U.S. patent application number 11/854340 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for device for binding a boot to a gliding board.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A.. Invention is credited to Laurent DAMIANI, Nicolas PUGET, Pierre SZAFRANSKI.
Application Number | 20090033064 11/854340 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37113761 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090033064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DAMIANI; Laurent ; et
al. |
February 5, 2009 |
DEVICE FOR BINDING A BOOT TO A GLIDING BOARD
Abstract
A device for binding a boot to a gilding board including a front
retaining element, a rear retaining element, an element for
connecting the front retaining element to the rear retaining
element, and a return spring exerting a force urging the front
retaining element toward the rear retaining element, the connecting
element and the return element being aligned, and the connecting
element including an articulation with respect to the front
retaining element and/or the rear retaining element.
Inventors: |
DAMIANI; Laurent; (Villaz,
FR) ; SZAFRANSKI; Pierre; (Metz-Tessy, FR) ;
PUGET; Nicolas; (Annecy Le Vieux, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A.
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
37113761 |
Appl. No.: |
11/854340 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11624983 |
Jan 19, 2007 |
|
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11854340 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/623 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 7/1066 20130101;
A63C 5/07 20130101; A63C 9/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/623 |
International
Class: |
A63C 9/00 20060101
A63C009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2006 |
FR |
06.00525 |
Claims
1. A device for binding a boot to a gliding board, said device
comprising: a front retaining element; a rear retaining element; an
element for connecting the front retaining element to the rear
retaining element; a return spring exerting a force in a direction
urging the front retaining element and the rear retaining element
toward each other; said connecting element and said return element
being aligned; said connecting element comprising an articulation
with respect to the front retaining element and/or the rear
retaining element; said connecting element being rigid in tension
and in compression for successively ensuring a pulling effect when
the ski flexes, and a pushing effect when the gliding board
counterflexes and recovers a natural curvature.
2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein; said connecting
element comprises a front rod, a rear rod, and a mechanism for
lengthwise adjustment.
3. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein: said
articulation comprises a first articulation between said front rod
and said front retaining element; said first articulation comprises
a ball-and-socket joint at an end of said front rod.
4. A binding device according to claim 3, wherein: said
articulation further comprises a second articulation between said
rear rod and said rear retaining element; said second articulation
comprises an eyelet arranged in said rear retaining element, said
rear rod extending through said eyelet.
5. A gliding apparatus comprising: a gliding board; a device
adapted to be affixed to said gliding board for binding a boot to
the gliding board, said device comprising: a front retaining
element; a rear retaining element; an element for connecting the
front retaining element to the rear retaining element; a return
spring exerting a force in a direction urging the front retaining
element and the rear retaining element toward each other; said
connecting element and said return element being aligned; said
connecting element comprising an articulation with respect to the
front retaining element and/or the rear retaining element; said
connecting element being rigid in tension and in compression for
successively ensuring a pulling effect when the ski flexes, and a
pushing effect when the gilding board counterflexes and recovers a
natural curvature.
6. A gilding apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a
ski brake positioned between said front retaining element and said
rear retaining element; said ski brake comprising a first ski
half-brake positioned on a first side of the gliding board and a
second ski half-brake positioned on a second side of the gliding
board.
7. A gilding apparatus comprising: a gliding board; a ski brake
adapted to be affixed to said gliding board; a device adapted to be
affixed to said gliding board for binding a boot to the gliding
board, said device comprising: a front retaining element; a rear
retaining element; an element for connecting the front retaining
element to the rear retaining element; a return spring exerting a
force in a direction urging the front retaining element and the
rear retaining element toward each other; said connecting element
and said return element being aligned; said ski brake comprising a
first ski half-brake positioned on a first side of the gliding
board and a second ski half-brake positioned on a second side of
the gliding board; a central channel being arranged between the
first ski half-brake and the second ski half-brake; said connecting
element extending through said central channel.
8. A gliding apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an
articulation between said connecting element and at least one of
said first and second retaining elements.
9. A gliding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: said
connecting element is rigid in tension and rigid in compression, so
as ensure successively a pulling effect when the ski flexes and a
pushing effect when the ski recovers to a natural curvature.
10. A gliding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: said
connecting element comprises a front rod, a rear rod, and a
lengthwise adjustment mechanism.
11. A gliding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said
articulation comprises an articulation between said front rod and
said front retaining element comprising a ball-and-socket joint at
a front end of said front rod.
12. A gliding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said
articulation comprises an articulation between said rear rod and
said rear retaining element comprising an eyelet arranged in said
rear retaining element, said rear rod extending through said
eyelet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/624,983, filed on Jan. 19, 2007, 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.120.
[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
of French Patent Application No. 06.00525, filed on Jan. 20, 2006,
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The invention relates to a device for binding a boot to a
gliding board.
[0005] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0006] In the field of snow gliding sports, a boot is
conventionally retained by two retaining elements, a front
retaining element and a rear retaining element, which are fastened
to the ski.
[0007] When the ski is subjected to flexion during use, the two
retaining elements, which tend to move closer to one another, exert
significant pressure on the boot. In reaction, and due to the
rigidity of the boot, forces are transmitted to the ski, which can
affect the behavior of the ski.
[0008] To prevent such forces from being transmitted to the ski,
the patent document CH 687 589 proposes positioning a rod to
connect the front and rear retaining elements. The rod allows
forces to be transmitted between the retaining elements, although a
device of this type does not function optimally inasmuch as the
connecting rod affects the free flexion of the ski.
[0009] Furthermore, in the binding devices known in the prior art,
the forces are transferred to an element positioned under the front
and rear retaining elements, which generates force moments in the
area of the retaining elements, which tends to tilt the front
retaining element forward and the rear retaining element
rearward.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention provides a device for binding a boot to a
gliding board, which allows the drawbacks of the known devices of
the prior art to be overcome. In particular, the invention provides
a device for binding a boot to a gliding board, which does not
prevent the gliding board from bending/flexing freely.
[0011] Moreover, the invention provides a gilding apparatus, which
includes a gliding board equipped with a device for binding a boot
to the gliding board, such device not preventing the gliding board
from bending/flexing freely.
[0012] Still further, the invention provides a gliding apparatus
equipped with a ski brake, a front retaining element, a rear
retaining element, and an element that connects the front retaining
element to the rear retaining element, to allow the forces to be
recovered between them, and in which the force moments that are
generated in the area of the retaining elements, which tend to tilt
the front retaining element forward and the rear retaining element
rearward, have reduced effects.
[0013] The invention provides for a binding device and a gliding
apparatus according to the claims below. In particular, the
invention provides a device for binding a boot to a gliding board,
such device including a front retaining element, a rear retaining
element, an element for connecting the front retaining element to
the rear retaining element, as well as a return spring exerting a
force forcing the front retaining element and the rear retaining
element toward one another. The connecting element and the return
spring are aligned, and the connecting element includes an
articulation with respect to the front retaining element and/or the
rear retaining element.
[0014] The invention also provides for a gliding apparatus
including a gliding board equipped with a binding device, a first
ski brake positioned on a first side of the gliding board, and a
second ski brake positioned on the other side or the gliding
board.
[0015] Further, the invention provides a gliding apparatus
including a gliding board equipped with a ski brake and a device
for binding a boot to a gliding board that includes a front
retaining element, a rear retaining element, an element for
connecting the front retaining element to the rear retaining
element, and a return spring exerting a force directed to cause the
front retaining element and the rear retaining element to be moved
toward one another. The connecting element and the return spring
are aligned, and the ski brake includes a first ski half-brake
positioned on a first side of the gliding board and a second ski
half-brake on the other side of the gliding board, so that a
central channel is arranged between the first and the second
half-brakes, within which the connecting element extends.
[0016] Advantageously, the connecting element is longitudinally
affixed with respect to the front retaining element. It is also
longitudinally affixed to the rear support element via the return
spring. Consequently, the longitudinal component of the pressures
that the boot exerts on the retaining elements is transmitted in
the connecting element and does not pass through the gliding
board.
[0017] Advantageously, the connecting element is rigid in tension
and in compression, which results in successively ensuring a
pulling effect when the ski flexes, and a pushing effect when the
ski recovers its natural curvature.
[0018] Advantageously, the return spring is aligned with the
connecting element. Consequently, during the flexing phases of the
ski, the forces which are transmitted from the connecting element
toward the rear retaining element do not cause the rear retaining
element to tilt toward the rear, but instead, make it move in
translation along the gliding element.
[0019] Advantageously, the front and rear articulations ensure a
free rotation in the vertical plane of the connecting element with
the front and rear retaining elements.
[0020] Advantageously, the support zones of the boot sole, namely
the heel piece and the two half-pedals of the brake, are arranged
so that a central channel is provided in which the connecting
element passes and is not vertically retained. This enables the
connecting element to oscillate freely at the front as well as at
the rear.
[0021] Advantageously, when the boot is in place, the connecting
element is as close as possible to the boot sole.
[0022] Advantageously, the distance between the connecting element
and the boot sole remains constant while the gliding board flexes,
and this distance is optimized so as to be minimal. Because one
knows that the distance between the connecting element and the boot
is instrumental to the efficiency of the mechanism for recovering
the tension forces, and that the greater this distance is, the
greater pivoting phenomena of the retaining elements diminishes
this efficiency, one understands the advantage of keeping the
connecting element as close as possible to the boot, at all times,
including while the gliding board flexes.
[0023] All the advantages of the invention are directed toward
considerably improving the mechanism for recovering the forces of
the binding during the "flexion-counterflexion" phases of the
gliding board, during the bending of the ends of the ski downward
and the bending of the ends of the ski upward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention will be better understood from the description
that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, and in
which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gliding apparatus
according to the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the gilding apparatus,
in partial cross section;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the first
articulation;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the second
articulation;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the brakes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a gliding apparatus 1 according to the
invention. The gliding apparatus 1 includes a gliding board 2 to
which an interface 3 has been affixed. The interface 3 includes a
front portion and a rear portion. A front retaining element 4, or
toe piece, is assembled to the front portion of the interface. A
rear retaining element 5, or heel piece, is assembled to the rear
portion of the interface. Having an interface is non-limiting, as
the invention can be implemented with an interface, or without an
interface.
[0031] The ski brake 28 is arranged between the front retaining
element 4 and the rear retaining element 5 and is composed of two
half-brakes that function independently with respect to one
another.
[0032] The connecting element 6 links the front retaining element 4
to the rear retaining element 5 and extends between the two
half-brakes without hindering their functioning. The connecting
element 6 is rigid in tension and in compression.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross section of the gliding
apparatus. The front retaining element 4 includes a support plate 7
and a base 8 topped by a pivot 9. The body of the front retaining
element 4 is pivotally mounted on the pivot 9. The construction of
the front retaining element 4 is not described in greater detail
here, inasmuch as the mechanism is already known and can be
provided in an any number of forms known to those skilled in the
art. That is, the front retaining element could be replaced, such
as that illustrated, by any other front retaining element.
[0034] The rear retaining element 5 is also not described in detail
here, inasmuch as it is a retaining element of the known heel
construction type. In addition to the release spring (not shown in
the drawings), the rear retaining element 5 includes a return
spring 23, which presses the rear retaining element against the
rear of the boot and, as a consequence, the front of the boot
against the front retaining element 4.
[0035] The connecting element 6 includes a front rod 10, fastened
to a first articulation, and a rear rod 11. The front rod 10 and
the rear rod 11 are coaxially connected to one another via a
threaded bushing 12, or sleeve. The threaded bushing allows the
connecting element 6 to be adjusted in length. This entire
connection has the particularity of being rigid in tension as well
as in compression to prevent it from buckling during the bending of
the gliding apparatus.
[0036] The rear rod 11 is retained in the heel spacer 13 of the
rear retaining element 5, and it can oscillate along a transverse
axis.
[0037] The heel spacer 13 is positioned inside the sheet metal body
14 of the rear retaining element 5.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows in detail the parts that comprise the second
articulation 16, which is arranged between the connecting element 6
and the rear retaining element 5. For better understanding, the
various pieces are shown in exploded perspective.
[0039] The rear rod 11 is inserted in an eyelet 20 located at the
base of the spacer 13. Behind the eyelet 20, a piece, which is the
nose-spring support 21, is slipped onto the rear rod 11. The
nose-spring support 21 is directly in contact with the heel spacer
13.
[0040] The nose-spring 22 and a return spring 23 are also slipped
onto the rear rod 11. The nose-spring support 21 includes a groove
24 that passes through the center of the circular opening, which
extends through it, and in which the rod is inserted. The
nose-spring 22 has an enlargement 25, which complements the groove
24. The enlargement 25 and the groove 24 have common cylindrical
surfaces that are capable of sliding with respect to one another,
thus enabling the rear rod 11 to pivot with respect to the heel
spacer 13, that is, with respect to the rear retaining element
5.
[0041] Maintaining the rear rod 11 in position in the eyelet 20 of
the heel spacer 13 and adjusting and positioning one with respect
to the other is carried out via a first support coupling 17 screwed
onto the rear rod 11 in front of the eyelet 20, a support washer 18
being intercalated between the first coupling 17 and the eyelet 20,
and via a second support coupling 19 screwed at the end of the rear
rod so as to retain the return spring.
[0042] The second articulation comprises the eyelet 20 arranged in
the heel spacer 14, as well as the nose-spring support 21 and the
nose-spring 22, allow the rear rod 11 of the connecting element 6
to pivot with respect to the rear retaining element 5.
[0043] The device is not limited to the particular illustrated
example of a connection made by means of an eyelet arranged in the
heel spacer, and can also be implemented with a pivot connection.
This pivot connection can be achieved with an axle extending
through the spacer and the end of the rear rod.
[0044] Because the return spring 23 is slipped onto the connecting
element 6, the pressures that the boot exerts on the rear retaining
element 5, for example when the gilding board is flexed, are
transmitted directly to the connecting element. No overhanging
occurs, unlike when the return spring is positioned higher than the
connecting element.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows, in detail, the parts that comprise the first
articulation. They include a ball-and-socket joint that includes a
ball part 26 having an outer spherical shape and positioned in a
socket part 27, having an inner cavity, the shape of which
complements the ball part 26.
[0046] The socket part 27 is threaded onto the end of the front rod
10 of the connecting element 6.
[0047] The ball part 26 of the ball-and-socket joint includes a
vertical bore through which a screw extends so that it can be
connected to the front retaining element 4.
[0048] The support plate 7 includes an upwardly open housing 29 for
receiving the socket part 27 of the ball-and-socket joint, as well
as a portion of the front rod 10, which results in the front rod 10
being guided in an oscillating movement that remains in the
longitudinal vertical plane of the gliding board.
[0049] The invention is not limited to including the particular
illustrated embodiment of a ball-and-socket joint connection; such
connection can also be implemented as a pivot connection. A pivot
connection can be made with an pin or axle extending through the
support plate 7 and/or through the baseplate 8 and the end of the
front rod 10.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows the brake 28 in perspective, isolated from the
remainder of the device. The brake includes a plate 30 provided to
rest on the interface 3, and a heel support 31, the upper surface
of which is the boot sole is supported. The heel support 31
includes, in its upper zone, two separate portions that constitute
the two sides of a longitudinally oriented channel 32. This channel
32 is adapted to receive the rear rod 11 of the connecting element
6 and it has a height necessary to accommodate the dual flexion of
the ski.
[0051] The brake 28 is characterized by a double mechanism of two
half-brakes that are independent from one another. Each of these
half-brakes includes an arm 33, at the end of which an end piece 34
is fastened. The arm 33 is a metallic rod bent in two places at an
angle of about 90.degree. so as to define between these two bends a
portion that is perpendicular to the rest of the rod. This
perpendicular portion is kept in place between the heel piece 31
and the plate 30. The two ends of the arm can thus be moved in
rotation about the perpendicular portion.
[0052] The lower portion of the arm 33, i.e., the portion provided
with an end piece 34, penetrates the snow during the rotational
movement of the arm. The upper portion of the arm 33 is fixed
within a half-pedal 35. The arm 33 is fixed within the half-pedal
35 by means of an additional bend of the upper end of the arm 33
along a direction that is parallel to the direction of the
perpendicular portion. Thus, the half-pedal 35 and the arm can move
in rotation with respect to one another. Furthermore, a link 36
connects the plate 30 to the half-pedal 35. The link 36 is
rotatably mounted with respect to the plate 30 and to the
half-pedal 35 so that at any time while the arm 33 moves, the link
36, the half-pedal 35, the arm 33, and the plate 30 form a
parallelogram.
[0053] The rotation of the link 36 with respect to the plate 30 is
carried out between a lower position in which the link is
substantially parallel to the plate 30, and an upper position in
which the link 36 forms a non-zero angle with the plate. The link
36 is maintained in the upper position by the force of a brake
spring 37.
[0054] The second half-pedal is constructed the same as the first
half-pedal 35 hereinabove described, but is symmetrical with
respect to the vertical longitudinal plane of the gilding
board.
[0055] When the boot is in place, the boot sole rests on the two
half-pedals 35, and the weight of the boot sole thereon is
sufficient to counteract the force of the spring, consequently
bringing the links 36 and the half-pedals 35 to the lower
position.
[0056] When the skier falls, causing the boot to be removed, the
brake spring 37 immediately lifts the half-pedals 35 and frees the
arms 33 as soon as the boot is released.
[0057] Advantageously, due to the positioning of two half-pedals
35, which function independently, the passage for the connecting
element 6 can be provided between the half-pedals. Consequently,
the connecting element 6 can be positioned as close as possible to
the boot sole, which improves the efficiency of the device for
transmitting the forces between the front retaining element 4 and
the rear retaining element 5.
[0058] The invention is not limited to the only embodiment
hereinabove described, and can include any equivalent
embodiment.
LIST OF ELEMENTS
[0059] 1. gliding apparatus [0060] 2. gliding board [0061] 3.
interface [0062] 4. front retaining element [0063] 5. rear
retaining element [0064] 6. connecting element [0065] 7. support
plate [0066] 8. base [0067] 9. pivot [0068] 10. front rod [0069]
11. rear rod [0070] 12. threaded bushing [0071] 13. heel spacer
[0072] 14. sheet metal body [0073] 15. first articulation [0074]
16. second articulation [0075] 17. first support coupling [0076]
18. support washer [0077] 19. second support coupling [0078] 20.
eyelet [0079] 21. nose-spring support [0080] 22. nose-spring [0081]
23. return spring [0082] 24. groove [0083] 25. bulge [0084] 26.
ball part of ball-and-socket joint [0085] 27. socket part of
ball-and-socket joint [0086] 28. ski brake [0087] 29. housing
[0088] 30. plate [0089] 31. heel support [0090] 32. channel [0091]
33. arm [0092] 34. end piece [0093] 35. half-pedal [0094] 36. link
[0095] 37. brake spring
* * * * *