements relative to the actuating arms 10, 11 or
relative to the spring arms 19. Mainly if the spring element 29 is
made by an injection moulded part from an elastomeric plastic the
design of this length compensating guide 36 is useful to produce
the spring effect of the L-shaped spring element 29 mainly by
bending deformations and subsequent elastic restoring movements.
However, the upper or the second end section 31 of the spring
element 29 that is L-shaped in the basic position is secured onto
or in the foot plate 22. In particular, the second end section 31
of the spring element 29 is secured between an upper plate part 37
and a lower plate part 38 of the foot plate 22. Preferably, the
foot plate 22 is formed from two overlying plate parts 37, 38,
between which the second end section 31 of the spring element 29 is
clamped or secured. The upper and the lower plate part 37, 38 are
thereby preferably coupled via a plastic welding connection to form
a one piece foot plate 22.
[0044] The upper end section 31 of the spring element 29 can in
this case protrude in the edge sections of the foot plate 22, as
can best be seen in FIG. 3. In this way a damping effect can be
created, in particular a stop damping, which means that the foot
plate 22 is damped on contacting the bearing device 3 or other
parts of the ski binding or the ski. In particular, said edge side
extensions of the spring element 29 in the edge region or on the
surface of the foot plate 22 can ensure a noiseless and gentle
contacting of the foot plate 22 with the bearing device 3 or on the
upper side 5 of the ski 2 or on the ski binding or its guides. This
increases its functionality and increases the ease of use of the
ski brake 1.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment of the adjusting device
26. Here the adjusting device 26 is formed by a uneven weight
distribution relative to the pivot bearing arrangement 21 between
the foot plate 22 and the actuating arms 10, 11 or by a one-sided
weighting of the foot plate 22 relative to the pivot bearing
arrangement 21. Also in this way the foot plate 22 in the position
unloaded by the sports shoe is continually pushed into a pivot
position 27 that is angled as far as possible relative to the
actuating arms 10, 11. In particular, in this way the adjusting
force according to arrow 28 is achieved by means of the gravity
acting on the foot plate 22.
[0046] In this case the part section 39 of the foot plate 22, that
is at the front in relation to the usual forwards movement
direction with a ski 2 and in relation to the pivot bearing
arrangement 21, has a greater mass than the rear part section 40 of
the foot plate 22 lying behind the pivot bearing arrangement 21.
This can be achieved for example in that the part section 39 of the
foot plate 22 at the front in relation to the pivot bearing
arrangement 21 is designed to be comparatively longer than the rear
partial section 40 of the foot plate 22 lying behind the pivot
bearing arrangement 21. If necessary the front part section 39 of
the foot plate 22 can be provided with an additional weight which
produces an adjusting force 28 which forces the footplate 22
continually into the maximum angled pivot position 27 relative to
the actuating arms 10, 11.
[0047] In FIGS. 5, 6 a further embodiment of the adjusting device
26 for the foot plate 22 of the ski brake 1 is shown. For parts
that have already been described above the same reference numbers
are used and the relevant parts of the description can be applied
to the same parts with the same reference numbers.
[0048] Here the adjusting device 26 is formed by at least one
permanent magnet 41, 42. The at least one permanent magnet 41, 42
is used so that the foot plate 22 in the position of readiness
unloaded from the outside, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, is forced
continually into a pivot position 27 that is as angled as far as
possible relative to the brake arms 10, 11. In this way the foot
plate 22 is forced into a pivot position 27 running as parallel as
possible to the upper side 5 of the ski 2 or into an
actuation-ready pivot position 27. The adjusting force according to
arrow 28 is in this case obtained by magnetic force or by magnetic
forces of attraction.
[0049] It is advantageous here to secure at least one permanent
magnet 41 onto the foot plate 22, in particular on its underside
43. The permanent magnet 41 arranged at least close to the
underside 43 can thereby be integrated fully into the foot plate 22
but also can be inserted or adhered therein in a form-closed
manner. Preferably, the permanent magnet 41 closes flush with the
underside 43 of the foot plate 22. This has the advantage, that the
permanent magnet 41 is well protected from damage, since the
pressure loading through the sole of the sports shoe cannot act
directly on the permanent magnet 41, if the permanent magnet 41 is
secured to the underside 43. Furthermore, the positioning on the
underside 43 has the advantage that there is an efficient magnetic
interaction or force between the spring arm 19, preferably made of
metal, and/or the actuating arm 10, 11.
[0050] According to the embodiment in FIG. 5 the permanent magnet
41 is in magnetically attracting interaction with the actuating
arms 10, 11 or with the spring arms 19, which are preferably made
of a ferromagnetic material, in particular steel wire. In
particular, by means of the arrangement of the permanent magnet 41
on the foot plate 22 the foot plate 22 due to the continually
acting magnetic force is forced continually into the maximum angle
pivot position 27. The magnetic adjusting force 28 according to the
arrow shown is thereby elastically flexible or can be overcome if
the ski brake 1 is moved into the inactive position, in that the
ski shoe presses on the foot plate 22 and the foot plate 22 and the
actuating arms 10, 11 with a final adoption of the inactive
position run essentially horizontally and extend lengthwise or in
parallel to one another. If the magnetic attraction of the
permanent magnets 41 is used to create the adjusting device 26, the
permanent magnet 41 is arranged in relation to the pivot bearing
arrangement 21 of the foot plat 22 in the front part section 39 of
the foot plate 22. In this way the front part section 39 of the
footplate 22 is forced continually downwards, since the permanent
magnet 41 is subject to magnetically attracting forces relative to
the metal spring arms 19 or actuating arms 10, 11, as can best be
seen in FIG. 5.
[0051] Alternatively, the at least one permanent magnet 41, 42, in
particular a permanent magnet pair, can interact in a magnetically
repelling manner, and thus shift the adjusting device 26 for the
foot plate 22. In particular, a first permanent magnet 41 is
secured to the foot plate 22 and a second permanent magnet 42,
which interacts in a magnetically repelling manner with the
permanent magnet 41, is positioned on the actuating arms 10, 11, on
the spring arms 19 or in another position, in order to create a
magnetic repelling effect relative to the permanent magnet 41 on
the foot plate 22. In particular, with this permanent magnet pair,
consisting of two permanent magnets 41, 42, the same magnetic poles
face one another, in order to obtain the magnetic repelling action
between the permanent magnets 41, 42 of the permanent magnet pair.
The second permanent magnet 42 is thus preferably mounted or
secured onto the actuating arms 10, 11 or onto the spring arms 19,
as can best be seen from FIG. 6. In particular, each permanent
magnet 41 which is arranged on the foot plate 22 is arranged in
relation to the pivot bearing arrangement 21 in the rear part
section 40 of the foot plate 22. In this way, the foot plate 22 in
the rear part section 40 is lifted almost continually, since
permanent magnet 41 is repelled magnetically by permanent magnet
42, and thus the greatest possible distance between the permanent
magnets 41, 42 is maintained. This is naturally dependent on the
respective resistance forces and magnetic forces. The repelling
permanent magnets 41, 42 here represent an adjusting force 28 that
can be overcome upon the deactivation of the ski brake 1 according
to arrow shown, which means that the foot plate 22 is forced
continually into a pivot position 27 angled as far as possible
relative to the brake arms 10, 11.
[0052] According to an alternative embodiment it is also possible
for the permanent magnet 42 to be secured onto the actuating arms
10, 11 or onto the spring arms 19 and said permanent magnet 42 acts
magnetically with a foot plate 22 made of ferromagnetic materials
or consisting of ferromagnetic materials. Said permanent magnet 42
hereby pulls the foot plate 22 magnetically downwards creating an
adjusting force 28 according to the arrow indicated.
[0053] The exemplary embodiments show possible variants of the ski
brake 1, whereby it should be noted at this point that the
invention is not restricted to the specifically illustrated
embodiments but rather various combinations of the individual
embodiments are possible and due to the teaching on technical
procedure in the present invention these would be within the
ability of a person skilled in the art. Thus all conceivable
embodiment variants, which are possible by combining individual
details of the embodiment variants shown and described, are also
covered by the scope of protection.
[0054] Lastly, for form's sake it should be noted that for a better
understanding of the structure of the ski brake device 1, the
latter or its components have not been represented true to scale
and/or have been enlarged and/or reduced in size.
[0055] Mostly, the individual embodiments shown in detail in FIGS.
1, 2, 3; 4; 5; 6 can form the subject matter of independent
solutions according to the invention. The relevant objectives and
solutions according to the invention can be taken from the detailed
descriptions of these figures.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0056] 1. Ski brake [0057] 2. Ski [0058] 3. Bearing device [0059]
4. Brake lever arrangement [0060] 5. Upper side [0061] 6. Guiding
device [0062] 7. Longitudinal middle axis [0063] 8. Brake lever
[0064] 9. Brake lever [0065] 10. Actuating arm [0066] 11. Actuating
arm [0067] 12. Brake arm [0068] 13. Brake arm [0069] 14. Pivot
bearing arrangement [0070] 15. Pivot axis [0071] 16. Pivot axis
[0072] 17. Running surface [0073] 18. Spring arrangement [0074] 19.
Spring arm [0075] 20. Angle [0076] 21. Pivot bearing arrangement
[0077] 22. Foot plate [0078] 23. Pivot axis [0079] 24. Bend [0080]
25. Bend [0081] 26. Adjusting device [0082] 27. Pivot position
[0083] 28. Adjusting force [0084] 29. Spring element [0085] 30. End
section [0086] 31. End section [0087] 32. Leg [0088] 33. Leg [0089]
34. Coupling extension [0090] 35. Support surface [0091] 36. Length
compensation guide [0092] 37. Plate part [0093] 38. Plate part
[0094] 39. Part section [0095] 40. Part section [0096] 41.
Permanent magnet [0097] 42. Permanent magnet [0098] 43.
Underside
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