U.S. patent application number 13/819164 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for touring heel binding having a dynamic sliding region.
This patent application is currently assigned to FRITSCHI AG - SWISS BINDINGS. The applicant listed for this patent is Andreas Fritschi. Invention is credited to Andreas Fritschi.
Application Number | 20130181427 13/819164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44583877 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130181427 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fritschi; Andreas |
July 18, 2013 |
TOURING HEEL BINDING HAVING A DYNAMIC SLIDING REGION
Abstract
A heel piece for a ski binding, particularly a touring ski
binding, comprises a base element for installing the heel piece on
the ski upper face and a slide mounted on the base element, on
which slide is arranged a heel holder having at least one retaining
means for retaining the heel of a ski boot. Said heel piece has a
downhill position, in which the retaining means locks the ski boot
in a lowered position. Said heel piece also has at least one uphill
position, in which the heel region of the ski boot retained in the
ski binding is released. In the downhill position, the slide can be
moved together with the heel holder relative to the base element in
the longitudinal direction of the ski.
Inventors: |
Fritschi; Andreas; (Thun,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fritschi; Andreas |
Thun |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
FRITSCHI AG - SWISS
BINDINGS
Reichenbach im Kandertal
CH
|
Family ID: |
44583877 |
Appl. No.: |
13/819164 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 29, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH11/00195 |
371 Date: |
March 27, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/614 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 2009/008 20130101;
A63C 7/1053 20130101; A63C 9/086 20130101; A63C 9/0846 20130101;
A63C 9/08528 20130101; A63C 9/007 20130101; A63C 9/0807 20130101;
A63C 9/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/614 |
International
Class: |
A63C 9/00 20060101
A63C009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 27, 2010 |
CH |
1387/10 |
Claims
1. An automatic heel unit for a ski binding, in particular a
ski-touring binding, with a base element for mounting the automatic
heel unit on the upper side of a ski and a carriage which is
mounted on the base element and on which there is arranged a heel
holder with two holding means for holding a ski boot in a heel
region of the ski boot, wherein the two holding means are pins,
which are aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of
the ski and as a result can engage in at least one corresponding
opening in the heel region of the ski boot a) wherein the automatic
heel unit has a downhill position, in which the at least one
holding means can interact with the heel region of the ski boot
held in the ski binding in such a way that the ski boot is arrested
in a lowered position, b) and the automatic heel unit has at least
one climbing position, in which the heel region of the ski boot
held in the ski binding is released, characterized in that, in the
downhill position, the carriage with the heel holder is movable
with respect to the base element in the longitudinal direction of
the ski along a dynamic region and is acted upon by an elastic
element with a forwardly directed force and is pressed in the
direction of a front end of the dynamic region.
2. (canceled)
3. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by
at least one holding element, which is mounted on the heel holder
rotatably about an axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski, the at least one holding means being arranged
on the at least one holding element at a distance from a straight
line defined by the axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski, and as a result is pivotable substantially in
the transverse direction of the ski about the axis aligned
substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
4. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 3, characterized in
that the automatic heel unit comprises at least two holding
elements, on each of which at least one holding means is
arranged.
5. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 4, characterized in
that the holding elements have an elongated, lever-like form and
are mounted on the heel holder such that they are aligned
substantially vertically.
6. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 5, characterized in
that a) the holding means are respectively arranged in a first
region at a first end of the holding elements, in that b) the axes
of the holding elements that are aligned substantially in the
longitudinal direction of the ski are respectively arranged in a
middle region of the holding elements, and in that c) the holding
elements respectively have a second region at a second end of the
holding elements, the second region being respectively arranged on
a side of the middle region that is opposite from the first
region.
7. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 4, characterized in
that the automatic heel unit comprises precisely two holding
elements, on each of which a holding means is arranged.
8. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 7, characterized by
a ram, which can interact with the second regions of the holding
elements and which can be subjected to a force applied by an
elastic element, so that a torque acting on the holding elements
can be produced.
9. (canceled)
10. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the heel holder is rotatable about an axis substantially
perpendicular to the ski and, a) in the downhill position, the heel
holder is turned about the axis substantially perpendicular to the
ski into an alignment parallel to the ski, whereby the at least one
holding means can interact with the heel region of the ski boot
held in the ski binding in such a way that the ski boot is arrested
in a lowered position and b) in the at least one climbing position,
the heel holder is turned away from an alignment parallel to the
ski about the axis substantially perpendicular to the ski, so that
the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding is
released.
11. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that a) in the downhill position, the carriage has been displaced
together with the heel holder in the forward direction with respect
to the base element, whereby the at least one holding means can
interact with the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski
binding in such a way that the ski boot is arrested in a lowered
position and b) in the at least one climbing position, the carriage
has been displaced together with the heel holder with respect to
the base element into a rearward position in such a way that the
heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding is
released.
12. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 11, characterized
by an intermediate piece which is displaceable with respect to the
base element in the longitudinal direction of the ski, is acted
upon by an elastic element with a forwardly directed force with
respect to the base element and on which the carriage is
displaceably mounted, wherein the carriage a) is displaced into a
rearward position with respect to the intermediate piece in the at
least one climbing position and b) is displaced into a forward
position with respect to the intermediate piece in the downhill
position and is movable together with the intermediate piece with
respect to the base element in the longitudinal direction of the
ski along the dynamic region.
13. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 11, characterized
by an adjusting lever, which has a downhill position and at least
one climbing position, wherein, by positioning the adjusting lever
in the downhill position, the automatic heel unit can be brought
into the downhill position and, by positioning the adjusting lever
in one of the at least one climbing positions, it can be brought
into the corresponding one of the at least one climbing
positions.
14. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 13, characterized
in that the adjusting lever is mounted on the base element
pivotably about an axis of rotation oriented horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski.
15. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 11, characterized
in that the adjusting lever has a support for the heel region of
the ski boot that has been pivoted into the path of movement of the
heel region when the adjusting lever is positioned in a
corresponding one of the at least one climbing positions and, as a
result, limits lowering of the heel region of the ski boot toward
the ski.
16. The automatic heel unit as claimed in claim 11, characterized
by a ski brake with a braking member, which comprises a rest
position and a braking position, the braking member being assigned
an actuating member, which can be actuated in such a way that the
braking member goes over from the braking position into the rest
position when the heel region of the ski boot is lowered toward the
ski when stepping into the binding, wherein, in the climbing
position, the braking member of the ski brake can be kept in the
rest position by a holding mechanism, by a first element of the
holding mechanism that is arranged on the base element and a second
element of the holding mechanism that is arranged on the ski brake
interacting, wherein the ski brake is arranged on the carriage,
whereby a) in the downhill position, the ski brake together with
the carriage is pushed in the forward direction and the first
element and the second element are at a distance from one another
and b) in the at least one climbing position, the ski brake
together with the carriage is pushed into the rearward position,
whereby the first element and the second element can interact.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to automatic heel units for a ski
binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, with a base element
for mounting the automatic heel units on the upper side of a ski
and a carriage which is mounted on the base element and on which
there is arranged a heel holder with at least one holding means for
holding a ski boot in a heel region of the ski boot. These
automatic heel units have a downhill position, in which the at
least one holding means can interact with the heel region of the
ski boot held in the ski binding in such a way that the ski boot is
arrested in a lowered position. Furthermore, these automatic heel
units have at least one climbing position, in which the heel region
of the ski boot held in the ski binding is released.
PRIOR ART
[0002] With regard to their function, ski bindings can be
subdivided into downhill ski bindings, which are used only for
skiing downhill and skiing on ski lifts, and touring bindings,
which are also additionally used for walking on skis, in particular
for climbing with the aid of climbing skins fastened on the skis.
While the former just have to ensure reliable fixing of the ski
boot on the ski in a so-called downhill position, the latter
additionally have to be able for climbing purposes to be moved from
the downhill position into a climbing position, in which the ski
boot can be pivoted about an axis in the transverse direction of
the ski and can be lifted up from the ski in the heel region, in
order to make an articulated movement between the ski boot and the
ski possible for walking.
[0003] Ski-touring bindings in turn can be subdivided into two
types. The one type comprises a ski-boot carrier, which can be
pivoted in relation to the ski on which the ski boot is held by
binding jaws. A representative of this type of ski-touring bindings
is described, for example, in EP 0 754 079 B1 (Fritschi AG). The
second type, on the other hand, is based on ski boots with rigid
soles. In the case of these ski-touring bindings, the ski boot is
pivotably mounted in its toe region in an automatic front unit
fixedly mounted on the ski. The automatic heel unit is in this case
likewise fixedly attached to the ski, at a distance from the
automatic front unit that is adapted to a sole length of the ski
boot, and in the downhill position arrests the ski boot in the heel
region. In the climbing position, the heel of the ski boot is
released from the automatic heel unit, so that the ski boot can be
lifted up from the ski and pivoted about the mounting on the
automatic front unit. Ski boots that are suitable for this type of
binding typically have for this purpose two lateral clearances in
the toe region for being pivotably secured in the automatic front
unit. Furthermore, they have in the heel region rearwardly open
clearances, in which holding means of the automatic heel unit can
engage.
[0004] It goes without saying that, in the case of this second type
of ski-touring bindings, the distance from the automatic front unit
at which the automatic heel unit has to be mounted on the ski is
dictated by the length of the sole of the ski boot to be held,
within the limits of adjustability of the automatic heel unit. The
mentioned climbing position, in which the heel of the ski boot is
released, consequently always relates to the downhill position in
which the heel of the ski boot can be arrested in the same mounting
position of the automatic heel unit.
[0005] For describing such binding systems, a (fictitious) ski is
often used as a reference system, it being assumed that the binding
is mounted on this ski. This custom is adopted in the present text.
Thus, the expression "longitudinal direction of the ski" means
along the alignment of the longitudinal axis of the ski. Similarly,
"parallel to the ski" means, for an elongated object, aligned along
the longitudinal axis of the ski. For a planar object, by contrast,
the expression "parallel to the ski" means aligned parallel to the
sliding surface of the ski. Furthermore, the expression "transverse
direction of the ski" is intended to mean a direction transverse to
the longitudinal direction of the ski, although it need not
necessarily be oriented precisely at right angles to the
longitudinal axis of the ski. Its alignment may also deviate
slightly from a right angle. The expression "center of the ski" in
turn means a center of the ski when seen in the transverse
direction of the ski, while the expression "fixed to the ski" means
non-movable in relation to the ski. Moreover, it should be noted
that expressions that do not contain the word "ski" also refer to
the reference system of the (fictitious) ski. Thus, the expressions
"front/forward/forwardly", "rear/rearward/rearwardly",
"top/above/upper/upward/upwardly",
"bottom/below/lower/downward/downwardly" and "lateral/laterally"
relate to "front/forward/forwardly", "rear/rearward/rearwardly",
"top/above/upper/upward/upwardly",
"bottom/below/lower/downward/downwardly" and "lateral/laterally" of
the ski. Equally, expressions such as "horizontal/horizontally" and
"vertical/vertically" also relate to the ski,
"horizontal/horizontally" meaning lying in a plane parallel to the
ski and "vertical/vertically" meaning aligned perpendicularly to
this plane.
[0006] A ski-touring binding of the second type, introduced above,
is described in EP 0 199 098 82 (Barthel) and is sold under the
name Dynafit. An automatic front unit of this system has two
clamping parts each with a stud aligned in the transverse direction
of the ski, which studs engage in clearances in the toe region of
the ski boot from the sides when the ski-touring binding is stepped
into. As a result, the studs form a pivot bearing of the ski boot
on which the ski boot can be pivoted with respect to the ski.
[0007] An automatic heel unit of this system that is independent of
the automatic front unit has two pins arranged on a heel holder. In
the downhill position, these two pins are aligned forwardly toward
the automatic front unit, whereby they engage in clearances in the
heel of the ski boot and can thereby arrest the ski boot in a
position lowered toward the ski. When the ski-touring binding is
stepped into, the ski boot is first mounted in the automatic front
unit. After that, the heel of the ski boot is lowered from above
onto the pins of the heel holder. Since the clearances in the heel
of the ski boot are largely open in the downward direction, as a
result the clearances are guided over the pins, whereupon the pins
engage in detent recesses in the clearances for locking.
[0008] In order to ensure a safety release in the forward
direction, the two pins can be pressed apart against a spring
force, whereby they can slide out of the detent recesses and the
clearances and can release the heel of the ski boot in the upward
direction. For this purpose, both pins are each arranged on a
lever, which is mounted on the heel holder pivotably in a
horizontal plane. Both levers are prestressed with a spring force,
so that the two pins are pressed toward one another. By adjusting
the spring force, the force that is required to make release in the
forward direction possible can be predetermined. As a result, a
safety release in the forward direction is made possible.
[0009] By contrast with the safety release in the forward
direction, for the intended stepping out from the binding, first
the toe region of the ski boot is released from the automatic front
unit. After that, the heel of the ski boot is pulled off from the
pins of the automatic heel unit in the forward direction.
[0010] An automatic heel unit according to EP 0 199 098 A2
(Barthel) can be brought into a climbing position by the heel
holder being turned by the skier about a vertical axis, until the
two pins have been pivoted to the side out of the path of movement
of the heel of the ski boot. In this case, the heel holder has a
number of rotational positions in which the pins are pivoted out of
the path of movement of the heel. These individual rotational
positions are respectively predetermined by a spring catch for
arresting the heel holder. When the heel holder is in specifically
one of these rotational positions, the path of movement of the heel
of the ski boot is free and the ski boot can be lowered toward the
ski. When, on the other hand, the heel holder is in another of the
rotational positions, a support arranged on the heel holder has
been respectively pivoted into the path of movement of the heel of
the ski boot at a certain distance from the ski. Each such support
hinders the ski boot from being lowered toward the ski at a
different distance from the ski. Correspondingly, various climbing
aids can be set by positioning the heel holder in the various
rotational positions.
[0011] Since, in the downhill position, the pins engage in the heel
of the ski boot, the automatic heel unit cannot be brought directly
from the downhill position into one of the climbing positions. The
turning of the heel holder about the vertical axis required for
this can only be actuated when the ski boot has first been released
completely from the binding. Particularly in uncompacted deep snow
and on steep terrain, this can lead to tricky situations, since, by
contrast with the large surface area of a ski, a ski boot offers
the skier only little hold.
[0012] A further development of the automatic heel unit according
to EP 0 199 098 A2 (Barthel) is described in WO 2009/121187 A1 (G3
Genuine Guide Gear Inc.). This further development likewise
comprises a heel holder with two forwardly directed pins, which, as
described in EP 0 199 098 A2 (Barthel), make a safety release in
the forward direction possible. By contrast with the automatic heel
unit according to EP 0 199 098 A2 (Barthel), however, the automatic
heel unit according to WO 2009/121187 A1 (G3 Genuine Guide Gear
Inc.) allows a change from the downhill position into the climbing
position without it first being necessary to step completely out of
the binding. In order to make this possible, the automatic heel
unit comprises a baseplate fixed to the ski and a carriage with a
heel holder, the carriage being displaceable with respect to the
baseplate in the longitudinal direction of the ski by an adjusting
lever. The carriage is comprised by a multipart housing, from which
the heel holder protrudes in the upward direction through a slot
adapted to the displaceability. In the downhill position, the
carriage has been displaced into a forward position, whereby the
pins can engage in the clearances in the heel of the ski boot. In
the climbing position, on the other hand, the carriage has been
displaced into a rearward position, whereby the pins cannot engage
in the clearances in the heel of the ski boot and the heel of the
ski boot is correspondingly released. In order to provide climbing
aids as in the case of the automatic heel unit according to EP 0
199 098 A2 (Barthel), the automatic heel unit according to WO
2009/121187 A1 (G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc.) comprises a number of
supporting levers, which can be pivoted into the path of movement
of the ski boot sequentially from the rear to the front.
[0013] Furthermore, the automatic heel unit according to WO
2009/121187 A1 (G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc.) comprises a ski brake.
This ski brake has two arms, which for activation can be pivoted
out beyond the ski in the downward direction. Furthermore, the ski
brake has a tread spur. By pressing this tread spur down, the arms
of the ski brake can be pivoted against a spring force into an
alignment substantially parallel to the ski, whereby the ski brake
is in a rest position. If in the downhill position a ski boot is
arrested in its heel region in the automatic heel unit, the tread
spur has been pressed in the downward direction by the sole of the
ski boot and the ski brake is in the rest position. In the event of
a fall of the skier, in which a safety release is triggered, the
ski brake is automatically activated by the spring force, since the
tread spur is no longer pressed in a downward direction by the sole
of the ski boot. When the automatic heel unit is transferred into
the climbing position, in the case of the automatic heel unit
according to WO 2009/121187 A1 (G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc.) the
carriage is moved in the rearward direction. As a result, a hook in
a front region of the housing that can hook into the tread spur and
hold it securely in a lower position is released. Correspondingly,
in the climbing position, the ski brake can be kept in the rest
position by this hook, without the sole of the ski boot pressing
the tread spur in the downward direction.
[0014] Consequently, the automatic heel unit according to WO
2009/121187 A1 (G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc.) has improved handling
in comparison with the automatic heel unit according to EP 0 199
098 A2 (Barthel). However, on account of having a large number of
individual parts, the automatic heel unit is quite heavy and of a
complex structural design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The object of the invention is to provide an automatic heel
unit belonging to the technical field mentioned at the beginning
that increases the safety for a skier.
[0016] The solution by which the object is achieved is defined by
the features of claim 1. According to the invention, in the
downhill position, the carriage with the heel holder is movable
with respect to the base element in the longitudinal direction of
the ski along a dynamic region.
[0017] The term "longitudinal direction of the ski" should be
understood here as meaning a direction which, though it runs
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski, may
also have a deviation of a few degrees from an alignment parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the ski. From the rear to the front as
seen from the longitudinal axis of the ski, this deviation may run
both laterally and in the upward or downward direction.
Furthermore, the term "base element" should be understood as
meaning an element which can be mounted on a ski such that it is
fixed to the ski. It may be, for example, a baseplate, on which the
remaining automatic heel unit can be mounted. It may, however, also
be an element shaped in some way other than in the form of a plate.
For example, it may be formed as a rail or in the manner of a
block. It may, however, also have a plate-shaped region and
comprise one or more supports.
[0018] The dynamic region along which the carriage is movable with
respect to the base element may be both straight and of a curved
form. Furthermore, the dynamic region may be limited in the forward
and rearward directions by a stop, by which the carriage is stopped
and hindered in its further freedom of movement. In this case, the
stop may be arranged on the carriage, on the base element or on
another part of the automatic heel unit. Moreover, the stop may
have two or more interacting elements, which are arranged on the
carriage, on the base element and/or on another part of the
automatic heel unit. The limitation of the dynamic region by such a
stop may be advantageous if the carriage is for example mounted in
a linear guide. In this case, it can be prevented that the carriage
can come away unintentionally from the guide. As a variant of this,
however, there is also the possibility that the dynamic region is
not limited by a stop or is only limited in the forward or rearward
direction by a stop.
[0019] The solution has the advantage that, in the downhill
position, the position of the heel holder in relation to the heel
of the ski boot can be dynamically adapted by the carriage being
moved together with the heel holder along the dynamic path. This
makes it possible during skiing for changes in distance between the
automatic front unit and the automatic heel unit that are caused by
flexing of the ski during skiing to be constantly compensated.
Correspondingly, the automatic heel unit makes it possible that the
heel holder constantly maintains the same distance from the heel of
the ski boot during skiing. This allows the holding means to
interact in constantly the same way with the heel of the ski boot
and to keep the ski boot arrested in the lowered position. This
produces a starting position for a safety release in the forward
direction that is as identical as possible in the various
situations that occur during skiing. Correspondingly, deviations
from the preset force that has be overcome for a safety release in
the forward direction are minimized and the safety of the skier is
increased. It is of no matter in this respect whether the at least
one holding means consists of two substantially forwardly directed
pins, as described in the prior art, or whether the at least one
holding means is formed in some other way.
[0020] As is customary with the relevant type of ski-touring
bindings, the automatic heel unit according to the invention can be
mounted on a ski independently of an automatic front unit. In
particular, the arresting and the release of the heel of the ski
boot that are provided in an advantageous way by the automatic heel
unit are largely independent of the actual configuration of the
automatic front unit. The automatic heel unit can consequently also
be used in conjunction with known automatic front units of the
binding systems described at the beginning. However, it is also
conceivable to use the automatic heel unit in conjunction with
other binding systems in which the heel of the ski boot can be
lifted off from the ski. Thus, the ski boot can for example be
fixed in the toe/ball region to an automatic front unit, the ski
boot being formed elastically in the ball region. This is the case
for example with Telemark bindings. In general, however, it is
recommendable to use the automatic heel unit in conjunction with an
automatic front unit made to match it, in order to ensure optimum
functionality of the binding system as a whole.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the automatic heel unit for a ski
binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, comprises a base
element for mounting the automatic heel unit on the upper side of a
ski and a carriage which is mounted on the base element and on
which there is arranged a heel holder with at least one holding
means for holding a ski boot in a heel region of the ski boot. In
this case, the automatic heel unit preferably has a downhill
position, in which the at least one holding means can interact with
the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding and thereby
arrest the ski boot in a lowered position. Furthermore, the
automatic heel unit advantageously has at least one climbing
position, in which the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski
binding is released. It is preferred in this case that, in the
downhill position, the carriage with the heel holder is movable
with respect to the base element in a guided manner in the
longitudinal direction of the ski by a linear guide along a dynamic
region. How the at least one holding means for holding the ski boot
is formed is not prescribed. For example, two pins may be
concerned, as known from the prior art described above. However,
one or more holding means of any other kind may also be concerned.
Furthermore, it is not prescribed how exactly the linear guide is
formed. For example, it may be a rail-like guide. In this case, the
guide may comprise one or more rails in which one or more guiding
elements are movable. The rails may in this case be arranged both
on the carriage and on the base element, while the guiding elements
are respectively arranged on the other part. In this case, the
guiding elements may be formed as sliding elements or be provided
with a roller bearing or ball bearing. As a further possibility,
the linear guide may, however, also be formed by a ram guided in a
corresponding cylinder. A configuration in which the linear guide
is formed by one or more levers mounted pivotably at their ends on
the carriage and the base element is also conceivable. It goes
without saying that in the case of all these variants there is the
possibility that an intermediate piece is arranged between the
carriage and the base element, the base element and/or the carriage
being mounted movably on the intermediate piece or arranged fixedly
on the intermediate piece.
[0022] However, preferred embodiments of the automatic heel unit
may also be formed in some other way. It is shown hereafter on the
basis of advantageous features how such other preferred embodiments
may be formed. However, it goes without saying that the
aforementioned, preferred embodiment may also comprise one or more
of these advantageous features.
[0023] Preferably, in the downhill position, the carriage is acted
upon by an elastic element with a forwardly directed force and is
pressed in the direction of a front end of the dynamic region. This
elastic element may be, for example, a spring or an element formed
in some other way with elastic properties. The elastic element can
in this case exert a compressive force or tensile force on the
carriage. Moreover, the elastic element may also comprise a number
of elastic elements that are arranged one next to the other or one
after the other. Independently of the actual configuration of the
elastic element, the fact that the carriage is subjected to the
forwardly directed force has the advantage that changes in distance
between the automatic front unit and the automatic heel unit that
are caused by the flexing of the ski during skiing can be optimally
compensated. Since the carriage with the heel holder is pressed by
the force against the heel of the ski boot, a position of the
carriage and of the heel holder thereby always adapts itself to the
heel of the ski boot. Correspondingly, it is sufficient if the at
least one holding means can interact with the heel of the ski boot
in such a way that the ski boot is hindered from a lateral pivoting
movement and a pivoting movement in the upward direction. The at
least one holding means need not in this case keep the heel holder
at an identical distance from the heel of the ski boot and move the
heel holder together with the carriage along the dynamic path when
there are changes in distance between the automatic front unit and
the automatic heel unit. Therefore, the elastic element and the
resultant forwardly directed force on the carriage reduce the
requirements that have to be met by the at least one holding means.
Correspondingly, the at least one holding means can be optimized
more easily to make an optimally controlled safety release
possible.
[0024] As an alternative to this, however, there is also the
possibility that the carriage is not acted upon by an elastic
element with a forwardly directed force.
[0025] If, in the downhill position, the carriage is acted upon by
an elastic element with a downwardly directed force and is pressed
in the direction of the front end of the dynamic region, the
automatic heel unit preferably comprises a stop that forms the
front end of the dynamic region by hindering the carriage from
further movement in the forward direction with respect to the base
element. In this case, the stop may be positioned in such a way
that the carriage is pressed against the stop by the elastic
element. However, the stop may also be positioned in such a way
that the carriage is acted upon by the elastic element with a
forwardly directed force within the dynamic region and is
specifically no longer subjected to this force when it is
positioned at the stop.
[0026] As a variant of this, there is also the possibility that the
automatic heel unit does not have a stop that forms the front end
of the dynamic region. For example, the carriage may also be acted
upon by an elastic element with a forwardly directed force within
the dynamic region, the carriage being pushed or pulled rearward
into the dynamic region if it is moved out forward beyond the
dynamic region. In this case, the elastic element may be, for
example, a spring that pulls the carriage forward within the
dynamic region. If in this example the carriage is moved forward
beyond the dynamic region, it is pushed back into the dynamic
region by the spring. Correspondingly, in this example the position
of the carriage in which the spring is not under stress forms the
front end of the dynamic region.
[0027] Preferably, in the downhill position, the automatic heel
unit makes a safety release in the forward direction possible. This
has the advantage that the safety for the skier is increased.
However, there is also the possibility that the automatic heel unit
does not make a safety release in the forward direction
possible.
[0028] In a preferred variant, in the downhill position, the
automatic heel unit does not make a safety release horizontally in
the transverse direction of the ski possible. If, for example, the
automatic heel unit is a component part of a ski-touring binding
with an automatic front unit, in which the automatic front unit
makes a safety release horizontally in the transverse direction of
the ski possible, this firstly has the advantage that the automatic
heel unit can be produced in a lighter, simpler and consequently
lower-cost form. This secondly has the advantage that the safety
for the skier is increased, since there is a lower risk of
erroneous lateral release if the safety release horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski is made possible by the automatic
front unit. This is because lateral impacts and force effects, when
seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski, during skiing
primarily occur in a region of the skier's shinbone, which is
closer to the automatic heel unit than to the automatic front
unit.
[0029] In a further, preferred variant, in the downhill position,
the automatic heel unit makes a safety release horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski possible. This has the advantage
that the safety for the skier is increased if, for example, the
automatic heel unit is a component part of a ski-touring binding
with an automatic front unit in which the automatic front unit does
not make a safety release horizontally in the transverse direction
of the ski possible.
[0030] With preference, the automatic heel unit comprises at least
one holding element that is mounted on the heel holder rotatably
about an axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction
of the ski, the at least one holding means being arranged on the at
least one holding element at a distance from a straight line
defined by the axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski, and as a result is pivotable substantially in
the transverse direction of the ski about the axis aligned
substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In this
case, the axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction
of the ski may be both aligned exactly parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the ski or else deviate a few degrees from an alignment
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Both have the
advantage that, when there is a pivoting movement of the at least
one holding element, an extension of the at least one holding means
in the longitudinal direction of the ski is substantially
maintained. As a result, the interaction of the at least one
holding means with the heel of the ski boot during a pivoting
movement of the at least one holding element can also be controlled
better. If such a pivoting movement of the at least one holding
element is required for the carrying out of a safety release in the
forward direction, better control of a safety release in the
forward direction is also correspondingly made possible as a
result.
[0031] Such a holding element represents a second aspect of the
solution by which the object is achieved that is possible
independently of the first solution by which the object is
achieved. A corresponding second solution by which the object is
achieved preferably concerns an automatic heel unit for a ski
binding with a heel holder with at least one holding means for
holding a ski boot in a heel region of the ski boot, the automatic
heel unit comprising at least one holding element that is mounted
on the heel holder rotatably about an axis aligned substantially in
the longitudinal direction of the ski, the at least one holding
means being arranged on the at least one holding element such that
it is at a distance from a straight line defined by the axis
aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and
as a result is pivotable substantially in the transverse direction
of the ski about the axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski. In this case, the axis aligned substantially
in the longitudinal direction of the ski may be both aligned
exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski or else
deviate a few degrees from an alignment parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the ski. Both have the advantage that, when
there is a pivoting movement of the at least one holding element,
an extension of the at least one holding means in the longitudinal
direction of the ski is substantially maintained. As a result, the
interaction of the at least one holding means with the heel of the
ski boot during a pivoting movement of the at least one holding
element can also be controlled better. If such a pivoting movement
of the at least one holding element is required for the carrying
out of a safety release in the forward direction, better control of
a safety release in the forward direction is also correspondingly
made possible as a result.
[0032] The preferred, special embodiments described hereafter,
which describe the at least one holding element and/or the at least
one holding means in more detail, are possible preferred, special
embodiments both of an automatic heel unit belonging to the first
solution by which the object is achieved and belonging to the
second solution by which the object is achieved. It should be noted
here that these preferred, special embodiments that are described
hereafter are also possible for a further variant of an automatic
heel unit according to the first solution. According to this
variant, instead of the at least one holding element with the axis
aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the
automatic heel unit may comprise at least one holding element on
which the at least one holding means is arranged, the at least one
holding element being pivotable about an axis aligned substantially
in the transverse direction of the ski.
[0033] In this case, the axis aligned substantially in the
transverse direction of the ski may be aligned not only vertically
or horizontally, but also at any angle in between.
[0034] As a further variant, an automatic heel unit according to
the first solution by which the object is achieved may, however,
also not have any of the holding elements described above, but only
at least one holding means.
[0035] If the automatic heel unit comprises at least one holding
element, the at least one holding element and the at least one
holding means are preferably produced from metal. This has the
advantage that a high strength of the at least one holding element
and of the at least one holding means can be achieved. However,
there is also the possibility that, for example, only the at least
one holding means or only the at least one holding element is
produced from metal.
[0036] If, on the other hand, the automatic heel unit does not
comprise a holding element, but only at least one holding means,
this at least one holding means is preferably produced from
metal.
[0037] As an alternative to these variants, there is also the
possibility that the at least one holding means and/or, if present,
the at least one holding element is produced from another material,
such as for example plastic or carbon.
[0038] If the automatic heel unit comprises one holding element,
the holding element is advantageously produced in one piece with
the at least one holding means. If, on the other hand, the
automatic heel unit comprises a number of holding elements, these
holding elements are preferably each produced in one piece with at
least one holding means. This has the advantage that an optimum
stability of the at least one holding element and the at least one
holding means is achieved.
[0039] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the at least one holding element and the at least one holding
means are produced as separate parts. In this case, the at least
one holding means may for example be able to be screwed to the at
least one holding element. For this purpose, the at least one
holding means may for example have a thread and the at least one
holding element may have a corresponding counter-thread. However,
there is also the possibility that the at least one holding means
can be screwed to the corresponding at least one holding element by
at least one separate screw. As a further possibility, however, the
at least one holding means may also be connected to the
corresponding at least one holding element by a plugged-in,
riveted, glued or welded connection.
[0040] With preference, the automatic heel unit comprises at least
two holding elements, on each of which at least one holding means
is arranged. This has the advantage that the load that the holding
elements and the holding means have to withstand is distributed
among a number of structural parts. This also has the advantage
that the automatic heel unit can, for example, make a safety
release possible by a movement of the holding means in relation to
one another. Thus, for example, arrestment of the heel of the ski
boot brought about by the holding means may be releasable by the
holding means of the various holding elements being moved toward
one another or away from one another by the movement of the holding
elements.
[0041] However, there is also the possibility that the automatic
heel unit has at least one holding means and does not comprise any
holding element or comprises only one holding element.
[0042] If the automatic heel unit comprises at least two holding
elements, the holding elements are preferably arranged on the heel
holder one next to the other in the transverse direction of the
ski. Since, in the event of the safety release in the forward
direction, the heel region of the ski boot is lifted up out of the
automatic heel unit, such an arrangement of the holding elements
has the advantage that a movement of the holding means of the
various holding elements in relation to one another substantially
in the horizontal direction, and consequently perpendicularly to
the direction of movement of the heel region of the ski boot, can
take place. In this case, the freedom of movement of the holding
means in the vertical direction may be greatly or entirely
restricted. This has the advantage that the heel region of the ski
boot can be arrested against a movement in the vertical direction
in a simple way, which is advantageous for the sensation that is
experienced when skiing. Moreover, at the same time a safety
release in the forward direction, in which the arrestment of the
heel region of the ski boot is released by a movement of the
holding means in relation to one another, can be made possible.
[0043] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the holding elements are arranged on the heel holder one above
the other, or obliquely one above the other, in the vertical
direction. The latter variant may be advantageous in particular
whenever the automatic heel unit comprises more than two holding
elements, since the holding elements can be arranged on the heel
holder in a space-saving manner.
[0044] If the automatic heel unit comprises at least two holding
elements with substantially horizontally aligned axes, the holding
elements preferably have an elongated, lever-like form and are
mounted on the heel holder such that they are aligned substantially
vertically. In this case, the axes of the holding elements may be
aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
However, there is also the possibility that the axes of the holding
elements are aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of
the ski or horizontally at an angle to the longitudinal direction
of the ski. In all three cases, the lever-like form of the holding
elements firstly has the advantage that the at least one holding
means can be arranged on the holding elements in a space-saving
manner, at the greatest possible distance from the axes of the
holding elements. Correspondingly, the holding means can cover a
comparatively great distance when there is a small angular movement
of the holding elements, this distance being maximized as much as
possible by the holding elements being aligned substantially
perpendicularly to the axis of the holding elements. Secondly, the
lever-like form of the holding elements has the advantage that the
holding elements can be arranged on the heel holder in a
space-saving manner. This produces the further advantage that an
entire triggering mechanism that makes a safety release possible
can be arranged in or on the heel holder in a space-saving
manner.
[0045] As a variant of this, the holding elements of an elongated,
lever-like form may also be arranged on the heel holder in a
differently aligned manner. Moreover, there is also the possibility
that the holding elements are of a different form.
[0046] If the automatic heel unit comprises at least two elongated
holding elements of a lever-like form, with axes aligned
substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the holding
means are preferably respectively arranged in a first region at a
first end of the holding elements and the axes of the holding
elements that are aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski are respectively arranged in a middle region
of the holding elements. Moreover, the holding elements preferably
respectively have a second region at a second end of the holding
elements, the second region being respectively arranged on a side
of the middle region that is opposite from the first region. This
has the advantage that a force can be respectively applied to the
second region of a holding element, this force being reversed about
the axis to act in the opposite direction on the first region of
the corresponding holding element. Since the holding means are
arranged in the first region of the holding elements, a force can
consequently be applied to the holding elements at some distance
from the holding means and be transferred to the holding means. In
this case, the effect of the force is transferred to the holding
means in an efficient way in spite of the distance.
[0047] As an alternative to this, the holding elements may,
however, also be formed in some other way.
[0048] Advantageously, the automatic heel unit comprises precisely
two holding elements, on each of which a holding means is arranged.
This has the advantage that the load that the holding elements and
the holding means have to withstand is distributed among a number
of structural parts. This also has the advantage that an arrestment
of the heel of the ski boot can be achieved in a simple way by the
holding means. For this purpose, the two holding means may for
example be pressed toward one another or away from one another by a
prestressing of the holding elements. This makes it possible, for
example, for arresting to take place by clamping. However, this
also makes it possible, for example, for arresting to take place by
the two holding means each holding one another in place in or on a
corresponding clearance or else in a corresponding detent recess.
Such types of arrestment have the advantage that a safety release
in which the heel region of the ski boot is released by a relative
movement of the holding means can be made possible in a simple
way.
[0049] However, there is also the possibility that the automatic
heel unit comprises more than one holding means per holding
element. There is also the possibility that the automatic heel unit
comprises no holding elements, one holding element or more than two
holding elements.
[0050] If the automatic heel unit comprises two holding elements,
each with a first, second and a middle region, axes that are
aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski
being respectively arranged in the middle region, the automatic
heel unit thus preferably comprises a ram, which can interact with
the second regions of the holding elements and which can be
subjected to a force applied by an elastic element, so that a
torque acting on the holding elements can be produced. Since the
two holding elements are mounted pivotably about the axes aligned
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in its middle region, this
has the advantage that the force with which the ram acts on the
holding elements is approximately equal to the force to which the
holding means arranged in the first region are subjected.
[0051] Consequently, a force transfer from the ram to the holding
means is made possible by the holding elements, the ram being able
however to interact with the holding elements at a distance from
the holding means.
[0052] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the ram does not interact with the holding elements in the
second region of the holding elements but in the first region of
the holding elements.
[0053] As a further variant, the automatic heel unit may also
comprise more than one ram or else one or more other element(s) as
a ram, by which the holding elements can be subjected to a
corresponding force. Moreover, the automatic heel unit may also
comprise more than one elastic element, by which the ram or rams or
the other element or elements can be subjected to the corresponding
force. In this case, it is also possible for more than one elastic
elements to be provided per ram or per other element.
[0054] If the automatic heel unit comprises a ram and two holding
elements, each with a first, a second and a middle region, axes
that are aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the
ski being respectively arranged in the middle region, the ram
preferably presses the second regions of the holding elements
apart, whereby the holding means are pressed toward one another.
This has the advantage that both holding elements can each be
subjected to a force by a single ram, the two forces acting
substantially in opposite directions.
[0055] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the ram presses the two second regions of the holding elements
together, whereby the holding means are pressed apart. This
likewise has the advantage that both holding elements can each be
subjected to a force by a single ram, the two forces acting
substantially in opposite directions.
[0056] Both variants make possible, for example, an arrestment of
the heel region of the ski boot by clamping. However, both also
make possible an arrestment of the heel region of the ski boot in
which the two holding means each hold one another in place in or on
a corresponding clearance or else in a corresponding detent recess
in the heel region of the ski boot.
[0057] Both variants can be modified by, for example, instead of
the ram, the second regions of the two holding means being
connected to one another directly by an elastic element. In the
first variant, this elastic element may be formed in such a way
that the two second regions are pressed apart by a prestressing. In
the second variant, on the other hand, the elastic element may be
formed in such a way that the two second regions are drawn together
by a prestressing. Both have the advantage that a triggering
mechanism for a safety release can be provided in a simple way.
[0058] If the automatic heel unit comprises a ram and two holding
elements each with a first, a second and a middle region, axes that
are aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski
being respectively arranged in the middle region, the holding
elements thus preferably each have in their second region an offset
for interacting with the ram. This has the advantage that an
optimum force transfer from the ram to the holding elements can
take place.
[0059] As a variant of this, the holding elements may each have in
their second regions a clearance for interacting with the ram. This
likewise allows an optimum force transfer from the ram to the
holding elements to take place.
[0060] As an alternative to this, however, there is also the
possibility that the second regions of the holding elements have
neither such offsets nor such clearances.
[0061] If the automatic heel unit comprises two holding elements,
each with a first, a second and a middle region, axes that are
aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski
being respectively arranged in the middle region, it is thus
preferably the case with the holding elements respectively that the
first region is arranged above the middle region and the second
region is arranged below the middle region. This has the advantage
that the two holding elements can be mounted on the heel holder in
such a way that the holding means are arranged in an upper region
of the heel holder, while the second regions are arranged in a
lower region of the heel holder. Since the holding means are
arranged in the upper region of the heel holder, the height of the
heel holder can be minimized.
[0062] If the automatic heel unit comprises a ram and two holding
elements, each with a first, a second and a middle region, axes
that are aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction of the
ski being respectively arranged in the middle region and the first
region being respectively arranged above the middle region and the
second region being respectively arranged below the middle region,
the ram can thus preferably be acted upon by the elastic element
with a downwardly acting force, in order to interact with the
second regions of the holding elements. This has the advantage that
the ram can be arranged with the elastic element substantially
parallel to the two holding elements. In this case, both the
holding elements and the ram with the elastic element can assume
substantially the height of the heel holder. Correspondingly, as a
result a very compact triggering mechanism for a safety release can
be provided and the size of the heel holder can be minimized.
[0063] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the ram is not acted upon by the elastic element with a
downwardly directed force, but with a force acting in another
direction. Depending on the embodiment, this may likewise be
advantageous.
[0064] Preferably, the at least one holding means is at least one
pin, which is aligned substantially in the longitudinal direction
of the ski and as a result can engage in at least one corresponding
opening in the heel region of the ski boot. In this case, the at
least one pin may be aligned exactly parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the ski. However, there is also the possibility that
the at least one pin is aligned at an angle of a few degrees to the
longitudinal direction of the ski. Moreover, if the automatic heel
unit makes a safety release in the forward direction possible, the
at least one pin may be mounted on the heel holder in such a way
that, in the event of such a safety release, it can be pivoted away
laterally from its actual alignment by up to 90 degrees.
[0065] Pins as holding means generally have the advantage that an
arrestment of the heel region of the ski boot can be achieved in a
simple way and that a safety release can be provided in a simple
way. In particular, two pins as holding means have the advantage
that ski boots with two corresponding clearances in the heels for
interacting with two pins are already obtainable on the market. In
this case, the clearances in the heels of these ski boots are open
in the downward direction, in order that, in the event of a safety
release in the forward direction, the ski boot can be moved away
from the pins in the upward direction. Moreover, the clearances in
the heels of these ski boots each have a detent recess, in which
the pins can engage for an arrestment of the heel of the ski boot.
In this case, the arrestment of the ski boot is achieved by the two
pins being pressed toward one another by a force, whereby they hold
one another in the corresponding detent recess.
[0066] As a variant of at least one pin as at least one holding
means, there is also the possibility that the at least one holding
means is differently formed. For example, the at least one holding
means may also have a shell form, which encloses the sole of the
ski boot in the heel region laterally as well as above and below.
Such heel jaws are known for example from downhill ski bindings and
also from some ski-touring bindings. As a further variant of this,
such a shell form may however also for example be configured in a
two-part manner, two holding means together forming a corresponding
shell form.
[0067] As an alternative to this, the at least one holding means
may however also be differently formed.
[0068] If the automatic heel unit comprises at least one holding
unit with an axis aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski and the at least one holding means is at least
one pin, the at least one pin and the axis of the at least one
holding element that is aligned substantially in the longitudinal
direction of the ski are thus preferably aligned substantially
parallel to one another. This has the advantage that, when there is
a pivoting movement of the at least one holding element, an
extension of the at least one pin in the longitudinal direction of
the ski remains of the same magnitude. As a result, the interaction
of the at least one pin with the heel of the ski boot can also be
better controlled during a pivoting movement of the at least one
holding element. If such a pivoting movement of the at least one
holding element is required for the carrying out of a safety
release in the forward direction, better control of a safety
release in the forward direction is also made possible as a result.
This advantage also comes to bear in the case of a variant in which
the automatic heel unit comprises two such holding elements each
with a pin. Moreover, such a variant of the automatic heel unit may
be used together with ski boots obtainable on the market that
comprise two corresponding clearances in the heels for interacting
with the pins.
[0069] As a variant of this, the at least one pin and the axis of
the corresponding at least one holding element that is aligned
substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski may,
however, also not be aligned parallel to one another.
[0070] In a first, preferred variant, the heel holder is rotatable
about an axis substantially perpendicular to the ski. In this case,
in the downhill position, the heel holder is preferably turned
about the axis substantially perpendicular to the ski into an
alignment parallel to the ski, whereby the at least one holding
means can interact with the heel region of the ski boot held in the
ski binding in such a way that the ski boot is arrested in a
lowered position. Moreover, it is preferred that, in the at least
one climbing position, the heel holder is turned away from an
alignment parallel to the ski about the axis substantially
perpendicular to the ski, so that the heel region of the ski boot
held in the ski binding is released. In this case, the axis
substantially perpendicular to the ski may be aligned exactly
perpendicularly to the ski or else at an angle of a few degrees
from a vertical alignment. The turning of the heel holder about the
axis substantially perpendicular to the ski has the advantage that
the automatic heel unit can be transferred from the downhill
position into the at least one climbing position and back in a
simple way.
[0071] There is in this respect the possibility that the heel
holder is mounted on the carriage rotatably about the axis
substantially perpendicular to the ski. In this case, in the
downhill position, the axis substantially perpendicular to the ski
is movable together with the carriage and the heel holder with
respect to the base element in the longitudinal direction of the
ski along the dynamic region. It may thereby also be the case for
example in the climbing position that the heel holder is movable
together with the carriage with respect to the base element in the
longitudinal direction of the ski along the dynamic region, the
heel holder however being turned away from an alignment parallel to
the ski about the axis substantially perpendicular to the ski, so
that the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding is
released. Within the scope of this possible embodiment there is
also the possibility that, in the climbing position, the movement
of the carriage along a dynamic region is blocked.
[0072] As an alternative to this, there is the possibility that a
turning part is mounted on the base element rotatably about the
axis substantially perpendicular to the ski and the carriage is
mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on this turning part by a
guide. In this case, in the downhill position, the carriage with
the heel holder is movable with respect to the base element on the
guide in the longitudinal direction of the ski along the dynamic
region, while the axis substantially perpendicular to the ski
remains in the same position in relation to the base element, and
consequently in relation to the ski. Correspondingly, in this case,
in the climbing position, the guide of the carriage is turned away
from an alignment parallel to the ski on the turning part.
[0073] In a second, preferred variant, the heel holder cannot be
transferred from the downhill position into the at least one
climbing position and back rotatably about the automatic heel unit,
about an axis substantially perpendicular to the ski, as in the
first, preferred variant. In this second, preferred variant, in the
downhill position, the carriage has been displaced together with
the heel holder in the forward direction with respect to the base
element, whereby the at least one holding means can interact with
the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding in such a
way that the ski boot is arrested in a lowered position. Moreover,
in the at least one climbing position, the carriage has preferably
been displaced together with the heel holder with respect to the
base element into a rearward position in such a way that the heel
region of the ski boot held in the ski binding is released. This
second variant has the advantage that the heel of the ski boot
takes place by a displacement of the carriage together with the
heel holder in the longitudinal direction of the ski. If, for the
arrestment of the heel region of the ski boot, the at least one
holding means, pointing from the rear to the front, engages in the
heel region of the ski boot or engages around the heel region of
the ski boot, the automatic heel unit can as a result be
transferred from the downhill position into the at least one
climbing position and back without the ski boot first having to be
released completely from the ski binding. This is advantageous in
particular also in a variant in which the automatic heel unit
comprises two pins as holding means.
[0074] As alternatives to these two preferred variants, there is
however also the possibility that the heel holder is for example
configured such that it can be tilted laterally or to the rear, it
being tilted laterally or to the rear in the at least one climbing
position. Especially the alternative with the heel holder that can
be tilted to the rear may be advantageous if the at least one
holding means has a shell form that encloses the sole of the ski
boot in the heel region laterally as well as above and below. In
this case, this shell-shaped holding means may be a heel jaw, as is
known from downhill ski bindings and also from some ski-touring
bindings.
[0075] If the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is
in a forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, the automatic heel
unit advantageously comprises an intermediate piece which is
displaceable with respect to the base element in the longitudinal
direction of the ski, is acted upon by an elastic element with a
forwardly directed force with respect to the base element and on
which the carriage is displaceably mounted. In this case, the
carriage is preferably displaced into a rearward position with
respect to the intermediate piece in the at least one climbing
position and is displaced into a forward position with respect to
the intermediate piece in the downhill position and is movable
together with the intermediate piece with respect to the base
element in the longitudinal direction of the ski along the dynamic
region. For this purpose, there is the possibility for example that
the carriage is guided on a linear guide on the base element and
the intermediate piece is enclosed between the carriage and the
base element such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal
direction of the ski. The intermediate piece may in this case be
acted upon by the elastic element with a forwardly directed force
with respect to the base element, while the carriage may be mounted
on the intermediate piece in such a way that the carriage is
displaceable into a forward position and a rearward position with
respect to the intermediate piece by mechanical action. The
mechanical action for displacing the carriage with respect to the
intermediate piece may take place for example by a deflecting lever
or a slide with two detent positions. However, there is also the
possibility that the intermediate piece is guided displaceably on
the base element in one linear guide, while the carriage is guided
on the intermediate piece in a further linear guide. All of these
possibilities have the advantage that the functionality for
adjusting the automatic heel unit from the downhill position into
the at least one climbing position and back can be separated
structurally in a simple way from the functionality whereby, in the
downhill position, the heel holder is movable together with the
carriage along the dynamic region.
[0076] It may however equally be advantageous if the automatic heel
unit is formed without an intermediate piece. If, for example, in
the downhill position, the carriage is acted upon by an elastic
element with a forwardly directed force and is pressed in the
direction of the front end of the dynamic region, the carriage can
also be easily formed such that it can be moved in the rearward
direction against this forwardly directed force. In this case, in
the at least one climbing position, the carriage may be pressed
into the rearward position against the forwardly directed force.
This variant has the advantage that the automatic heel unit can be
formed more simply and at lower cost.
[0077] If the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is
in a forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, the automatic heel
unit thus preferably comprises an adjusting lever that has a
downhill position and at least one climbing position, wherein, by
positioning the adjusting lever in the downhill position, the
automatic heel unit can be brought into the downhill position and,
by positioning the adjusting lever in one of the at least one
climbing positions, can be brought into the corresponding one of
the at least one climbing positions. This has the advantage that
the automatic heel unit can be brought from the downhill position
into the at least one climbing position in a simple way.
[0078] As an alternative to this, the automatic heel unit may also
not comprise such an adjusting lever.
[0079] If the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is
in a forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, and if the
automatic heel unit comprises an adjusting lever, the adjusting
lever is thus preferably mounted on the base element pivotably
about an axis of rotation oriented horizontally in the transverse
direction of the ski. This has the advantage that the automatic
heel unit can be transferred from the downhill position into the at
least one climbing position and back in a simple way by the
adjusting lever being pivoted upward in the forward direction or
downward in the rearward direction. In this case, the mounting on
the base element has the advantage that the axis of rotation is
fixed to the ski, which facilitates actuation of the adjusting
lever.
[0080] If the adjusting lever is mounted on the base element
pivotably about an axis of rotation oriented horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski and, in the downhill position, the
carriage is acted upon by an elastic element with a forwardly
directed force and is pressed in the direction of a front end of
the dynamic region, the adjusting lever preferably has at least one
counterpart, against which the carriage is pressed. This
counterpart can preferably be moved in the rearward direction by
adjusting the adjusting lever from the downhill position into one
of the at least one climbing positions, whereby the carriage is
moved into the rearward position against the forwardly directed
force and the automatic heel unit is brought into one of the at
least one climbing positions. Furthermore, this counterpart can
preferably be moved forward by adjusting the adjusting lever from
one of the at least one climbing positions into the downhill
position, whereby a space in front of the carriage is freed and the
carriage is moved in the forward direction by the forwardly
directed force and the automatic heel unit is brought into the
downhill position.
[0081] If the automatic heel unit comprises an adjusting lever and
the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably in the
longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is in a
forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, in a variant it is
thus also possible for the adjusting lever to be mounted on the
carriage pivotably about an axis of rotation oriented horizontally
in the transverse direction of the ski. In this case there is the
possibility that the adjusting lever has at least one counterpart,
which together with the carriage is pressed against a stop on the
base element. This counterpart can preferably be moved in the
forward direction by adjusting the adjusting lever from the
downhill position into one of the at least one climbing positions,
whereby the carriage is moved into the rearward position against
the forwardly directed force and the automatic heel unit is brought
into one of the at least one climbing positions. Furthermore, there
is the possibility that this counterpart is moved in the rearward
direction by adjusting the adjusting lever from one of the at least
one climbing positions into the downhill position, whereby a space
in front of the carriage is freed and the carriage is moved in the
forward direction by the forwardly directed force and the automatic
heel unit is brought into the downhill position.
[0082] As a variant of this, there is also the possibility that the
adjusting lever is mounted both on the base element and on the
carriage.
[0083] If the automatic heel unit comprises an intermediate piece,
there are further variants of how the adjusting lever can be
mounted. Thus, the adjusting lever may for example be pivotably
mounted both on the intermediate piece and on the carriage, in each
case about an axis of rotation oriented horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski. However, there is also the
possibility that the adjusting lever is pivotably mounted both on
the base element and on the carriage, in each case about an axis of
rotation oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the
ski.
[0084] If the adjusting lever is mounted pivotably about an axis of
rotation oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the
ski on the base element, on the carriage or, if present, on the
intermediate piece, the adjusting lever preferably has a support
for the heel region of the ski boot that has been pivoted into the
path of movement of the heel region when the adjusting lever is
positioned in a corresponding one of the at least one climbing
positions and, as a result, limits lowering of the heel region of
the ski boot toward the ski. This has the advantage that a climbing
aid can be provided by the adjusting lever. Since, as a result, a
separate climbing aid is not required, the automatic heel unit can
be produced in a correspondingly simple, light and low-cost
form.
[0085] If the adjusting lever is mounted pivotably about an axis of
rotation oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the
ski on the base element, on the carriage or, if present, on the
intermediate piece, the adjusting lever preferably has at least two
climbing positions and at least two supports for the heel region of
the ski boot, one of the at least two supports respectively being
pivoted into the path of movement of the heel region when the
adjusting lever is positioned in a corresponding one of the at
least two climbing positions of the adjusting lever, so that the at
least two supports respectively limit lowering of the heel region
of the ski boot toward the ski at a different distance from the
ski. This has the advantage that at least two different climbing
aids are provided. This has the advantage firstly that greater
walking comfort is achieved and secondly that no separate elements
are required on the automatic heel unit for these two climbing
aids. Correspondingly, the automatic heel unit can be produced in a
simple, light and low-cost form.
[0086] If the adjusting lever is mounted pivotably about an axis of
rotation oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the
ski on the base element, on the carriage or, if present, on the
intermediate piece, the adjusting lever advantageously has a
climbing position, in which the adjusting lever is at a distance
from the path of movement of the heel region of the ski boot,
whereby the ski boot can be lowered toward the ski as far as a
supporting element of the automatic heel unit. This has the
advantage that optimum walking comfort is achieved for the skier on
flat terrain.
[0087] As a variant of this, the adjusting lever may also have a
climbing position in which the adjusting lever is at a distance
from the path of movement of the heel region of the ski boot,
whereby the ski boot can be lowered toward the ski as far as a
supporting element of the automatic heel unit, but the adjusting
lever also having one or more further climbing positions and an
equal number of supports for the heel region of the ski boot, one
of these supports respectively being pivoted into the path of
movement of the heel region when the adjusting lever is positioned
in a corresponding climbing position of the adjusting lever, so
that the corresponding support respectively limits lowering of the
heel region of the ski boot toward the ski at a different distance
from the ski. This has the advantage that optimum walking comfort
can be achieved for the skier in a simple way on flat and variably
inclined terrain.
[0088] If the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is
in a forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, the automatic heel
unit preferably has at least two climbing positions, the carriage
being in the same rearward position in all of the climbing
positions. As already mentioned, in the various climbing positions,
various climbing aids can respectively limit lowering of the heel
region of the ski boot toward the ski at a different distance from
the ski. In this case, these climbing aids may be arranged on a
possibly present adjusting lever or else be provided as separate
elements. Since the carriage is not displaced when adjusting from
one climbing aid to another climbing aid, a distance over which the
carriage is displaceable when adjusting between the downhill
position and the at least two climbing positions can be minimized.
This allows the automatic heel unit to be designed more compactly.
Moreover, the automatic heel unit can be produced in a simpler,
lower-cost and lighter form.
[0089] As a variant of this, however, there is also the possibility
that the carriage is formed such that it is displaceable in the
longitudinal direction of the ski when adjusting between the at
least two climbing positions. Moreover, however, there is also the
variant that the automatic heel unit has only one climbing
position.
[0090] If the carriage is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way that it is
in a forward position in the downhill position and in a rearward
position in the at least one climbing position, the automatic heel
unit preferably has a ski brake with a braking member. This braking
member advantageously comprises a rest position and a braking
position, the braking member being assigned an actuating member,
which can be actuated in such a way that the braking member goes
over from the braking position into the rest position when the heel
region of the ski boot is lowered toward the ski when stepping into
the binding. In this case, in the climbing position, the braking
member of the ski brake can preferably be kept in the rest position
by a holding mechanism, by a first element of the holding mechanism
that is arranged on the base element and a second element of the
holding mechanism that is arranged on the ski brake interacting.
Furthermore, the ski brake is advantageously arranged on the
carriage, whereby, in the downhill position, the ski brake together
with the carriage is pushed in the forward direction and the first
element and the second element are at a distance from one another
and, in the at least one climbing position, the ski brake together
with the carriage is pushed into the rearward position, whereby the
first element and the second element can interact. This has the
advantage that, in the downhill position, the braking member can be
released in a simple way and that, in the at least one climbing
position, the braking member can be kept in the rest position in a
simple way. Correspondingly, an automatic heel unit with this
functionality can be produced in a simple and low-cost form.
[0091] As a variant of this, however, the ski brake may also be
arranged on the base element or, if present, on the intermediate
piece. Moreover, there is the possibility that the holding
mechanism is formed in some other way.
[0092] If the intermediate piece is present, the first element of
the holding mechanism may for example also be arranged on the
intermediate piece and not on the base element.
[0093] As an alternative, however, there is also the possibility
that the automatic heel unit does not have a ski brake.
[0094] If the automatic heel unit comprises a ski brake arranged on
the carriage and if the carriage is mounted on the base element
displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the ski in such a way
that it is in a forward position in the downhill position and in a
rearward position in the at least one climbing position, the first
and/or the second element of the holding mechanism is
advantageously formed elastically or movably, so that, in the at
least one climbing position, the braking member can be transferred
from the braking position into the rest position, the first and the
second element of the holding mechanism being able to snap into one
another, whereby the braking member can be kept in the rest
position by the interaction of the first and second elements of the
holding mechanism. In this case, the first and second elements of
the holding mechanism are preferably formed in such a way that a
transfer of the automatic heel unit into the downhill position and
corresponding displacement of the carriage into the forward
position has the effect that the interaction of the first and
second elements of the holding mechanism is suspended, whereby the
braking member is released and can go over into the braking
position. This has the advantage that optimum functionality of the
ski brake can be ensured. As an alternative to this, however, there
is also the possibility that the elements of the holding mechanism
are differently formed.
[0095] A second invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a
ski binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, with a base
element for mounting the automatic heel unit on the upper side of a
ski, a carriage which is mounted on the base element displaceably
in the longitudinal direction of the ski and on which there is
arranged a heel holder with at least one holding means for holding
a ski boot in a heel region of the ski boot, and a ski brake with a
braking member. This braking member comprises a rest position and a
braking position, the braking member being assigned an actuating
member, which can be actuated in such a way that the braking member
goes over from the braking position into the rest position when the
heel region of the ski boot is lowered toward the ski when stepping
into the binding. Such an automatic heel unit has a downhill
position, in which the carriage has been displaced together with
the heel holder in the forward direction with respect to the base
element in such a way that the at least one holding means can
interact with the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski
binding in such a way that the ski boot is arrested in a lowered
position. Furthermore, such an automatic heel unit has at least one
climbing position, in which the carriage has been displaced
together with the heel holder into a rearward position with respect
to the base element in such a way that the heel region of the ski
boot held in the ski binding is released. In this case, in the at
least one climbing position, the braking member of the ski brake
can be kept in the rest position by a holding mechanism, by a first
element of the holding mechanism that is arranged on the base
element and a second element of the holding mechanism that is
arranged on the ski brake interacting.
[0096] The object of the second invention is to provide an
automatic heel unit having a ski brake and belonging to the
technical field mentioned here with which, in the at least one
climbing position, the braking member can be kept in the rest
position in a simple way.
[0097] The solution by which the object is achieved is defined by
the ski brake being arranged on the carriage, whereby, in the
downhill position, the ski brake together with the carriage has
been pushed into the forward position and the first element and the
second element are at a distance from one another and, in the at
least one climbing position, the ski brake together with the
carriage has been pushed into the rearward position, whereby the
first holding element and the second holding element can
interact.
[0098] This has the advantage that, in the downhill position, the
braking member can be released in a simple way and that, in the at
least one climbing position, the braking member can be kept in the
rest position in a simple way. Correspondingly, an automatic heel
unit with this functionality can be produced in a simple and
low-cost form.
[0099] In the case of an automatic heel unit according to the
solution by which the object of the further invention is achieved,
the first and/or the second element of the holding mechanism is
advantageously formed elastically or movably, so that, in the at
least one climbing position, the braking member can be transferred
from the braking position into the rest position, the first and the
second element of the holding mechanism being able to snap into one
another, whereby the braking member can be kept in the rest
position by the interaction of the first and second elements of the
holding mechanism. In this case, the first and second elements of
the holding mechanism are preferably formed in such a way that a
transfer of the automatic heel unit into the downhill position and
corresponding displacement of the carriage into the forward
position has the effect that the interaction of the first and
second elements of the holding mechanism is suspended, whereby the
braking member is released and can go over into the braking
position. This has the advantage that optimum functionality of the
ski brake can be ensured. As an alternative to this, however, there
is also the possibility that the elements of the holding mechanism
are differently formed.
[0100] A third invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a
ski binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, with a base part
for mounting the automatic heel unit on the upper side of a ski and
a carriage mounted on the base part displaceably in the
longitudinal direction, on which carriage there is provided a sole
holder with a holding means for holding a ski boot sole in the heel
region, wherein an adjusting lever that is pivotably mounted on the
automatic heel unit and can be actuated by a user for adjusting the
automatic heel unit between a downhill position and at least one
climbing position is present, and the adjusting lever is in a
locking position in the downhill position and in a release
position, pivoted with respect to the locking position, in the at
least one climbing position, wherein, in the downhill position, the
carriage has been displaced together with the sole holder into a
forward position with respect to the base part in such a way that
the holding means can interact with the heel region of a ski boot
held in the binding in such a way that the heel region of the ski
boot is arrested in a lowered position and, in the at least one
climbing position, the carriage has been displaced together with
the sole holder into a rearward position with respect to the base
part in such a way that a heel region of the ski boot held in the
ski binding is released.
[0101] The object of this third invention is to provide a safety
automatic heel unit belonging to the technical field mentioned at
the beginning that is convenient to handle while being of a light
and simple structural design.
[0102] The solution by which this object is achieved is defined by
the adjusting lever of the automatic heel unit being mounted in a
first bearing on the carriage and in a second bearing on the base
part, the first bearing being arranged on the carriage in a region
of the length in front of the sole holder.
[0103] Here and hereafter, reference is made for orientation to a
ski on which the automatic heel unit is mounted in the way
intended. In particular, in this case a mounting area of the base
part or of a baseplate of the base part is fastened on the surface
of the ski parallel to an upper side of the ski. A longitudinal
direction of the base part is in this case aligned parallel to a
longitudinal direction of the ski, a direction toward the tip of
the ski, i.e. in the traveling direction of the ski, being referred
to as "front" and a direction toward the end of the ski being
referred to as "rear". In the mounted state, the automatic heel
unit is also aligned in such a way that the holding means of the
sole holder is directed toward the front. On account of the
coplanar arrangement in the mounted state, an alignment
perpendicular to the mounting area of the base part is also
referred to as a direction perpendicular to the ski. Unless
otherwise mentioned, a direction parallel to the mounting area or
the upper side of the ski and largely perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction of the base part is referred to as the
transverse direction or transversely to the longitudinal direction
of the ski. It also goes without saying that, in the case of the
relevant type of ski-touring bindings, the distance from the front
jaw at which the automatic heel unit must be mounted on the ski is
dictated by the length of a ski boot sole, within the limits of
adjustability of the automatic heel unit. The climbing position,
already mentioned at the beginning, in which a heel of the ski boot
is released, consequently always relates to the downhill position,
in which the heel of the ski boot can be locked in the same
mounting position of the automatic heel unit.
[0104] According to the invention, the adjusting lever is mounted
on the automatic heel unit at at least two bearing points, on the
one hand in a first bearing on the carriage that is displaceable
with respect to the base part and on the other hand in a second
bearing on the base part. On account of the mounting in two
bearings on the two mutually displaceable parts of the automatic
heel unit, the adjusting lever is suitable for making a
displacement of the carriage with respect to the base part possible
when the adjusting lever on the automatic heel unit is pivoted, for
example by a user.
[0105] Here, the bearings may generally be for example both linear
bearings for guiding a straight or curved movement of the adjusting
lever and radial bearings for guided rotation or comprise a
combination of the aforementioned types of bearing. In particular,
the bearings may be configured as rolling bearings or sliding
bearings, it being possible for actual configurations to comprise,
for example, grooves with studs guided therein as well as axles or
stub axles. A person skilled in the art can draw here from a
multitude of known bearings and bearing systems.
[0106] The fact that, according to the invention, the first bearing
is arranged in front of the sole holder means that the adjusting
lever is mounted and supported on the automatic heel unit in a
region of the length in which a heel region of the ski boot is
arranged when it is lowered toward the ski or locked in the
binding. A force acting on the adjusting lever in this region of
the length can consequently be removed optimally, i.e. with
smallest possible leverages and without additional support,
directly via the first bearing to the automatic heel unit and via
the latter to the ski. In particular, in the case where the first
bearing comprises a rotary bearing, the adjusting lever may be
pivoted about a first geometrical axis of rotation, defined by the
rotary bearing, in such a way that it is arranged in a righted
state in front of the sole holder below a heel region of a ski boot
held in the binding. In the case of a displacing guide, the
adjusting lever may be displaced into the front region of the
carriage and in the case of a combination bearing displaced and
righted.
[0107] The adjusting lever can consequently be brought into a
position in front of the sole holder where it can interact with a
ski boot held in the binding in a further function, for example as
a climbing aid to support a heel region of the ski boot. In
particular, according to the invention, the first bearing is in
this case located in a region of the length in which the greatest
loading of the adjusting lever by the ski boot can be expected.
[0108] The arrangement according to the invention of the adjusting
lever with a first bearing on the carriage in front of the sole
holder consequently makes multipurpose use of the adjusting lever
possible, whereby the automatic heel unit can be formed in a
structurally simple and light way. Moreover, removal of forces
acting on the adjusting lever is optimized by the arrangement
according to the invention, by the adjusting lever being supported
in that region of the length in which the greatest forces directed
toward the ski are to be expected when climbing with the heel of
the ski boot released.
[0109] In a preferred embodiment, the holding means of the heel jaw
are formed as two pins that protrude from a front end face of the
sole holder, formed as an abutting area, forward in the direction
of a front jaw of the binding. For locking the ski boot, the pins
engage in corresponding clearances, which are typically formed on a
heel-side end face of the ski boot sole. The pins thereby engage in
corresponding detent notches of the clearances.
[0110] In order to ensure that even demanding requirements for the
safety of relevant ski bindings are met, the sole holder of the
automatic heel unit is preferably provided with mechanisms for
safety release that make possible both a forward release (in the
case of loading of the ski boot toward the ski tip) and a sideways
release (in the case of loading of the ski boot transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the ski).
[0111] In order to ensure a safety release in the forward
direction, in a preferred embodiment the pins are respectively
mounted on the sole holder rotatably about vertical axes that are
largely perpendicular to the ski. For the engagement in the detent
notches of the clearances on the ski boot, the pins are subjected
to a correspondingly directed spring force, typically inward toward
a center vertical plane of the ski. If forwardly directed forces
acting on the ski boot exceed a certain threshold value, this
spring force is overcome and the pins slide out of the detent
notches, whereby the heel of the boot is released (forward
release). In order to achieve improved force transfer and to
simplify the structural design of the sole holder, in the case of
the present automatic heel unit the pins are mounted in a front
region at the abutting area of the sole holder. In this case,
rocker arms that are rigidly connected to the pins and extend from
the mountings into the sole holder in the rearward direction are
acted upon by a wedge-shaped thrust piece with a spring force in
the forward direction and are thus forced apart symmetrically. The
pins mounted oppositely with respect to the mountings of the rocker
arms and extending in the forward direction are consequently
subjected to the spring force toward a central vertical plane of
the ski. Consequently, a releasing force for the forward release
can be provided in a simple way by means of the compression spring,
a prestressing of the compression spring, that can be set for
example by means of an adjusting device, determining the releasing
force. This particularly simple mechanism for providing the
releasing force is obtained, inter alia, by the mounting of the
pins in the front region of the sole holder. With preference, the
pins are also inclined slightly in the inward direction and in the
downward direction toward the ski with respect to a central
vertical plane of the ski, whereby improved securement of the ski
boot in the heel region is achieved.
[0112] In order to ensure a sideways release of the automatic heel
unit, the entire sole holder is advantageously mounted on the
carriage rotatably with respect to a vertical axis that is largely
perpendicular to the ski. For this purpose, the carriage has a
largely circular-cylindrical base, on which the sole holder is
rotatably mounted with a corresponding bearing sleeve. The base has
circumferentially in a rear region a flattened portion, against
which a thrust piece of the sole holder subjected to a spring force
abuts. In order to deflect the sole holder sideways in the case of
a sideways release to release the heel of the boot, the thrust
piece must be displaced in the rearward direction against the
spring force on account of the flattened portion on the base. If
then a sufficiently great lateral force acts on the heel of the ski
boot, the sole holder is taken along on account of the engagement
of the holding means and is deflected laterally against the
releasing force. With sufficiently further deflection, the holding
means become disengaged from the ski boot sole and the heel region
is released (sideways release). The compression spring may
advantageously be provided with a prestressing by means of a
setting device for setting the required releasing force.
[0113] As is customary in the case of the relevant type of
ski-touring bindings, the automatic heel unit according to the
invention can be mounted on a ski independently of a front jaw. In
particular, the locking and the release of the heel of the ski
boot, which is provided by the automatic heel unit in an
advantageous way, is largely independent of the actual
configuration of the front jaw. The automatic heel unit can
consequently also be used in conjunction with known front jaws of
the Dynafit-like binding systems described at the beginning.
However, it is also conceivable to use the automatic heel unit in
conjunction with other binding systems in which a heel of a ski
boot that can be lifted off from the ski is achieved for example by
a boot that is elastically formed in the ball region and is fixed
to the front jaw in the toe/ball region (as is known for example
also in the case of Telemark bindings). However, it is generally
recommendable to use the automatic heel unit in conjunction with a
front jaw made to match it, in order to ensure optimum
functionality of the binding system as a whole. The applicant
therefore also offers on the market a Safety-Pin-System (SPS)
binding system, which comprises an automatic heel unit according to
the invention in conjunction with a front jaw not described in any
more detail here.
[0114] With preference, the base part of the automatic heel unit
comprises a baseplate for mounting on the ski and an intermediate
piece, the intermediate piece being supported on the base part
displaceably with respect to the baseplate rearwardly in the
longitudinal direction against a restoring force. For this purpose,
the intermediate piece has for example a spindle drive arranged in
the longitudinal direction with a screw thread portion that engages
in a toothing formed correspondingly on the baseplate or in a
(partial) thread. The spindle drive is in this case mounted
longitudinally displaceably in a guided manner on the intermediate
piece, a resilient element, preferably a helical spring, being
arranged between the screw thread portion and the intermediate
piece (advantageously in front of the screw thread) for producing
the restoring force (if arranged in front of the screw thread, said
spring can be compressively loaded).
[0115] The spindle drive achieves the effect on the one hand that
an absolute longitudinal position of the intermediate piece with
respect to the baseplate fixed to the ski can be set. If the
carriage is coupled to the intermediate piece with respect to a
longitudinal displacement, a longitudinal position of the sole
holder can thus be adapted to a ski boot. On the other hand, the
intermediate piece and any parts of the automatic heel unit that
may be coupled thereto can yield with respect to the spindle drive
(and consequently also with respect to the baseplate) under loading
in the rearward direction against the restoring force on account of
the resilient support of the intermediate piece.
[0116] With preference, in the downhill position, the carriage is
therefore coupled largely rigidly to the intermediate piece, in
order by means of the intermediate piece to support the carriage on
the baseplate displaceably in the rearward direction, likewise
against the restoring force. When there is a rearwardly directed
force from the heel of the ski boot on the sole holder, for example
in the case of flexing of the ski, the sole holder can thus yield
resiliently in the rearward direction together with the carriage.
This is advantageously achieved by the second bearing being formed
on the intermediate piece, whereby the carriage can interact with
the intermediate piece via the adjusting lever. If for example the
bearings and the adjusting lever are suitably formed and arranged,
it is possible by the alignment of the adjusting lever in the
locking position to achieve the effect that the carriage is coupled
to the intermediate piece largely rigidly with respect to a
longitudinal displacement in the rearward direction (for example
dead-center position). With preference, latching devices that
engage the adjusting lever in the locking position, for example on
the intermediate piece, and thereby ensure the largely rigid
coupling, are additionally provided.
[0117] The resilient support of the sole holder on the base part
fixed to the ski achieves the effect that, unlike known automatic
heel units of relevant binding systems, a rear end face of the ski
boot sole can abut against an abutting area of the sole holder
arranged in front in the longitudinal direction when the ski boot
is locked in the downhill position. This is not possible in the
case of conventional bindings of the relevant type, since the sole
holder is rigidly connected to the ski and, for example in the case
of flexing of the ski, damage to the heel jaw or blocking of the
safety release must be expected. The fact that the boot sole abuts
against the abutting area means that both a sideways safety release
and a forward safety release of the sole holder can be controlled
better. In particular, for this purpose the abutting area may for
example have a bi-convex curvature, so that in the case of both
types of safety release the heel-side end face of the sole can roll
or slide on the abutting area. The fact that the boot sole can
reach as far as the abutting area means that the holding means can
be formed in a more compact manner, i.e. for example shorter in the
longitudinal direction, and consequently lighter, since no distance
from the boot sole has to be bridged.
[0118] If the second bearing is formed fixedly on the base part and
not on a resiliently supported intermediate piece, to ensure
resilient yielding of the sole holder in the event of flexing of
the ski it would be necessary for example for one of the two
bearings to be formed in such a way that either the carriage can
yield with respect to the adjusting lever or the carriage together
with the adjusting lever can yield with respect to the base part
resiliently in the rearward direction. While such a structural
design may be advantageous, depending on the requirements, the
resultant structural design of the resilient bearing is
complex.
[0119] In a preferred embodiment, the first bearing is formed as a
standard rotary bearing that defines a first geometrical axis of
rotation of the adjusting lever arranged parallel to the upper side
of the ski and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the
ski. The adjusting lever can consequently be pivoted about the
first axis of rotation forwardly in the longitudinal direction of
the ski, and consequently raised up from a pivoted position largely
parallel to the ski, or rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of
the ski, and for example lowered onto the ski. The fact that the
adjusting lever is mounted on the carriage in a standard rotary
bearing means that, on account of the single rotational degree of
freedom of the bearing, the operative connection of the adjusting
lever to the carriage is defined with respect to a longitudinal
displacement of the carriage, i.e. a translation in the
longitudinal direction. A displacement of that region of the
adjusting lever in which the first bearing point is arranged in the
longitudinal direction consequently also results in a displacement
of the carriage.
[0120] In particular, the second bearing may be formed in such a
way that, in the downhill position, it is arranged in a region of
the length at the holding means of the sole holder. The fact that,
in the downhill position, the first bearing is provided in front of
the sole holder and the second bearing is provided in the region of
the length of the holding means, i.e. in a region of the length at
a front end of the sole holder, means that the two bearings are
arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction in the
downhill position. A transfer of longitudinal forces on the
carriage to the base part can consequently take place via the
adjusting lever with lowest possible transverse forces. In
particular, in the locking position the adjusting lever may for
this purpose be arranged largely parallel to the ski, in order to
transfer any longitudinal forces from the carriage largely in its
longitudinal direction optimally to the base part or the
intermediate piece of the base part.
[0121] The automatic heel unit is advantageously formed in such a
way that, in every position of the automatic heel unit, the first
geometrical axis of rotation, defined by the bearing, is arranged
at the same height, i.e. the same height over a surface of the ski,
with respect to a direction perpendicular to the ski. Consequently,
a displacing guide that ensures the longitudinal displaceability of
the carriage with respect to the base part can be formed in a
simple way likewise parallel to the surface of the ski or parallel
to the mounting area of the base part, for example as a simple
rail.
[0122] In order to ensure a defined displacement of the carriage
with respect to the base part when adjusting the automatic heel
unit from the downhill position into the climbing position or vice
versa, the second bearing preferably comprises a displacing guide
on which the adjusting lever is mounted displaceably and in a
guided manner with respect to the base part, the displacing guide
providing in particular a guided displacement in the direction
largely perpendicular to the ski. This ensures that, in the case of
a first bearing formed as a standard rotary bearing, when there is
a displacement of the carriage in the rearward direction the
adjusting lever in the second bearing can yield in the upward
direction in the displacing guide. Conversely, when there is an
actuation of the adjusting lever, i.e. the pivoted position of the
adjusting lever is changed by a user, the adjusting lever is
supported on the second bearing by means of the second bearing
point in such a way that a force in the longitudinal direction is
exerted on the carriage by means of the first bearing, via the
first bearing point at a distance from the second bearing point,
resulting in a displacement of the carriage.
[0123] If the adjusting lever is pivoted with respect to the heel
jaw, there is firstly a rotation about the first geometrical axis
of rotation of the first rotary bearing. Superposed on the rotation
is a translation in the displacing guide of the second bearing. The
adjusting lever is thereby also rotated in the displacing guide at
its second bearing point about a second geometrical axis of
rotation. Consequently, when there is pivoting of the adjusting
lever, this produces the overall effect of a rotation about a
geometrical pivoting axis at the time of the adjusting lever that
moves in a translatory manner on a geometrical path with respect to
the automatic heel unit. Depending on how the bearings are formed,
the geometrical path may in this case be straight or curved. Both
the geometrical pivoting axis at the time and the geometrical path
are virtual and have no structural elements.
[0124] In particular, the movement of the adjusting lever during
the pivoting is completely defined overall with respect to the base
part on account of the mounting in the two bearings and the
longitudinal displaceability of the carriage, i.e. on account of
the displacing guide of the base part, on which the carriage is
guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner.
[0125] In principle, it is also conceivable to form a displacing
guide in the first bearing and to form the second bearing as a
standard rotary bearing. Such a structural design however requires
a greater overall height of the carriage, since a displacement
perpendicularly to the ski of the first geometrical axis of
rotation requires that the displacing guide is correspondingly
dimensioned in the direction perpendicular to the ski. Furthermore,
under some circumstances it is also advantageous to form both
bearings as combined displacing guides and rotary bearings, though
such a structural design is more complex. Instead of displacing
guides, articulated mechanisms that make a translation of one of
the geometrical axes of rotation possible could also be provided.
However, articulated mechanisms are generally of a more complex
structural design and more susceptible to mechanical damage.
[0126] The second bearing advantageously comprises as a displacing
guide a slotted link, in which the adjusting lever is guided
displaceably by a slider and rotatably about a second geometrical
axis of rotation. The slotted link has for example a slit, fillet
or groove, in/on which a slider is positively guided on both sides.
A movement of the slotted link that is not directed into the
tangential direction at the time of the guideway consequently
results in a movement of the slider, and vice versa. A transfer
function of the slotted link is in this case determined by the
shape of the slit, fillet or groove and can be adapted within wide
limits to the actual requirements (for example the geometry of the
adjusting lever, carriage, base part, etc.). In particular, the
slotted link may guide the slider for example on a path that is
straight or curved in a certain portion or portions. If the slider
is correspondingly formed, such as for example as stub axles, it
may be freely rotatable within the slotted link, the slider
defining the second geometrical axis of rotation. The slider is
preferably provided largely fixedly on the adjusting lever and thus
forms the second bearing point of the adjusting lever. The slotted
link consequently makes a displaceability of the adjusting lever in
the second bearing possible and allows a rotation about the second
geometrical axis of rotation.
[0127] With preference, the slotted link comprises a slot and the
slider has a transverse pin, the transverse pin being mounted on
the adjusting lever and guided displaceably in the slot. The slot
in this case preferably forms a passage in the transverse direction
through the base part or, if the second bearing is formed on the
intermediate piece, through the intermediate piece, so that the
transverse pin can pass through the slot and protrude to both sides
of the intermediate piece with respect to a longitudinal direction
of the ski. In this way, the intermediate piece can be arranged
centrally on the baseplate and the adjusting lever can be formed on
both sides of the intermediate piece, preferably largely
symmetrically (see for example above: U-shaped adjusting lever).
The transverse pin is in this case advantageously mounted on the
adjusting lever on both sides of the intermediate piece, whereby
the forces acting are likewise distributed symmetrically. If, on
the other hand, the slotted link is formed as a groove, the
adjusting lever advantageously has instead of a continuous
transverse pin short stub axles, which engage in the groove and
thus guide the adjusting lever. However, stub axles can slide out
of the groove if the adjusting lever is deformed as a result of
greater loads, for which reason a continuous transverse pin guided
in a slot should generally be preferable.
[0128] In order to ensure the aforementioned largely rigid coupling
of the carriage to the base part or to the intermediate piece in
the downhill position of the automatic heel unit, the slotted link
advantageously comprises a latching position, in which the slider
is engaged in the downhill position. In the case of a slotted link
formed as a slot, for this purpose the slot is preferably formed in
an L-shaped manner, a shorter arm of the L shape serving as a
latching position. For this purpose, the shorter arm is preferably
formed such that it is inclined in the longitudinal direction, from
the connection to the longer arm rearward toward the ski. This
achieves the effect that, when there is a force on the adjusting
lever rearwardly in the longitudinal direction, the slider is
pressed into the latching position and toward the ski, whereby on
the one hand the engagement is ensured and on the other hand the
adjusting lever is forced toward the ski by means of the slider.
However, depending on how the slider is formed, the latching
position may also be formed as a simple notch or recess, in which
the slider engages. Moreover, in a way analogous to the situation
described above, an L shape may also be advantageous in the case of
a slotted link formed as a groove.
[0129] In order, inter alia, to achieve the aforementioned largely
rigid coupling of the carriage to the base part or the intermediate
piece of the base part with the least possible structural
complexity and good reliability, in the locking position the
adjusting lever is preferably arranged largely parallel to the ski
and in the at least one release position it is arranged such that
it is righted with respect to the ski, i.e. in particular also
pivoted with respect to the locking position.
[0130] The arrangement parallel to the ski allows longitudinal
forces to be transferred from the front, first bearing via the
adjusting lever to the second bearing, arranged further to the
rear, with lowest possible transverse forces. The arrangement of
the adjusting lever is advantageous in particular whenever the two
bearings are arranged on the automatic heel unit in the way
described above one behind the other in the longitudinal direction.
With preference, in the locking position, the adjusting lever is
lowered in the rearward direction onto the ski, so that, in the
downhill position of the automatic heel unit, the adjusting lever
rests largely on the ski and so in downhill skiing has only a small
area of attack for mechanical damage.
[0131] In the at least one release position, the adjusting lever is
in this case righted, whereby the carriage has been displaced in
the rearward direction and the automatic heel unit is in a righted
position on account of the way in which according to the invention
the adjusting lever is mounted on two bearings. The fact that the
pivoted position of the adjusting lever in the release position and
the locking position differs means that, as already mentioned
above, the automatic heel unit can be brought from the downhill
position into the at least one climbing position, and vice versa,
by simple pivoting of the adjusting lever by the user.
[0132] In order to prevent complete lowering of the heel region of
the ski boot in the at least one climbing position onto the
components of the automatic heel unit that are arranged in front of
the sole holder, the adjusting lever advantageously has a first
support for the heel region, which in the release position of the
adjusting lever has been pivoted into the path of movement of the
heel region. The first support is in this case formed and arranged
on the adjusting lever in such a way that it does not interact with
the ski boot in the locking position of the adjusting lever, and
only in the release position prevents further lowering of the ski
boot to the height of the support. The support consequently forms a
walking step of the automatic heel unit for use on flat or only
slightly inclined terrain. This prevents the adjusting lever from
being damaged by the boot via the support in the downhill position.
In variants, the first support may for example also be formed on
the carriage below the heel region, in this case the heel region
preferably not resting on the support in the downhill position with
the ski boot locked.
[0133] Apart from the at least one climbing position, the automatic
heel unit advantageously has a further climbing position, in which
the heel region of the ski boot held in the ski binding is released
and in which the adjusting lever has been pivoted into a further
release position, assigned to the further climbing position. The
various release positions preferably differ by a pivoting angle
that a longitudinal axis of the adjusting lever forms with a
longitudinal center axis of the ski. The further release positions
allow the adjusting lever to be brought into further functional
positions by the user in a simple way. The automatic heel unit may,
however, also have only one climbing position, in which the heel
region of the ski boot is released.
[0134] In the case of a further advantageous embodiment of the
automatic heel unit, the adjusting lever comprises at a supporting
distance from the first bearing a further support for the heel
region of the ski boot that has been pivoted into the path of
movement of the heel region, largely above the first bearing in the
direction perpendicular to the ski, in the further release position
assigned to the further climbing position, so that lowering of the
heel region toward the ski is limited by the support at a
supporting distance from the first bearing. The further supports
consequently form climbing steps of the automatic heel unit for
convenient use on steep terrain. The further support consequently
performs a supporting function in the manner of known climbing aids
in the case of ski-touring bindings, which can be activated by the
user when climbing on steep terrain and prevents complete lowering
of the heel region toward the ski.
[0135] The automatic heel unit according to the invention may also
have additional supports at various supporting distances from the
first bearing that allow support of the heel region of the ski boot
at various supporting distances. For this purpose, each support is
preferably assigned a release position of the adjusting lever, in
which the respectively associated support has been pivoted into the
path of movement of the heel region. In this case, one of the
climbing positions of the automatic heel unit corresponds to each
release position of the adjusting lever.
[0136] In order to fix the adjusting lever releasably in the at
least one or more release position(s), the automatic heel unit
preferably has a latching device, which engages the adjusting lever
in the various release positions. For this purpose, a latching
position is advantageously formed and arranged directly on the
carriage in such a way that the adjusting lever is engaged in the
latching position by means of the slider, in particular by means of
the slider formed as a transverse pin, when the adjusting lever is
in the at least one release position. The latching position may in
this case be formed as a simple transverse recess or transverse
notch, in which the transverse pin engages in the at least one
release position. In the case of at least one or more further
release position(s), on the carriage there is or are preferably at
least one or more further latching position(s), in which the
adjusting lever is engaged by means of the slider in the at least
one or more further release position(s).
[0137] In order to secure the engagement by means of the transverse
pin, the transverse pin may be mounted in short slots on the
adjusting lever, in which the transverse pin is displaceable
transversely to its longitudinal direction. By means of leg springs
supported on the adjusting lever, the transverse pin can in this
case be subjected to a spring force in the direction of the detent
recesses, so that the pin securely engages in the detent recesses
when the adjusting lever is pivoted into the corresponding release
position.
[0138] In the case of ski-touring bindings with a pivotable ski
boot carrier, the binding jaws are fastened on the ski boot carrier
and hold the ski boot independently of whether the binding is in a
climbing position or a downhill position. In the case of
ski-touring bindings of the present technical field, on the other
hand, the heel region of the ski boot is released from the
automatic heel unit for climbing. This often entails the problem of
suitably locking and releasing further binding components, such as
for example a ski brake or a crampon, so that they are respectively
in an activated or deactivated state in the climbing position,
while their function is intended to be deactivated or activated in
the downhill position. Also conceivable is an actuation of
components of the ski in dependence on the state of the automatic
heel unit, such as for example a stiffness adjustment according to
whether the binding is in a climbing position or a downhill
position.
[0139] To solve this problem, the automatic heel unit according to
the invention therefore preferably has an actuating mechanism with
an actuating element for a further component, in particular of the
automatic heel unit but also of the ski binding or of the ski, the
actuating mechanism being formed and coupled to the adjusting
lever, in particular to the slider, in such a way that the
actuating element is extended into an activated position and
retracted into a deactivated position in dependence on a position
of the pivoting, lever. The pivoted position of the adjusting lever
at a given time, and consequently the state of the automatic heel
unit at a given time, can be seen from the slider in a simple way.
The fact that the actuating element is coupled to the slider allows
it to be brought into different positions by the slider according
to the respectively current pivoted position of the adjusting
lever. A number of activated positions, in which the actuating
element is for example extended to differing amounts, is also
conceivable here.
[0140] A particularly simple configuration of the actuating
mechanism is obtained if the actuating element is displaceably
guided on the base part or the intermediate piece, for example in
the longitudinal direction. In this case, the actuating element
itself may for example have a displacing guide in the form of a
groove or a slot, in which the slider additionally engages. On
account of the relative inclination, the displacing guide of the
actuating element experiences a displacement as a result of a
displacement of the slider in the slotted link. Suitable
arrangement of the groove or the slot of the actuating element with
respect to the guideway of the slotted link consequently allows the
actuating element to be displaced in the longitudinal direction in
the dependence on the displaced position of the slider.
[0141] Overall, in this case the adjusting lever, as a
multifunctional element, performs not only the adjusting function
of the automatic heel unit and a possibly provided function as a
climbing aid, but also a function for locking or actuating a
further component, such as for example a ski brake. The
multipurpose use of the adjusting lever consequently allows the
structural design of the automatic heel unit to be simplified
further and also allows it to be made lighter.
[0142] With preference, the actuating element in this case
comprises a catch or a slide, which is in the deactivated position
in the locking position of the adjusting lever and in the activated
position in the release position of the adjusting lever. With
preference, in the activated position the catch or slide is
extended in the forward direction in such a way that it can
interact with the further component, such as for example a ski
brake, which is arranged in front of the automatic heel unit, for
example for locking. The catch may in this case be formed in such a
way that, in the activated position it can be elastically deflected
and thus makes possible a snapping-in engagement, for example of an
actuating member of the further component. In the deactivated
position, the catch or slide is preferably withdrawn into the
automatic heel unit, so that no interaction with the further
component can take place. Depending on the nature of the further
component to be actuated, the activated and deactivated positions
may however also be changed over, i.e. the catch is retracted in
the activated position and extended in the deactivated position, so
that for example a locking effect is obtained by the extended catch
or slide in the downhill position.
[0143] In a preferred embodiment, a ski brake with a braking member
is provided as a further component on the automatic heel unit, and
is preferably arranged in front of the automatic heel unit in the
longitudinal direction of the ski, preferably on the base part, in
particular on a baseplate of the base part. In this case, the
braking member is movable between a braking position, in which the
braking member projects beyond the underside of the ski, and a rest
position, the braking member being assigned an actuating member,
which is actuated in such a way that the braking member goes over
from the braking position into the rest position when the heel
region of the ski boot is lowered toward the ski when stepping into
the binding. In this case, the actuating member has a detent
clearance, in which the actuating element of the actuating
mechanism can engage in the activated position and can thus block
the actuating member of the ski brake. In this way it is ensured
that the ski brake can be locked in the rest position in the at
least one or more climbing position(s) of the automatic heel unit,
and thus does not hinder climbing when the heel of the ski boot is
lifted off. In the downhill position, the actuating element is
brought out of the detent clearance and the ski brake is thereby
unlocked. If the ski boot is then released from the heel jaw on
account of a safety release, the unlocked ski brake can go over
into the braking position in the manner of known ski brakes.
[0144] Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of
features of the invention emerge from the following detailed
description and the patent claims in their entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0145] In the drawings that are used to explain the exemplary
embodiment:
[0146] FIGS. 1a, b each show an oblique view of an automatic heel
unit according to the invention in a downhill position;
[0147] FIGS. 2a, b each show an oblique view of the automatic heel
unit in a first climbing position;
[0148] FIGS. 3a, b each show an oblique view of the automatic heel
unit in a second climbing position;
[0149] FIGS. 4a, b each show an oblique view of the automatic heel
unit in a third climbing position;
[0150] FIG. 5 shows an exploded representation of the automatic
heel unit;
[0151] FIGS. 6a, b show two central cross sections in the
longitudinal direction of the automatic heel unit;
[0152] FIG. 7 shows a frontal view of the automatic heel unit, seen
from the front;
[0153] FIGS. 8a, b show two further cross sections of the automatic
heel unit;
[0154] FIGS. 9a-e show central cross sections in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit together with a ski boot;
[0155] FIGS. 10a-d show cross sections in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit together with a ski boot;
[0156] FIG. 11 shows an oblique view of a further automatic heel
unit according to the invention for a ski-touring binding in a
climbing position, with the adjusting lever in a release
position;
[0157] FIG. 12 shows an oblique view of the automatic heel unit in
the downhill position, with the adjusting lever in the locking
position, the sole holder being shown without a housing;
[0158] FIG. 13 shows an exploded representation of the automatic
heel unit;
[0159] FIG. 14 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit in the downhill position, with
the adjusting lever in the locking position, with a locked ski boot
in the ski-touring binding;
[0160] FIG. 15 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit in a first climbing position
(first walking step), with the adjusting lever in a first release
position;
[0161] FIG. 16 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit in a further climbing position
(second walking step with climbing aid function), with the
adjusting lever in a further, second release position;
[0162] FIG. 17 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit in the downhill position, with
the adjusting lever in the locking position, without a ski boot in
the ski-touring binding;
[0163] FIG. 18 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction through a further embodiment of a catch of the actuating
device and through a further embodiment of the ski brake
(substantially without further parts of the automatic heel unit)
and
[0164] FIGS. 19a, b show two plan views of a further automatic heel
unit according to the invention, in which the heel holder is
aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the downhill
position and is turned at a right angle to the longitudinal
direction of the ski about an axis substantially perpendicular to
the ski in the at least one climbing position.
[0165] In principle, the same parts are provided with the same
designations in the figures.
WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
[0166] FIGS. 1a and 1b each show an oblique view of an automatic
heel unit 11 according to the invention for a ski-touring binding.
This automatic heel unit 11 may be used together with an automatic
front unit for a ski-touring binding. In the case of such a
ski-touring binding, in its toe region, a ski boot is mounted on
the automatic front unit pivotably about an axis aligned
horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. Various such
automatic front units are obtainable on the market. Since such an
automatic front unit is not part of the present invention, it is
not shown here.
[0167] In FIG. 1a, the automatic heel unit 11 is shown from
obliquely the front, while in FIG. 1b it is shown from obliquely
the rear. In both figures, the automatic heel unit 11 is in a
downhill position and is shown mounted on a surface 501 of a ski
500. To provide an overview, however, not the entire ski 500 is
shown, but only a rectangular, board-like detail of the ski 500 in
the region of the automatic heel unit 11. The orientation of the
automatic heel unit 11 is defined by how it is mounted on the ski
500. Thus, the automatic heel unit 11 is mounted on the surface 501
of the ski 500. Since this surface 501 is aligned in the upward
direction, upward and downward are also defined for the automatic
heel unit 11. Because the automatic heel unit 11 is part of a ski
binding and can hold a heel 601 of a ski boot 600 (not shown here),
the designations front and rear are also defined in the case of the
automatic heel unit 11. They respectively mean in the direction of
the ski tip and in the direction of the end of the ski 500.
[0168] The additional representation of the ski 500 makes the
structure and operating mode of the automatic heel unit 11 easier
to understand. Thus, the automatic heel unit 11 comprises a base
element 12, which has an elongated, plate-like, substantially
rectangular form with a first and a second main area 300.1, 300.2
(see FIG. 5). This base element 12 is aligned with its longitudinal
axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ski 500, with the first
main area 300.1 mounted facing downward toward the surface 501 of
the ski 500. Consequently, a second main area 300.2 of the base
element 12 is facing upward. Along both longitudinal edges of the
base element 12, guide rails 302.1, 302.2 run in an upper region of
the base element. They face outward in a plane aligned parallel to
the second main area 300.2. That is to say that they are aligned
sideways from the ski. On the guide rails 302.1, 302.2 of the base
element 12, a carriage 13 is mounted displaceably in the
longitudinal direction. For this purpose, on its longitudinal edges
the carriage 13 has guide grooves, with which it reaches around the
guide rails 302.1, 302.1 on both sides of the base element 12.
[0169] In a rear region of the carriage 13, arranged on the
carriage 13 is a heel holder 14, which faces upward in a
substantially block-like manner. In the present exemplary
embodiment, this heel holder 14 is produced in one piece together
with the carriage 13. However, there is also the possibility that,
in a variant, the heel holder 14 and the carriage 13 are produced
as separate units.
[0170] In a front region of the heel holder 14, two levers 15.1,
15.2 are mounted in vertical, lateral notches. These levers 15.1,
15.2 are elongated and aligned substantially vertically. Both
levers 15.1, 15.2 are each mounted in a middle region on the heel
holder 14 pivotably about an axis 16.1, 16.2 aligned in the
longitudinal direction of the ski. Correspondingly, the two levers
15.1, 15.2 can be pivoted approximately about these axes 16.1, 16.2
in the transverse direction of the ski. In an upper region, both
levers 15.1, 15.2 each have a pin 17.1, 17.2, pointing in the
longitudinal direction of the ski. By pivoting the levers 15.1,
15.2, these pins 17.1, 17.2 can be moved substantially horizontally
in the transverse direction of the ski. For example, in this way
the two pins 17.1, 17.2 can be moved toward one another or moved
away from one another.
[0171] The two pins 17.1, 17.2 serve the purpose of arresting the
ski boot 600 in its heel region in a position lowered toward the
ski 500 when the automatic heel unit 11 is in the downhill
position. For this purpose, the ski boot 600 should have in its
heel region two clearances for interacting with the two pins 17.1,
17.2. These clearances should be open in the downward direction, in
order that, when there is a safety release in the forward
direction, the ski boot 600 can be moved away from the pins 17.1,
17.2 in the upward direction. Moreover, the two clearances in the
heel 601 of the ski boot 600 should each have a detent recess, in
which the pins 17.1, 17.2 can engage for arresting the heel 601 of
the ski boot 600. In this case, the arresting of the ski boot 600
is achieved by the two pins 17.1, 17.2 being pressed toward one
another by a force, whereby they hold one another in the
corresponding detent recess. For a safety release in the forward
direction, this force must be overcome, by the two pins 17.1, 17.2
being pressed apart until the ski boot 600 can be moved away from
the pins 17.1, 17.2 in the upward direction. Corresponding ski
boots 600 are obtainable on the market.
[0172] The automatic heel unit 11 comprises an adjusting lever 18,
which is formed substantially in a horseshoe-shaped manner. At both
its free ends, this adjusting lever 18 is mounted on a metal plate
20 pivotably about an axis 19 aligned horizontally in the
transverse direction of the ski. This metal plate 20 is arranged
between the base element 12 and the carriage 13 and comprises in a
rear region two lobes, which reach through lateral slits 37.1, 37.2
in the carriage 13 and are bent perpendicularly upward on both
sides of the heel holder 14 (see FIG. 5 in this respect). The free
ends of the adjusting lever 18 are mounted on these two lobes.
[0173] In FIGS. 1a and 1b, the automatic heel unit 11 is shown in
the downhill position. In this position, the adjusting lever 18 has
been pivoted downward in the rearward direction and aligned
pointing to the rear substantially in the horizontal direction. It
consequently reaches around the heel holder 14 from the rear.
[0174] The automatic heel unit 11 further comprises a ski brake 21.
The ski brake 21 has two arms 22.1, 22.2, which are each produced
substantially from a metal bar. In FIGS. 1a and 1b, both arms 22.1,
22.2 are pointing with their free ends to the rear in the
horizontal direction. Consequently, the ski brake 21 is in a rest
position. The ski brake 21 can be activated by the free ends of the
two arms 22.1, 22.2 being pivoted downward beyond an underside of
the ski 500. This pivoting movement is made possible by the two
arms 22.1, 22.2 being mounted in a front region in front of the
heel holder 14 on the carriage 13 pivotably about a horizontal axis
aligned in the transverse direction of the ski. For this purpose,
the two arms 22.1, 22.2 each have a region bent at right angles
toward the center of the ski, in which they are mounted rotatably
about themselves between the carriage 13 and a supporting element
23. In the region of the center of the ski, however, the two arms
22.1, 22.2 do not go over into each other, but are in turn bent
forward at right angles, where they are held together by a tread
spur 24. If, consequently, the ski brake 21 is activated, the free
ends of the arms 22.1, 22.2 are thus pivoted downward beyond the
underside of the ski 500, while the tread spur 24 is lifted off
upward from the rest of the automatic heel unit 11 (also see in
this respect FIGS. 6a and 6b).
[0175] It can be seen in FIG. 1b that the automatic heel unit 11
comprises in a lower, rear region a first adjusting screw 25,
arranged between the base element 12 and the carriage 13. This
adjusting screw 25 is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the
ski. It makes possible the setting of a forward position of the
carriage 13 in the longitudinal direction of the ski in relation to
the baseplate 12. It can also be seen in FIG. 1b that the automatic
heel unit 11 comprises a second adjusting screw 26, which is let
into the heel holder 14 in vertical alignment behind the two levers
15.1, 15.2. The second adjusting screw 26 makes possible the
setting of a force that is required in order to press the two pins
17.1, 17.2 apart when the two levers 15.1, 15.2 are pivoted with
respect to one another. Correspondingly, this adjusting screw 26
makes possible a setting of the force that has to be overcome for a
safety release in the forward direction.
[0176] As already represented in FIGS. 1a and 1b, FIGS. 2a and 2b
each show an oblique view of the automatic heel unit 11 according
to the invention for a ski-touring binding. The automatic heel unit
11 is in turn mounted on the ski 500. In FIG. 2a, the automatic
heel unit 11 is shown from obliquely the front, while in FIG. 2b it
is shown from obliquely the rear. By contrast with FIGS. 1a and 1b,
in FIGS. 2a and 2b the automatic heel unit 11 is in a first
climbing position. In this first climbing position, the adjusting
lever 18 has been pivoted slightly upward in the forward direction.
Moreover, in comparison with the downhill position (see FIGS. 1a
and 1b), the carriage 13 has been displaced in the rearward
direction with respect to the base element 12. As a result, the
heel holder 14 has also been displaced together with the pins 17.1,
17.2 in the rearward direction. In this rearwardly displaced
position of the carriage 13, the pins 17.1, 17.2 have been moved
out from the clearances in the heel 601 of a ski boot 600 (not
shown here) held in the ski-touring binding. Correspondingly, as a
result the ski boot 600 is now only held in the automatic front
unit (not shown here) belonging to the ski-touring binding. Since,
in its toe region, the ski boot 600 is mounted in the automatic
front unit pivotably about a horizontal axis aligned in the
transverse direction of the ski, as a result the heel 601 of the
ski boot 600 can be lifted off from the automatic heel unit 11 and
lowered again onto the automatic heel unit 11. In this case, the
sole of the ski boot 600 can be lowered as far as the supporting
element 23. In this way, a walking movement is made possible for
the skier.
[0177] As already represented in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b, FIGS. 3a
and 3b each show an oblique view of the automatic heel unit 11
according to the invention for a ski-touring binding, which is
mounted on a ski 500. In FIG. 3a, the automatic heel unit 11 is
shown from obliquely the front, while in FIG. 3b it is shown from
obliquely the rear. As a difference from FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b,
the automatic heel unit 11 in FIGS. 3a and 3b is in a second
climbing position. In this second climbing position, the adjusting
lever 18 has been pivoted slightly further upward in the forward
direction than in the first climbing position (see FIGS. 2a and
2b). As already in the first climbing position, in comparison with
the downhill position (see FIGS. 1a and 1b), the carriage 13 has
been displaced in the rearward direction with respect to the base
element 12. As a result, the heel holder 14 has also been displaced
together with the pins 17.1, 17.2 in the rearward direction. Since,
in its toe region, a ski boot 600 (not shown here) held in the
ski-touring binding is mounted in the automatic front unit
pivotably about a horizontal axis aligned in the transverse
direction of the ski, as already in the first climbing position the
heel 601 of the ski boot 600 can be lifted off from the automatic
heel unit 11 and lowered again onto the automatic heel unit 11. As
a difference from the first climbing position, however, in the
second climbing position the adjusting lever 18 has been pivoted
into the path of movement of the ski boot 600. As a result, the
sole of the ski boot 600 cannot be lowered as far as the supporting
element 23, but can only be lowered as far as a first offset 27
arranged on the adjusting lever 18, this first offset 27 being
arranged at a greater distance from the ski 500 than the supporting
element 23. Correspondingly, in this second climbing position the
first offset 27 of the adjusting lever 18 has the effect of forming
a first climbing aid, which makes it possible even on a slope for
the skier to walk comfortably up the incline.
[0178] As already represented in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b,
FIGS. 4a and 4b each show an oblique view of the automatic heel
unit 11 according to the invention for a ski-touring binding that
is mounted on a ski 500. In FIG. 4a, the automatic heel unit 11 is
shown from obliquely the front, while in FIG. 4b it is shown from
obliquely the rear. By contrast with FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and
3b, the automatic heel unit 11 in FIGS. 4a and 4b is in a third
climbing position. In this third climbing position, the adjusting
lever 18 has been pivoted even slightly further upward in the
forward direction than in the second climbing position (see FIGS.
3a and 3b). As already in the first and second climbing positions,
in comparison with the downhill position (see FIGS. 1a and 1b) the
carriage 13 has been displaced in the rearward direction with
respect to the base element 12. As a result, the heel holder 14 is
also displaced together with the pins 17.1, 17.2 in the rearward
direction. Since, in its toe region, a ski boot 600 (not shown
here) held in the ski-touring binding is mounted in the automatic
front unit pivotably about a horizontal axis aligned in the
transverse direction of the ski, as already in the first climbing
position the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 can be lifted off from
the automatic heel unit 11 and lowered again onto the automatic
heel unit 11. As a difference from the second climbing position,
however, in the third climbing position the adjusting lever 18 has
been pivoted slightly further into the path of movement of the ski
boot 600. As a result, the sole of the ski boot 600 cannot be
lowered as far as the first offset 27 of the adjusting lever 18,
but can only be lowered as far as a second offset 28 arranged on
the adjusting lever 18, this second offset 28 being arranged at a
greater distance from the ski 500 than the first offset 27.
Correspondingly, in this third climbing position the second offset
28 of the adjusting lever 18 has the effect of forming a second
climbing aid, which makes it possible even on a steeper slope than
in the case of the first climbing aid for the skier to walk
comfortably up the incline.
[0179] FIG. 5 shows an exploded representation of the automatic
heel unit 11 according to the invention. The individual elements of
the automatic heel unit 11 can correspondingly be easily seen. The
view shows the automatic heel unit 11 in the same way as in FIGS.
1b, 2b, 3b and 4b from obliquely the rear. By analogy with FIGS.
1b, 2b, 3b and 4b, designations for upper, lower, rear, front and
in the longitudinal direction relate to a ski 500 (not represented
in FIG. 5) provided with the automatic heel unit 11.
[0180] As can be seen from FIG. 5, the base element 12 has four
mounting openings 301.1, 301.2, 301.3, 301.4, which reach right
through from its first main area 300.1 to its upper, second main
area 300.2. These mounting openings 301.1, 301.2, 301.3, 301.4 are
distributed over the main areas 300.1, 300.2 of the base element
12. One of the openings 301.1, 301.2, 301.3, 301.4 is respectively
located on both sides in a front region and in a rear region of the
base element 12. For mounting, a screw (not shown) is led through
each of the openings 301.1, 301.2, 301.3, 301.4 and is screwed to
the ski 500. In order to be able to countersink the screw heads in
the base element 12, there are clearances in the second, upper main
area 300.2 of the base element 12 at a rim of these openings 301.1,
301.2, 301.3, 301.4.
[0181] It can also be seen in FIG. 5 that in the middle of the
second main area 300.2 of the base element 12 there is a clearance
303, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the base element
12 over the entire base element 12. This clearance 303 has a
semicircular cross section, the rounding facing downward. In the
front half of the base element 12, the clearance 303 is largely
smooth on the inside. In the rear half, the clearance 303 has a
threaded structure 304. This threaded structure 304 is aligned
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base element 12 and
can receive a screw thread with a diameter corresponding to the
diameter of the semicircular cross section of the clearance 303.
The functions of this clearance 303 comprise on the one hand that
of providing guidance for a longitudinal displacement of the
carriage 13 on the base element 12 and on the other hand, as
described further below, that of supporting the carriage 13 on the
base element 12.
[0182] As already shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the base element 12 has
on each side a guide rail 302.1, 302.2, both of which run in the
longitudinal direction of the ski. The carriage 13 is mounted
displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the ski on these two
guide rails 302.1, 302.2. At the same time, it largely covers the
second main area 300.2 of the base element 12. As can be seen here
in FIG. 5, the carriage 13 has in its downwardly directed area,
which is facing the second main area 300.2 of the base element 12,
a clearance 29 running in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In
a way similar to the clearance 303 in the base element 12, this
clearance 29 has in a middle region and rear region a half-round
cross section, though here the rounding is facing upward. The cross
section of the clearance 29 in the carriage 13 is slightly smaller
in the rearmost region of the clearance 29 than in the middle
region of the clearance 29 (also see in this respect FIGS. 6a and
6b). A transition between the rearmost region and the middle region
of the clearance 29 is step-like. By contrast with the clearance
303 in the base element 12, the clearance 29 in the carriage 13
also has a front region with a rectangular cross section. The
transition from the front region to the middle region of the
clearance 29 is likewise step-shaped. Otherwise, the clearance 29
in the carriage 13 is substantially smooth. At the front end of the
carriage 13, the clearance 29 in the carriage 13 is delimited in
the forward direction by a stop 45 (also see FIGS. 6a and 6b). This
stop 45 has a half-round cross section and, facing downward, fits
into the clearance 303 in the base element 12. In this stop 45
there is formed a circular opening, aligned in the longitudinal
direction of the ski.
[0183] When the carriage 13 is mounted on the two guide rails
302.1, 302.2 on the base element 12, the clearance 303 in the base
element 12 and the clearance 29 in the carriage 13 run one over the
other and together produce an opening between the base element 12
and the carriage 13 that is aligned in the longitudinal direction
of the ski. The first adjusting screw 25 is guided in this opening.
For this purpose, the first adjusting screw 25 has a long shank
with a circular cross section. In a middle region, the first
adjusting screw 25 has a screw thread 30, which can interact with
the threaded structure 304 of the clearance 303 of the base element
12. In an end region at the rear end of the first adjusting screw
25, the adjusting screw 25 has a smooth region, which has a smaller
diameter than the screw thread 30. This end region fits into the
opening between the carriage 13 and the base element 12 and can be
turned from the rear, from outside. Correspondingly, the adjusting
screw 25 can be screwed forward and back in the longitudinal
direction of the ski from outside in the opening between the
carriage 13 and the base element 12. As already mentioned, the
clearance 29 in the carriage 13 is largely smooth, though in its
rearmost region its cross section is slightly smaller than in its
middle region. As a result, the opening between the carriage 13 and
the base element 12 is smaller in the rear region of the carriage
13 than in the front region. To be more precise, the clearance 29
is so small in the rear region of the carriage 13 that the carriage
13 abuts with the rear region against the screw thread 30 of the
first adjusting screw 25 and is stopped when it is moved forward on
the base element 12. This correspondingly has the effect of forming
a stop 46 (see FIGS. 6a and 6b), beyond which the carriage 13
cannot be moved in the forward direction. This stop 46 is
adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski, since the
first adjusting screw 25 can be screwed forward and back in the
longitudinal direction of the ski between the base element 12 and
the carriage 13.
[0184] As already in the end region of the adjusting screw 25, in a
front region of the first adjusting screw 25 there is a smooth
region with a circular cross section. However, the diameter of this
front region is smaller than the diameter of the rear region of the
first adjusting screw 25. An annular disk 31 is fitted onto this
front region. Moreover, this front region is introduced from the
rear into a spiral spring 32, which is arranged in the opening
between the base element 12 and the carriage 13 such that it is
aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In this case, the
disk 31 is supported in the rearward direction by the screw thread
30 of the first adjusting screw 25 and in the forward direction
forms a stop for the spiral spring 32.
[0185] In the front region of the clearance 29 of the carriage 13,
which has a rectangular cross section, an element 33 with a
substantially rectangular cross section is guided in the
longitudinal direction of the ski. This element 33 has an elongated
form and is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In a
front region, the element 33 has a stud 34, which is aligned in the
longitudinal direction of the ski and has a round cross section. In
the mounted state of the automatic heel unit 11, the stud 34 is
mounted in the opening in the stop 45 at the front end of the
carriage 13 (also see FIGS. 6a and 6b). In a downwardly directed
area of the element 33 there is a clearance 35. This clearance 35
is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski and has a
semicircular cross section. The width of the clearance 35
corresponds to the width of the clearance 303 in the base element.
The clearance 35 reaches from the rear end of the element 33 into
the vicinity of the front end of the element 33. In the forward
direction, however, the clearance 35 is closed off by a stop 47.
This stop 47 comprises a stud pointing into the clearance 35
horizontally in the rearward direction. The stud 34 of the element
33 that is aligned in the forward direction in the longitudinal
direction of the ski is likewise arranged on this stop 47.
[0186] In the mounted state of the automatic heel unit 11, the
spiral spring 32 is mounted in the opening formed by the clearance
303 in the base element 12 and the clearance 35 in the element 33
such that it is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
In this case, the stud pointing in the rearward direction into the
clearance 35 of the element 33 protrudes into a front opening of
the spiral spring 32. Correspondingly, the spiral spring 32 is
arranged between the element 33 and the adjusting screw 25 (also
see in this respect FIGS. 6a and 6b).
[0187] As already shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the metal plate 20 is
mounted between the base element 12 and the carriage 13. As can be
seen here in FIG. 5, the metal plate 20 has a middle region, which
is aligned substantially parallel to the ski. At its front end, the
metal plate 20 is bent upward, so that, seen in the longitudinal
direction of the ski, it has an upwardly directed arc which, at its
forwardmost tip, points slightly downward again. As a result, a
hook 44 is formed by the metal plate 20. Furthermore, in its rear
region this metal plate 20 has at the sides two perpendicularly
upwardly bent lobes, in which the adjusting lever 18 is mounted
pivotably about the axis 19 aligned horizontally in the transverse
direction of the ski. For this purpose, the two perpendicularly
upwardly bent lobes of the metal plate 20 reach upward through two
lateral slits 37.1, 37.2 in the carriage 13 to the sides of the
heel holder 14. At its rear end, the metal plate 20 has a
perpendicularly downwardly bent region, which has a round opening
36 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In the mounted
state of the automatic heel unit 11, the front region of the first
adjusting screw 25 is led through this opening 36. In this case,
the disk 31 is in front of the opening 36. Correspondingly, the
metal plate 20 is connected to the base element 12 by the
adjustable first adjusting screw 25. Consequently, the metal plate
20 can be displaced with respect to the base element 12 in the
longitudinal direction of the ski by adjusting the first adjusting
screw 25. At the same time, the rear stop 46 for the carriage 13 is
thereby also displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
Since the carriage 13 is also pressed in the forward direction by
the spiral spring 32, the carriage 13 is pressed against the rear
stop 46, whereby a forward position of the carriage 13 is also
adjusted by adjusting the first adjusting screw 25.
[0188] When the automatic heel unit 11 is fastened together with an
automatic front unit (not shown) on a ski 500 and together with
this automatic front unit forms a ski-touring binding, the distance
between the automatic front unit and the heel holder 14 of the
automatic heel unit 11 should be adapted to a length of the sole of
the ski boot 600 (not shown here) to be held in the ski-touring
binding. On account of the interaction of the adjusting screw 25
with the base element 12, the carriage 13 and the spiral spring 32,
this can take place in a simple way, since the forward position of
the carriage 13 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of
the ski by the first adjusting screw 25. Turning the first
adjusting screw 25 allows the forward position of the carriage 13,
when seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski, to be chosen in
such a way that the pins 17.1, 17.2 of the two levers 15.1, 15.2
engage in the clearances in the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 and
that the heel holder 14 just makes engaging contact with the heel
601 of the ski boot 600. When the automatic heel unit 11 is in the
downhill position (see FIGS. 1a and 1b), in the case of a
ski-touring binding that is set in this way the pins 17.1, 17.2 of
the two levers 15.1, 15.2 of the heel holder 14 engage to the
maximum extent in the clearances in the heel 601 of the ski boot
600. It should be noted that the first adjusting screw 25 makes
possible such a setting of the ski-touring binding on ski boots 600
of various boot sizes.
[0189] In the downhill position, the carriage 13 is pressed in the
forward direction against the rear stop 46 by the forwardly
pressing force of the spiral spring 32 (see FIGS. 6a and 6b).
Starting from this forward position, the carriage 13 in the
downhill position can, however, also be moved on the base element
12 in the rearward direction within a dynamic region against the
forwardly directed force of the spiral spring 32. This
displaceability serves the purpose that the position of the
carriage 12 and of the heel holder 14 can be dynamically adapted to
a distance between the automatic front unit and the automatic heel
unit 11 if the ski is flexed upward at both ends during skiing.
This dynamic positional adaptation of the heel holder 14 within the
dynamic region has the advantage that the forward position of the
carriage 13 can be set in such a way that the heel holder 14 just
makes engaging contact with the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 and
that a flexing of the ski is nevertheless possible. Since, thanks
to this resilient movement along the dynamic region, the heel
holder 14 adapts itself during skiing always to be just flush with
the heel 601 of the ski boot 600, the two pins 17.1, 17.2 also
always engage to the same depth in the clearances in the heel 601
of the ski boot 600 during skiing. As a result, optimum starting
conditions for a safety release that always remain constantly the
same are obtained during skiing.
[0190] In FIG. 5, the individual elements of the ski brake 21 are
also shown. Thus, the two arms 22.1, 22.2 and the tread spur 24 can
be seen. Moreover, it can be seen that the carriage 13 has in front
of the heel holder 14 a horizontal area 38. The supporting element
23 is fastened on this area 38. For fastening the supporting
element 23, the area 38 has on each side in a front region a
vertically aligned hole with a thread. Matching exactly, the
supporting element 23 also has two corresponding holes. The two
holes in the supporting element 23 each have a clearance in their
upper rim, in order that a screw head can be countersunk therein.
For fastening the supporting element 23 on the horizontal area 38
of the carriage 13, a screw is placed into both holes of the
supporting element 23 and screwed with the thread in the
corresponding hole in the area 38. In this case, the two arms 22.1,
22.2 of the ski brake 21 are mounted rotatably about an axis
aligned horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski in
corresponding clearances in the area 38 of the carriage 13 and in
the supporting element 23 that run in the transverse direction of
the ski between the supporting element 23 and the carriage 13. Also
arranged between the carriage 13 and the supporting element 23 is
an adjusting spring (not shown), which by prestressing urges
activation of the ski brake 21. Here in FIG. 5, the two arms 22.1,
22.2 of the ski brake 21 are shown as separate elements, which are
both each arranged with an end on a tread spur 24. As a variant of
this, however, there is also the possibility that the two arms
22.1, 22.2 of the ski brake 21 are produced from one piece, i.e. go
over into each other under or in the tread spur 24. In this
variant, the two arms 22.1, 22.2 may be mounted such that they are
braced with respect to one another between the supporting element
23 and the carriage 13, the prestressing for activating the ski
brake 21 being produced by this mutual bracing of the two arms
22.1, 22.2 and not by the adjusting spring. In this variant,
therefore, it is possible to dispense with the adjusting spring for
urging activation of the ski brake 21.
[0191] When the automatic heel unit 11 is in the downhill position,
the ski brake 21 can be activated by the adjusting spring as soon
as the tread spur 24 can be moved in the upward direction. In the
event of a safety release of the automatic heel unit 11, this is
the case when the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 is released from the
automatic heel unit 11. As a result, a region above the tread spur
24 is released from the sole of the ski boot 600, whereby the ski
brake 21 can be activated by the adjusting spring.
[0192] However, when the automatic heel unit 11 is in one of the
three climbing positions, the carriage 13 has been moved in the
rearward direction with respect to the base element 12. Together
with the carriage 13, the ski brake 21 has in this case also been
moved in the rearward direction. This allows the hook 44, which is
arranged at the front end of the metal plate 20, to interact with a
counterpart 48 (see FIGS. 6a and 6b) on the tread spur 24 and keep
the ski brake 21 arrested in the rest position. If the ski brake 21
is activated and the automatic heel unit 11 is in one of the three
climbing positions, the ski brake 21 can be transferred into the
rest position by pressing down the tread spur 24. In this case, the
counterpart 48 on the tread spur 24 can snap in at the hook 44,
whereby the ski brake 21 is arrested in the rest position. After
that, the ski brake 21 can be released again by transferring the
automatic heel unit 11 into the downhill position, since, as a
result, the carriage 13 is displaced together with the ski brake 21
in the forward direction with respect to the base element 12 and
the metal plate 20, whereby the counterpart 48 of the tread spur 24
is drawn away from the hook 44 in the forward direction.
[0193] In FIG. 5, the two levers 15.1, 15.2 can be seen in their
entirety. Both levers 15.1, 15.2 are each produced as one part with
the corresponding pin 17.1, 17.2. The two levers 15.1, 15.2 are
aligned substantially vertically. The pins 17.1, 17.2 are arranged
pointing forward in the longitudinal direction of the ski at the
upper ends of the levers 15.1, 15.2.
[0194] Both levers 15.1, 15.2 are each mounted in their middle
pivotably about an axis 16.1, 16.2 aligned in the longitudinal
direction of the ski. At their lower ends, both levers 15.1, 15.2
each have a horizontally rearwardly pointing offset 39.1, 39.2. In
this case, the two offsets 39.1, 39.2 each run downward toward the
center of the ski, when seen in the transverse direction of the
ski.
[0195] As already mentioned, the two levers 15.1, 15.2 are each
mounted in the front region of the heel holder 14 in vertical,
lateral notches. In this case, the offsets 39.1, 39.2 of the levers
15.1, 15.2 point rearward toward a middle of the heel holder 14.
Arranged vertically aligned in this middle of the heel holder 14 is
a ram 40. This ram 40 is substantially rectangularly shaped. In its
lower region, it has a beveled lateral corner, in order to be able
to interact optimally with the two offsets 39.1, 39.2 of the levers
15.1, 15.2 (also see FIG. 8b). In its upper region, on the other
hand, the ram 40 has an upwardly open opening. Arranged in this
opening is a vertically aligned spiral spring 41. This spiral
spring 41 is prestressed with a downwardly directed force. For this
purpose, it abuts in the upward direction against an adjusting nut
42, which is screwed onto the second adjusting screw 26. The second
adjusting screw 26 is in turn supported from below against an inner
side of the heel holder 14 and can be turned through an opening 43
in the upper area of the heel holder 14.
[0196] By turning the second adjusting screw 26, the adjusting nut
42 can be screwed in the upward or downward direction. In order to
prevent the adjusting nut 42 from being turned together with the
second adjusting screw 26, the adjusting nut 42 has a downwardly
bent metal strip, which is laterally guided in a rearwardly
directed clearance of the ram 40. The ram 40 is in turn hindered
from turning together with the second adjusting screw 26 within the
heel holder 14 by its substantially rectangular form.
[0197] Adjusting the position of the adjusting nut 42 on the second
adjusting screw 26 has the effect of setting the force with which
the ram 40 is pressed by the spring 41 downward against the two
offsets 39.1, 39.2 of the two levers 15.1, 15.2. Correspondingly,
the force that is required to move the two pins 17.1, 17.2 apart
can be set by turning the second adjusting screw 26. In this way,
the force that should be overcome for a safety release in the
forward direction can be set by turning the second adjusting screw
26.
[0198] FIGS. 6a and 6b each show a cross section through the
automatic heel unit 11 according to the invention. This cross
section is a vertically aligned longitudinal cross section
extending through the center of the automatic heel unit 11 as seen
in the transverse direction of the ski. In both figures, the
automatic heel unit 11 is shown in the downhill position.
[0199] In FIG. 6a, the ski brake 21 is shown activated, while in
FIG. 6b it is shown in the rest position. In FIG. 6a it can be seen
how, with the activated ski brake 21, the arms 22.2 reach out
downwardly beyond the ski 500 and how at the same time the tread
spur 24 has been lifted off from the ski 13 in the upward
direction. In the cross-sectional representation there can also be
seen the counterpart 48, which is arranged on the tread spur 24 and
can interact with the hook 44 of the metal plate 20 in the three
climbing positions of the automatic heel unit 11. Since the
automatic heel unit 11 is represented in the downhill position both
in FIG. 6a and in FIG. 6b, however, the carriage 13 together with
the ski brake 21 has been pushed into the forward position.
Correspondingly, the counterpart 48 and the hook 44 are at a
distance from one another. As a result, the counterpart 48 and the
hook 44 also cannot interact when the ski brake is in the rest
position (FIG. 6b).
[0200] Along with the ski brake 21, in both FIGS. 6a and 6b it can
be seen how the spiral spring 32 is restrained between the first
adjusting screw 25 and the rearwardly directed stud of the element
33. It can also be seen how the metal plate 20 is supported with
its vertically downwardly bent region and the opening 36 in the
rearward direction on the screw thread 30 of the first adjusting
screw 25 and how the disk 31 on the first adjusting screw 25 is
arranged between the opening 36 of the metal plate 20 and the
spiral spring 32. At the front of the automatic heel unit 11 it can
also be seen how the element 33 abuts with its forwardly aligned
stud 34, arranged on the stop 47, against the carriage 13. In this
case, the forwardly directed stud 34 is led through the opening in
the front stop 45 of the carriage 13, the main body of the element
33 abutting against the front stop 45 of the carriage 13.
[0201] As already described, the carriage 13, which is displaceable
in the longitudinal direction of the ski on the base element 12, is
pressed in the forward direction by the spiral spring 32. It
thereby abuts with an offset between the middle region and the rear
region of the clearance 29 against the screw thread 30 of the first
adjusting screw 25 and is hindered from further movement in the
forward direction. The rear stop 46, formed by the rear region of
the clearance 29 and the screw thread 30, can be easily seen.
[0202] In the cross-sectional representations of FIGS. 6a and 6b it
can also be seen furthermore how the ram 40 is arranged with the
spiral spring 41, the adjusting nut 42 and the second adjusting
screw 26 in the heel holder 14. It can be seen here that the
opening in the ram 40 passes through from the top almost to the
bottom, whereby the spiral spring 41 arranged in this opening abuts
in a lower region of the ram 40. Correspondingly, the spiral spring
41 takes up a large part of the height of the heel holder 14.
[0203] FIG. 7 shows a frontal view of the automatic heel unit 11
according to the invention from the front. In this representation,
the automatic heel unit 11 is shown in the downhill position. It
can be seen how the two levers 15.1, 15.2 are mounted pivotably
about the axes 16.1, 16.2. It can also be seen that the heel holder
14 has in the region of the pins 17.1, 17.2 notches 49.1, 49.2
laterally in the front side. These two notches 49.1, 49.2 make it
possible for the two pins 17.1, 17.2 to be able to reach out from
the front side of the heel holder 14, pointing forward from the
levers 15.1, 15.2 mounted in the lateral notches in the heel holder
14. If the ski boot 600 (not shown) is arrested in the automatic
heel unit 11, the two pins 17.1, 17.2 have been pivoted inward as
far as the inner rim of the notches 49.1, 49.2. In the
representation shown, however, the automatic heel unit 11 is just
in the releasing phase of a safety release in the forward
direction. Correspondingly, the two pins 17.1, 17.2, and
consequently the levers 15.1, 15.2, have been pivoted apart. This
can be seen from the fact that the pins 17.1, 17.2 are not in
contact with the inner rim of the notches 49.1, 49.2 but pivoted
slightly outward.
[0204] FIGS. 8a and 8b show two further cross sections of the
automatic heel unit 11 according to the invention. FIG. 8a shows a
vertically aligned longitudinal cross section, which has been
displaced to one side from the center of the automatic heel unit
11, as seen in the transverse direction of the ski, and extends
through one of the two levers 15.2. As a result, of this lever
15.2, the forwardly pointing pin 17.2 and the rearwardly pointing
offset 39.2 can be seen. In FIG. 8b, on the other hand, a cross
section in the transverse direction of the ski is represented. This
cross section extends through the ram 40 arranged in the heel
holder 14 and through the two offsets 39.1, 39.2. As a result, it
can be seen that the ram 40 has on its underside two laterally
beveled edges 55.1, 55.2, which run laterally outward in the upward
direction as seen from a center of the ski. With these edges 55.1,
55.2, the ram 40 presses onto the supports 39.1, 39.2 of the two
levers 15.1, 15.2 downward from above. The bevels of the edges
55.1, 55.2 and of the offsets 39.1, 39.2 have the effect that the
lower regions of the levers 15.1, 15.2 are pressed apart. Since the
two levers 15.1, 15.2 are each mounted in their middle pivotably
about the axes 16.1, 16.2 aligned in the longitudinal axis of the
ski, as a result the pins 17.1, 17.2 arranged at the upper end of
the levers 15.1, 15.2 are pressed toward one another. On account of
this way in which the levers 15.1, 15.2 are mounted, the offsets
39.1, 39.2 are pressed toward one another when there is a safety
release in the forward direction, because the two pins 17.1, 17.2
are pressed apart. The bevel of the offsets 39.1, 39.2 and of the
edges 55.1, 55.2 of the ram 40 has the effect that the ram 40 is
pressed in the upward direction against the downwardly acting
spring force by the pressing together of the two offsets 39.1,
39.2.
[0205] FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e each show a cross section
through an automatic heel unit 11 according to the invention and a
ski boot 600, which is held in a ski-touring binding comprising the
automatic heel unit 11 and an automatic front unit (not shown). The
cross sections respectively extend in a vertical plane in the
longitudinal direction of the ski.
[0206] In FIG. 9a, the automatic heel unit 11 is in the downhill
position. The adjusting lever 18 is pointing substantially
horizontally rearward in the longitudinal direction of the ski and
the carriage 13 has been pushed into its forward position with
respect to the base element 12. The heel 601 of the ski boot 600
has been lowered almost as far as the supporting element 23 and is
arrested by the two pins 17.1, 17.2. The distance between the
supporting element 23 and the sole of the ski boot 600 depends on
the ski boot 600 and may vary. In FIG. 9a, this distance cannot be
seen, since the ski boot 600 has a maximum possible height between
the clearances in the heel 601 and the sole. The sole of the ski
boot 600 keeps the ski brake 21 in the rest position by keeping the
tread spur 24 pressed in the downward direction. The heel holder 14
adjoins the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 from the rear, just flush
with it.
[0207] In FIG. 9b, the automatic heel unit 11 is likewise in the
downhill position and the adjusting lever 18 is likewise pointing
substantially horizontally rearward in the longitudinal direction
of the ski. By contrast with the representation in FIG. 9a,
however, here the carriage 13 has been moved in the rearward
direction all the way along the dynamic region. Correspondingly,
the counterpart 48 of the tread spur 24 engages the hook 44 of the
metal plate 20. As can be seen from the figure, the heel holder 14
has been moved so far in the rearward direction that the pins 17.2
have come out from the heel 601 of the ski boot 600. This does not
correspond to an actual position of the automatic heel unit 11.
However, the figure illustrates how far the carriage 13 can be
moved along the dynamic region in the rearward direction.
Correspondingly, the figure illustrates that the ski 500 can be
flexed upward very far at both ends (not shown here), the carriage
13 being able to compensate for the resultant change in distance
between the automatic front unit and the heel holder 14 by movement
along the dynamic region. However, the heel holder 14 can thereby
always remain in contact with the heel 601 of the ski boot 600.
[0208] In FIG. 9c, the automatic heel unit 11 is in the first
climbing position. The adjusting lever 18 is correspondingly
pointing obliquely upward in the rearward direction and the
carriage 13 has been pushed into its rearward position with respect
to the base element 12. Correspondingly, the counterpart 48 of the
tread spur 24 engages the hook 44 of the metal plate 20, whereby
the ski brake 21 is kept in the rest position even when the heel
601 of the ski boot 600 is not pressing the tread spur 24 in the
downward direction. Moreover, as a result, the pins 17.2 have come
out from the heel 601 of the ski boot 600. The heel 601 of the ski
boot 600 can consequently be lifted off from the heel holder 11 in
the upward direction. In the representation in FIG. 9c, however,
the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 is shown lowered onto the
supporting element 23.
[0209] In FIG. 9d, the automatic heel unit 11 is in the second
climbing position. The adjusting lever 18 is correspondingly
pointing slightly further in the forward direction. As a result,
the first offset 27 of the adjusting lever 18 has been pivoted into
the path of movement of the heel 601 of the ski boot 600. The ski
boot 600 consequently can no longer be lowered toward the ski 500
as far as the supporting element 23, but only as far as an angle.
As already in the first climbing position, the carriage 13 has been
pushed into its rearward position with respect to the base element
12. Correspondingly, the counterpart 48 of the tread spur 24
likewise engages the hook 44 of the metal plate 20. As a result,
the ski brake 21 is kept in the rest position even when the heel
601 of the ski boot 600 is not pressing the tread spur 24 in the
downward direction.
[0210] In FIG. 9e, the automatic heel unit 11 is in the third
climbing position. The adjusting lever 18 is correspondingly
pointing obliquely upward in the forward direction. As a result,
the second offset 28 of the adjusting lever 18 has been pivoted
into the path of movement of the heel 601 of the ski boot 600. The
ski boot 600 consequently can no longer be lowered toward the ski
500 as far as the first offset 27, but only as far as a greater
angle than in the second climbing position. As already in the first
and second climbing positions, the carriage 13 has been pushed into
its rearward position with respect to the base element 12.
Correspondingly, the counterpart 48 of the tread spur 24 likewise
engages the hook 44 of the metal plate 20. As a result, the ski
brake 21 is kept in the rest position even when the heel 601 of the
ski boot 600 is not pressing the tread spur 24 in the downward
direction.
[0211] As already in FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e, FIGS. 10a, 10b,
10c and 10d each show a cross section through an automatic heel
unit 11 according to the invention and a ski boot 600, which is
held in a ski-touring binding comprising the automatic heel unit 11
and an automatic front unit (not shown). The cross sections shown
in FIGS. 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d likewise respectively extend in a
vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the ski. By
contrast with the cross sections shown in FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and
9e, however, the cross sections shown here respectively extend
laterally offset from the center of the automatic heel unit 11. As
a result, they respectively extend through a pin 17.2 of a lever
15.2.
[0212] FIGS. 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrate how the carriage 13
can be displaced with respect to the base element 12 in the
rearward direction by the adjusting lever 18 when the automatic
heel unit 11 is transferred from the downhill position into one of
the three climbing positions. For this purpose, the two arms of the
adjusting lever 18 each have on their inner side a lobe 56, which
has three channels. In the downhill position, these lobes 56 rest
flat on a counterpart 57 of the carriage 13, or the carriage 13 is
pressed with this counterpart 57 from the rear in the forward
direction against the lobes 56 (FIG. 10a). When the automatic heel
unit 11 is brought into one of the three climbing positions, the
adjusting lever 18 is pivoted forward in the upward direction. As a
result, the lobes 56, which are arranged on the adjusting lever 18
below the axis 19 of the adjusting lever 18, are pivoted in the
rearward direction. Correspondingly, the carriage is pressed in the
rearward direction against the spring force of the spiral spring
32. In order that the adjusting lever 18 remains arrested in
different positions in the three climbing positions, the lobes 57
each have three channels lying one behind the other. These channels
can engage in a front corner of the counterpart 57 of the carriage
13. As a result, in the various climbing positions, the carriage 13
is respectively kept in the rearward position and the adjusting
lever 18 is positioned in a way corresponding to the climbing
position. As soon as the adjusting lever 18 is again pivoted flat
in the rearward direction, the lobes 56 are drawn away from the
counterpart 57 of the carriage 13 in the forward direction and the
carriage 13 can be moved again in the forward direction by the
spiral spring 32.
[0213] FIG. 11 shows an oblique view of a further automatic heel
unit 1 according to the invention for a ski-touring binding. The
automatic heel unit 1 is shown mounted on a surface 501 of a ski
500. To preserve the overview, however, not the entire ski 500 is
shown, but only a rectangular, board-like detail of the ski 500 in
the region of the automatic heel unit 1. The orientation of the
automatic heel unit 1 is defined by how it is mounted on the ski
500. Thus, the automatic heel unit 1 is mounted on the surface 501
of the ski 500. Since this surface 501 is aligned in the upward
direction, upward and downward are also defined for the automatic
heel unit 1. Because the automatic heel unit 1 is part of a ski
binding and can hold a heel 601 of a ski boot 600 (not shown here),
the designations front and rear are also defined in the case of the
automatic heel unit 1. They respectively mean in the direction of
the ski tip and in the direction of the end of the ski 500.
[0214] The additional representation of the ski 500 makes the
structure and operating mode of the automatic heel unit 1 easier to
understand. Thus, the automatic heel unit 1 is mounted with a base
part 2 on the surface 501 of the ski 500. This base part 2
comprises a baseplate 3 and an intermediate piece 4. The baseplate
3 has an elongated, plate-like, substantially rectangular form. It
is mounted on the surface 501 of the ski 500 such that it is
aligned with its longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis
of the ski 500. In this case, a first main area 100.1 of the
baseplate 3 is facing downward and a second main area 100.2 is
facing upward. The first main area 100.1 thereby forms a mounting
area, with which the base part 2 is mounted on the ski 500. On the
second main area 100.2, the intermediate piece 4 is mounted
resiliently in the longitudinal direction. The mechanism of this
resilient mounting and the interaction of the baseplate 3 with the
intermediate piece 4 are shown in detail in FIGS. 13 to 17. In FIG.
11 it can be seen that the intermediate piece 4 has two upwardly
and slightly rearwardly directed arms 120.1, 120.2. These arms
120.1, 120.2 are arranged at a distance from one another such that
they are parallel in the longitudinal direction of the ski and
symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane and form
between them a central gap, in which a catch 10 is located. The
arms 120.1, 120.2 are located above a region of the baseplate 3
that is largely central in the longitudinal direction.
[0215] Along both longitudinal edges of the baseplate 3, guide
rails 102.1, 102.2 run in an upper region of the baseplate 3 (one
of these guide rails 102.1 is concealed by further parts of the
automatic heel unit 1 and is shown in FIG. 13). They face outward
in a plane aligned parallel to the second main area 100.2. That is
to say that they are aligned sideways from the ski. On the guide
rails 102.1, 102.2 of the baseplate 3, a carriage 5 is mounted
displaceably in the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, on
its longitudinal edges the carriage 5 has guide grooves, with which
it reaches around the guide rails 102.1, 102.2 on both sides of the
baseplate 3.
[0216] In a front end region, the carriage 5 has on each side a
side plate 110.1, 110.2. In FIG. 11, the carriage 5 is arranged in
relation to the intermediate piece 4 in such a way that the two
side plates 110.1, 110.2 enclose the two upwardly and slightly
rearwardly directed arms 120.1, 120.2 of the intermediate piece 4
on both sides symmetrically with respect to a central vertical
plane of the ski. The carriage 5 is coupled to the intermediate
piece 4 by means of an adjusting lever 6, as described in detail
further below.
[0217] The adjusting lever 6 is formed in a substantially
horseshoe-shaped manner. At free ends of both its arms, it has stub
axles 130.1, 130.2 that are inwardly directed, i.e. facing the
other arm respectively (the stub axles are only shown in FIG. 13).
These stub axles 130.1, 130.2 engage laterally in corresponding
clearances 135.1, 135.2 in the outer sides of the two side plates
110.1, 110.2 at the front end of the carriage 5. As a result, the
stub axles 130.1, 130.2 interact together with the clearances
135.1, 135.2 of the carriage 5 as a first bearing 50 of the
adjusting lever 6. A straight line leading through both stub axles
130.1, 130.2 defines a first geometrical axis of rotation 51, about
which the adjusting lever 6 is mounted rotatably on the first
bearing 50. Mounted on the carriage 5, this first geometrical axis
of rotation 51 is aligned parallel to the surface 501 of the ski
500 and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski 500.
In this case, the adjusting lever 6 can be righted about the first
geometrical axis of rotation 51 or lowered in the rearward
direction, for example onto the surface 501 of the ski 500, into a
position largely parallel to the ski. Independently of the exact
position of the adjusting lever 6, the first geometrical axis of
rotation 51 lies here in front of a connection 133, in which the
two arms of the adjusting lever 6 go over into one another in the
manner of a horseshoe.
[0218] The adjusting lever 6 has in each of both arms an aperture
131.1, 131.2 in the transverse direction, formed as a slot. These
slots 131.1, 131.2 are formed on the adjusting lever 6 slightly at
a distance from the stub axles 130.1, 130.2 in the direction of the
connection 133 between the two arms and are arranged such that they
are in line with one another with respect to a direction parallel
to the first axis of rotation 51. The slots 131.1, 131.2 thereby
run largely parallel to an alignment of the two arms of the
adjusting lever 6, are therefore aligned largely radially with
respect to the first axis of rotation 51. An axle bolt 7 with a
circular cross section is led through the two slots 131.1, 131.2.
In this case, the length of the axle bolt 7 is chosen such that the
axle bolt 7 connects the two slots 131.1, 131.2, but does not reach
out laterally beyond outer sides of the two arms. In the inner
sides of the arms of the adjusting lever 6 there are at both slots
131.1, 131.2 spring elements 132.1, 132.2 formed as leg springs
(only shown in FIG. 13). The spring elements 132.1 and 132.2 act
with a spring force on the axle bolt 7 in the slots 131.1 and 131.2
in the direction of the first axis of rotation 51. The position of
the slots 131.1, 131.2 on the arms is chosen such that the axle
bolt 7 is also pressed by the spring force against the two side
plates 110.1, 110.2 of the carriage 5. This has the effect that,
when the adjusting lever 6 is turned about the first geometrical
axis of rotation 51, the axle bolt 7 slides over an upwardly
directed region of the two side plates 110.1, 110.2 under the
pressure to which it is subjected. For this purpose, the upwardly
directed region of the two side plates 110.1, 110.2 substantially
follows a circle that is concentric with the first geometrical axis
of rotation 51.
[0219] The two side plates 110.1, 110.2 each have three transverse
recesses 136.1, 136.2, 136.3, 136.4, 136.5, 136.6, which are
aligned parallel to the first axis of rotation 51 and in which the
axle bolt 7 can engage on account of the spring force acting on it.
This has the effect of defining altogether three pivoted positions,
in which the adjusting lever 6 is righted (release positions).
Adapted to the release positions, the adjusting lever 6 has on each
of both arms three offsets 134.1, 134.3, 134.5 and 134.2, 134.4,
134.6, which are arranged in pairs (134.1/134.2, 134.3/134.4,
134.5/134.6) at the same distance from the first axis of rotation
51. These offsets 134.1, 134.2, 134.3, 134.4, 134.5, 134.6 are
arranged on an upwardly or, depending on the pivoted position,
forwardly directed side of the adjusting lever 6. Depending on the
pivoted position of the adjusting lever 6, i.e. depending on in
which of the transverse recesses 136.1, 136.2, 136.3, 136.4, 136.5,
136.6, the axle bolt 7 is engaged, the offsets 134.1-134.6 are
arranged in pairs largely above the first axis of rotation 51 or
above the first bearing 50 and thereby form in pairs a horizontally
aligned support for a heel 601 of a ski boot 600 held in the
binding and released in the heel region. Moreover, the side plates
110.1 and 11.2 have two further detent recesses 136.7 and 136.8, in
which the axle bolt is arranged in the locking position of the
adjusting lever 6, i.e. when it has been lowered completely in the
rearward direction.
[0220] The axle bolt 7 not only connects the two arms of the
adjusting lever 6 and defines the position of the adjusting lever 6
but is also led through apertures 121.1, 121.2 in the arms 120.1,
120.2 of the intermediate piece 4 that are formed as slots. The
slots 121.1, 121.2 thereby form a slotted link in which the axle
bolt 7 is displaceably guided as a slider and is supported on the
intermediate piece 4. The slots 121.1, 121.2 are described in
detail on the basis of FIGS. 13 to 17.
[0221] In FIG. 11 it can be seen that, in the upper region along
the alignment of the arms 120.1, 120.2 of the intermediate piece 4,
the slots 121.1, 121.2 are aligned such that they are inclined in
the upward direction, in a direction largely perpendicular to the
ski, and slightly in the rearward direction. Together with the axle
bolt 7, they form a second bearing 52 of the adjusting lever 6, a
longitudinal axis of the axle bolt 7 that is guided displaceably in
the slots 121.1, 121.2 forming a second geometrical axis of
rotation 53 of the adjusting lever 6.
[0222] The bearing 52 in this case supports the adjusting lever 6
on the intermediate piece of the base part 2 and allows a
displacement of the axle bolt 7 in such a way that, when there is
pivoting of the adjusting lever 6 mounted on the automatic heel
unit 1 in the first bearing 50 and in the second bearing 52 about a
geometrical pivoting axis at a given time that is produced by the
two bearings 50 and 52, a displacement of the carriage 5 takes
place along the guide rails 102.1, 102.2 of the baseplate 3 of the
base part 2.
[0223] Thus, when the adjusting lever 6 is righted, the axle bolt 7
is displaced in the upward direction in the slots 121.1 and 121.2.
Since the axle bolt 7 is guided in the slots 121.1, 121.2 of the
intermediate piece 4, it is thereby also guided to some extent in
the rearward direction. The force exerted by the user on the
adjusting lever 6 in the region of the connection 133 when it is
righted, largely in the forward direction, has the effect that the
adjusting lever 6 undergoes via the axle bolt 7 a normal force in
the opposite direction that is applied by the intermediate piece 4.
The fact that the adjusting lever 6 is supported on the
intermediate piece 4 by means of this normal force means that the
carriage 5 consequently undergoes a force in the rearward direction
by way of the adjusting lever 6 via the axle stubs 130.1, 130.2,
arranged oppositely with respect to the axle bolt 7 of the
connection 133, and via the first bearing 50. Therefore, with
respect to the second axis of rotation 53 (at a given time) defined
by the position at a given time of the axle bolt 7 in the slots
121.1, 121.2, the adjusting lever 6 forms a rocker, the one (front)
arm of which is mounted in the first bearing 50 on the carriage 5
and the opposite arm of which (with connecting piece 133) forms an
actuating arm.
[0224] When the adjusting lever 6 is lowered again in the rearward
direction, the carriage 5 is displaced in the forward direction by
an interaction of the base part 2 with the axle bolt 7 and the
adjusting lever 6 that proceeds in the reverse direction. On
account of the four positions of the adjusting lever 6, four
positions that differ in the longitudinal direction are therefore
obtained for the carriage 5. However, the fact that, with
increasing distance from the baseplate 3, the slots 121.1 and 121.2
are inclined slightly in the rearward direction means that there is
a smaller displacement of the carriage 5 the more the adjusting
lever 6 is righted. That is to say that a difference in the
longitudinal positions of the carriage 5 between a forward position
and the next position toward the rear decreases the more the
adjusting lever is righted. Consequently, the first bearing 50,
arranged at the front on the carriage 5, always remains arranged in
a region below the heel 601 of the ski boot.
[0225] On an upper side of a rear region of the carriage 5, a sole
holder 8 is provided for fixing the heel 601 of the ski boot 600.
This sole holder 8 has at a slightly elevated position two
forwardly and slightly downwardly directed pins 140.1, 140.2, lying
one next to the other. These pins 140.1, 140.2 can engage from
behind in clearances in the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 when said
heel has been lowered completely toward the ski, and thereby lock
these pins.
[0226] If the adjusting lever 6 is aligned in the rearward
direction in a pivoted position parallel to the surface of the ski
(locking position), the carriage 5 is consequently in a forwardmost
position. In this position, the pins 140.1, 140.2 are in a
longitudinal position at and above the second bearing 52. In this
position, the pins 140.1, 140.2 can engage in the clearances in the
heel 601 of the ski boot 600 when said heel has been lowered.
Correspondingly, the heel 601 of ski boot 600 can be fixed in this
position. If the adjusting lever 6 is in the locking position, the
automatic heel unit 1 is consequently in the downhill position.
[0227] As already described, if the adjusting lever 6 is righted
about the first geometrical axis of rotation 51, the carriage 5 can
be displaced in three stages in the rearward direction on account
of the three pivoted positions of the adjusting lever 6 that are
defined by the transverse recesses 136.1, 136.2, 136.3, 136.4,
136.5, 136.6 on the side plates 110.1, 101.2. In this case, the
first position following the forwardmost position is already
shifted to such an extent in the rearward direction that the pins
140.1, 140.2 can no longer engage in the clearances of the heel 601
of the ski boot 600 when said heel is lowered toward the ski 500.
In the two further positions, the carriage 5 is shifted still
further in the rearward direction, but only to the extent that the
region of the carriage with the first bearing 50 is still arranged
below the heel 601 of the ski boot. Correspondingly, these three
positions of the adjusting lever 6 are referred to as release
positions, in which the automatic heel unit 1 is in assigned
climbing positions. In the three release positions, a pair of the
aforementioned offsets 134.1-134.6 has been pivoted above the first
bearing 50 into the path of movement of the heel of the ski boot in
such a way that lowering of the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 is
limited by the offsets to the corresponding height above the first
bearing 50.
[0228] It should be noted that the adjusting lever 6 is represented
in FIG. 11 as pointing obliquely upward in the rearward direction
in a first of the three release positions, i.e. the axle bolt 7 is
engaged in the rearmost transverse recesses 136.5 at 136.6. In this
position, the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 is released and the
offsets 134.1, 134.2 arranged closest to the stub axles 130.1 and
130.2 form a support for the heel 601 of the ski boot. By contrast,
in FIG. 12 the automatic heel unit 1 is represented in the downhill
position, in which the adjusting lever 6 is in the locking position
and is aligned parallel to the surface of the ski. In this
position, the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 can be fixed by the pins
140.1 and 140.2.
[0229] Along with the carriage 5, a ski brake 9 is fastened on the
guide rails 102.1, 102.2 at the front end of the baseplate 3, in
front of the carriage 5. Serving as fastening means is a clamp 150,
which engages around the second main area 100.2 of the baseplate 3
and the two guide rails 102.1, 102.2 in the transverse direction of
the ski. On an upper side of this clamp 150 there are two eyelets,
which together define an axis in the transverse direction of the
ski. Led through each of these eyelets is an arm 152.1, 152.2,
which arms continue into braking members of the ski brake 9. In the
mounted state, the two arms 152.1, 152.2 run parallel to one
another at a distance that is slightly greater than a width of the
ski 500. When the ski brake 9 is deactivated, as shown here in FIG.
11, these two arms 152.1, 152.2 run parallel to the ski. On the
other hand, when the ski brake 9 is activated, they point obliquely
downward in the rearward direction beyond an underside of the ski
500 on both sides of the ski 500 (see FIG. 17). Coming from the
free ends of the two arms 152.1, 152.2 and continuing along the two
arms 152.1, 152.2, at the point of the eyelets of the sheet-metal
clamp 150 both arms 152.1, 152.2 are bent inwardly at right angles
in the transverse direction of the ski, parallel to the second main
area 100.2 of the baseplate 3. They run toward one another and are
led from outer sides through the eyelets of the sheet-metal clamp
150. This portion of the arms 152.1, 152.2 thereby forms an axis of
rotation of the ski brake 9. On inner sides of the eyelets, the two
arms 152.1, 152.2 are in turn bent at right angles, so that they
run parallel to their free ends, but away from them. After a short
region running in this direction, they are in turn bent at right
angles, toward one another. In this region, the two arms 152.1,
152.2 are rotatably mounted on an underside of a foot plate 151.
This foot plate 151 is additionally connected to the intermediate
piece 4 by a righting bracket 153, formed as a wire bracket. For
this purpose, the righting bracket 153 is mounted on the underside
of the foot plate 151 about an axis of rotation lying parallel to
the axis of rotation of the ski brake 9.
[0230] The wire bracket 153 is connected to the front region of the
intermediate piece 4 by its two arms running parallel to one
another. For this purpose, the arms run almost parallel to the arms
152.1, 152.2 of the ski brake 9 in the rearward direction and
slightly in the downward direction, and are mounted by free ends,
which point inwardly, i.e. run toward one another, from outer sides
in obliquely forwardly and upwardly aligned elongated clearances
129.1 (and 129.2, not shown) of the intermediate piece 4 (see FIG.
13 in this respect). The free ends of the righting bracket 153 are
angled away inwardly at an angle of less than 90 degrees. The
angled-away free ends are arranged in the clearances 129.1
according to the alignment thereof. The alignment of the clearances
129.1 and 129.2 corresponds to the position of the righting bracket
153 in the activated position of the ski brake 9 when the foot
plate 151 has been lifted off from the ski. For the deactivation of
the ski brake 9, i.e. when it is brought into the rest position,
the foot plate 151 is pressed in the downward direction, whereby
the arms 152.1, 152.2 are turned into an alignment largely parallel
to the ski and are swung in toward the automatic heel unit in a
known way. This takes place for example when stepping into the
binding, when a ski boot is lowered onto the foot plate 151. The
free ends of the righting bracket 153 are thereby fixed in their
alignment in the clearances 129.1 and 129.2 on the intermediate
piece, whereby a torsion is obtained in the wire of the righting
bracket 153. This torsion acts counter to the lowering of the foot
plate 151 and thereby produces a righting force of the ski brake
9.
[0231] If no external force is acting on the foot plate 151 and the
latter is also not locked, the foot plate 151 is pressed in the
upward direction by the spring force acting on the wire bracket
153, whereby the braking members are pivoted out in the downward
direction and the ski brake 9 is thus activated.
[0232] On account of the short lever arms at the free ends of the
righting bracket 153, great loads on the intermediate piece must be
expected in the region of the clearances 129.1 and 129.2. The
clearances 129.1 and 129.2 are therefore respectively provided with
a bearing bush 122.1 and 122.2, which bushes are for example made
of metal and prevent wear from occurring at the clearances 129.1
and 129.2.
[0233] As already in FIG. 11, FIG. 12 shows an oblique view of the
automatic heel unit 1, which is mounted on the ski 500. The
automatic heel unit 1 is shown from the same perspective in both
figures. FIG. 12 shows the automatic heel unit in the downhill
position, the sole holder 8 being represented without a housing 142
(the housing 142 is described on the basis of FIG. 13). The housing
142 has not been represented in FIG. 12 in order to show a first
triggering mechanism 60 of the sole holder 8 that makes possible a
forward safety release of the ski boot 600 held in the binding and
fixed in the heel region.
[0234] In the event of a safety release in the forward direction,
the heel 601 of the ski boot 600 is released from the fixing by the
automatic heel unit 1 in a movement in the upward or forward
direction when a predetermined triggering force is overcome. The
two pins 140.1, 140.2 that lie one next to the other and fix the
ski boot 600 are forced apart symmetrically on account of the way
in which the clearances are formed on the ski boot 600, whereby
they release the heel of the boot 601. For this purpose, the
clearances of the ski boot 600 have detent notches which are
directed toward a center of the boot and in which the pins 140.1,
140.2 are engaged when the ski boot 600 is fixed in the binding.
When there is a sufficiently great force upward/forward on the ski
boot, the pins are forced out of the detent notches. As a result of
the force effect, the heel 601 is moved in the upward direction,
the pins 140.1, 140.2 being able to slide out through downwardly
open channels of the clearances and thus release the heel of the
boot 601. Such ski boots are sufficiently well known, and are
therefore not described in detail at this point.
[0235] The required triggering force that is needed for such a
safety release is determined by the torque with which the two pins
140.1, 140.2 are kept in their rest position. How this torque comes
about is described on the basis of the mechanics of the triggering
mechanism 60 in the following paragraph.
[0236] The two pins 140.1, 140.2 are each mounted pivotably about a
vertical axis of rotation in the front region of the sole holder 8,
the axes of rotation running through anchoring elements 143.1,
143.2 of the pins 140.1, 140.2. These two axes of rotation are
formed by two studs 141.1, 141.2, which are held above and below
the anchoring elements 143.1, 143.2 by the housing 142 (not shown
here) of the sole holder 8. The anchoring elements 143.1, 143.2 are
cylindrically formed in the direction of the studs 141.1, 141.2 and
have in a plane parallel to the ski a sharkfin-like cross section.
The curved front edges of the sharkfin forms are thereby made to
face one another in the plane parallel to the ski. This increases a
distance between the two anchoring elements 143.1, 143.2 taken from
the studs 141.1, 141.2 in the rearward direction.
[0237] A thrust piece 145, formed as a wedge, is pressed in the
forward direction into this intermediate space between the two
anchoring elements 143.1, 143.2 from the rear by a spiral spring
144 supported on the rear periphery of the housing 142. The thrust
piece 145 consequently forces the anchoring elements 143.1 and
143.2 apart, whereby the pins arranged oppositely with respect to
the studs are forced toward one another into their rest position.
So if the two pins 140.1, 140.2 are pressed apart in the event of a
safety release of the first triggering mechanism 60, the two
anchoring elements 143.1, 143.2 behind the studs 141.1, 141.2 are
pressed toward one another. On account of the form of the anchoring
elements 143.1, 143.2, the anchoring elements slide on the thrust
piece 145 and displace the latter in the rearward direction, the
spiral spring 144 being compressed. Correspondingly, the torque
with which the two pins 140.1, 140.2 are kept in their rest
position is produced by the force of the spiral spring 144. A
prestressing of the spiral spring 144 can be set by means of an
adjusting screw 149.1 mounted on the housing 142, so that the
triggering force can be adapted to a user (see FIG. 13 below).
[0238] FIG. 13 shows an exploded representation of the automatic
heel unit 1. By analogy with FIGS. 11 and 12, designations for
upper, lower, rear, front and in the longitudinal direction still
relate to a ski 500 (not represented in FIG. 13) provided with the
automatic heel unit 1. Parts already described in FIGS. 11 and 12,
such as the baseplate 3 and the intermediate piece 4, which form
the base part 2, the carriage 5, the adjusting lever 6, the axle
bolt 7, the sole holder 8 and the ski brake 9, can be seen
completely.
[0239] As can be seen from FIG. 13, the baseplate 3 has four
mounting openings 101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4, which reach right
through from its first main area 100.1 to its upper, second main
area 100.2. These mounting openings 101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4 are
distributed over the main areas 100.1, 100.2 of the baseplate 3.
One of the openings 101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4 is respectively
located on both sides in a front region and in a rear region of the
baseplate 3. For mounting, a screw (not shown) is led through each
of the openings 101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4 and is screwed to the
ski 500 (not shown here). In order to be able to countersink the
screw heads in the baseplate 3, there are clearances in the second,
upper main area 100.2 of the baseplate 3 at a rim of these openings
101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4.
[0240] In the middle of the second main area 100.2 of the baseplate
3 there is also a clearance 103, which runs in the longitudinal
direction of the baseplate 3 over the entire baseplate 3. This
clearance 103 has a semicircular cross section, the rounding facing
downward. In the front half of the baseplate 3, the clearance 103
is largely smooth on the inside. In the rear half, the clearance
103 has a threaded structure 104. This threaded structure 104 is
aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the baseplate 3
and can receive a screw thread with a diameter corresponding to the
diameter of the semicircular cross section of the clearance 103.
The functions of this clearance 103 comprise on the one hand that
of providing guidance for a longitudinal displacement of the
intermediate piece 4 on the baseplate 3 and on the other hand, as
described further below, that of supporting the intermediate piece
4 on the baseplate 3.
[0241] The intermediate piece 4 has an elongated form. Its
underside is formed such that it is substantially flat and has a
rectangular clearance that is aligned in the longitudinal direction
and is enclosed by the intermediate piece 4 in a frame-like manner.
In a front periphery and in a rear periphery of this frame there
are clearances 128.1, 128.2 on the underside. These clearances
128.1, 128.2 are aligned in the longitudinal direction and lead in
the longitudinal direction through the entire front periphery and
rear periphery, respectively. They have a semicircular cross
section, the rounding of which is aligned upward. The front one of
these clearances 128.1 is closed off in a downward direction by a
semicircular strip to form a circular opening 123. With this strip,
the intermediate piece 4 is guided in the longitudinal direction on
the baseplate 3 in the smooth portion of the clearance 103.
[0242] In this case, a pushrod 124, which has a long shank with a
circular cross section, is guided in the opening 123 while aligned
in the longitudinal direction. In a rear region, the pushrod 124
has a screw thread 125, which can interact with the threaded
structure 104 of the clearance 103 of the baseplate 3. In an end
region at the rear end of the pushrod 124, the pushrod 124 has a
smooth region and is guided in the clearance 128.2 of the rear
periphery of the rectangular clearance of the underside of the
intermediate piece 4. In its rear end face, the pushrod 124 has a
notch, at which it can be turned, for example with a screwdriver,
in such a way that the pushrod 124 can be screwed in the forward
and rearward directions in the threaded structure 104 of the
clearance 103 of the baseplate 3. The pushrod 124 consequently
forms a spindle drive that is resiliently supported on the
intermediate piece 4 and by means of which a longitudinal position
of the intermediate piece 4 with respect to the baseplate 3 can be
set.
[0243] Between the opening 123 in the front periphery of the
rectangular clearance of the underside of the intermediate piece 4
and a front end of the screw thread 125 of the pushrod 124, a
spiral spring 126 that can be compressively loaded is led around
the shank of the pushrod 124. The spiral spring 126 brings about a
forwardly directed spring force on the intermediate piece 4 when
the intermediate piece 4 is pressed in the rearward direction with
respect to the baseplate 3. This resilient mounting of the
intermediate piece 4 with respect to the baseplate 3 makes it
possible to maintain a constant distance from the sole holder 8 to
a front jaw (not shown), if for example the ski 500 is flexed under
loading.
[0244] At the front end of the rectangular frame of the base of the
intermediate piece 4, clearances in which the wire bracket 153 of
the ski brake 9 is mounted are provided on both sides in the lower
region. By contrast with FIG. 11, also shown here are the two
spring elements 122.1, 122.2, which bring about a righting force on
the wire bracket 153 and thereby produce a force for activating the
ski brake 9. Also shown here is a plug 154, which is fitted from
below onto the underside of the foot plate 151 and thereby mounts
the wire bracket 153 rotatably between itself and the foot plate
151.
[0245] On the rectangular frame of the base of the intermediate
piece 4 there is in the front half a formed-on support. Toward the
middle of the intermediate piece 4, on this support there are the
two arms 120.1, 120.2, which have already been described in FIG.
11. By contrast with FIG. 11, here the form of the two slots 121.1,
121.2 of the arms 120.1, 120.2 can be seen as a whole. This form is
substantially a slightly rearwardly inclined L shape. The longer
arm of the L shape points in the upward direction and is at the
same time slightly inclined in the rearward direction. The shorter
arm of the L shape is arranged in the lower region of the slots
121.1, 121.2 and extends from the connection to the longer arm in
the rearward direction and slightly in the downward direction. The
shorter arm provides the axle bolt 7 with a latching position, in
which the axle bolt 7 is engaged when the adjusting lever 6 is in
the locking position (also see in this respect FIG. 14).
[0246] In the front periphery of the support of the intermediate
piece 4 there is an opening 127 in the upper region. This opening
127 is aligned in the longitudinal direction and has a horizontal,
rectangular cross section. Through this opening 127, the catch 10
of an actuating mechanism of the automatic heel unit 1 is
displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction. In the
representations of the figures, the catch 10 is formed from a
sheet-metal strip. Its forwardly pointing end is flat, i.e. aligned
parallel to the ski in the longitudinal direction and guided in the
opening 127. In the rearward direction, the sheet-metal strip is
bent upward, so that it points upward in the rearward direction at
an angle of 45.degree.. At the rear end of the catch 10, the
sheet-metal strip is bent in the form of a hairpin, so that the
free end of the sheet-metal strip points downward in the forward
direction at an angle of 45.degree. and forms a downwardly open
loop 119.
[0247] This loop 119 has a diameter in which the axle bolt 7 guided
in the transverse direction is accommodated. The loop 119 is
thereby arranged with respect to the slots 121.1, 121.2 in such a
way that the axle bolt 7 guided in the slots 121.1, 121.2 can
engage in the loop 119 from below when it is displaced in the
upward direction from a lowermost position. The loop 119 is in this
case inclined to a greater extent in the rearward direction than
the longer arms of the slots 121.1, 121.2. As a result, when the
adjusting lever 6 is turned in the upward direction and the axle
bolt 7 is thereby displaced in the upward direction in the slots
121.1, 121.2, the catch 10 is pushed in the forward direction in
the opening 127 in the intermediate piece 4. When the adjusting
lever 7 is turned in the downward direction, the catch 10 is pushed
oppositely in the rearward direction (also see FIGS. 14 to 17),
until it is in the rearmost position and the axle bolt 7 emerges
from the loop 119 in the downward direction.
[0248] The carriage 5 with the two side plates 110.1, 110.2 can be
seen well from the exploded representation shown in FIG. 13. Thus,
the four indentations in the upwardly directed regions of the two
side plates 110.1, 110.2 can be seen. Furthermore, the lateral
clearance for the corresponding stub axle 130.2 of the adjusting
lever 6 can be seen here in the side plate 110.2 facing the viewer.
The clearances of the two side plates 110.1, 110.2 are in this case
downwardly open, so that during the assembly of the automatic heel
unit the stub axles 130.1 and 130.2 can be introduced into the
clearances from below. Together with the two stub axles 130.1,
130.2, the clearances of the carriage 5 form the already described
first bearing 50.
[0249] The structure of the sole holder 8 can also be seen from the
exploded representation shown in FIG. 13. On the rear region of the
carriage 5 there is a circular-cylindrical base 111, which is
aligned perpendicularly to the ski, is fixedly connected to the
carriage 5 and the rear side of which is flattened in the
transverse direction of the ski. The housing 142 of the sole holder
8 has been fitted on this base 111 with a bearing sleeve 111.1 such
that it can be turned about an axis perpendicular to the ski.
[0250] On account of the rotatable mounting, the sole holder 8 can
be pivoted out to the side for a sideways safety release. The
control of such a release is maintained by a second triggering
mechanism 61. This second triggering mechanism 61 comprises a
cylindrical thrust piece 146, which is aligned in the longitudinal
direction and is pressed from the rear against the flattened rear
side of the base 111 by two spiral springs 147.1, 147.2 guided one
in the other. Largely by analogy with the spiral spring 144 of the
first triggering mechanism 60, the spiral springs 147.1, 147.2
aligned in the longitudinal direction are in this case supported on
the housing 142 of the sole holder 8. Here in FIG. 13, the
structure of this support can be seen: the spiral springs 144 as
well as 147.1 and 147.2 are supported on screw nuts 148.1 and
148.2, respectively. These nuts are screwed on adjusting screws
149.1, 149.2, which have been introduced into the spiral springs
144, 147.1, 147.2 from the rear and the heads of which are
supported on the rear wall of the housing 142 of the sole holder 8.
Since the screw nuts 148.1, 148.2 are hindered from a turning
movement by the housing 8, they are displaceable in the
longitudinal direction by turning the adjusting screws 149.1,
149.2.
[0251] FIG. 14 shows a central cross section in the longitudinal
direction of the automatic heel unit 1. In this representation, the
adjusting lever 6 is in the locking position. In this position of
the adjusting lever 6, a heel 601 of a ski boot 600 can be fixed by
the sole holder 8. This is illustrated by the schematic
representation of the ski boot 600, in the heel 601 of which the
pins 140.1 and 140.2 of the sole holder 8 engage. It can also be
seen from the schematic representation of the ski boot 600 that, in
this position of the adjusting lever 6, the ski brake 9 is
deactivated by pressure on the foot plate 151 from above from the
sole of the ski boot 600, i.e. is in the rest position.
[0252] The interaction of some of the parts described above is
illustrated in FIG. 14. Thus, the resilient coupling of the
intermediate part 4 to the baseplate 3, which is achieved by means
of the pushrod 124 and the spiral spring 126, can be seen here. The
second triggering mechanism 61, which extends from the base 111 on
the rear region of the carriage 5, can also be seen. It can also be
seen that the base 111 is only flattened in a certain region of the
rear circumferential surface, corresponding to the dimensioning of
the thrust piece 146. In a region above the flattened portion, the
base 111 again has a circular cross section for improved mounting
of the sole holder 8.
[0253] It can also be seen that the thrust piece 146 has a
rearwardly open hollow space, so that the two spiral springs 147.1,
147.2 are guided in this hollow space up to a front covering of the
thrust piece 146, at which they are supported on the thrust piece.
Moreover, the mounting of the adjusting screw 149.2 of the second
triggering mechanism 61 in the housing 142 of the sole holder 8 can
be seen here. This mounting is configured in such a way that the
adjusting screw 149.2 is accessible from the rear to a user and can
be turned, whereby the screw nut 148.2 can be displaced in the
longitudinal direction. This allows the strength of the spring
force acting on the base 111 to be set. In order to deflect the
sole holder 8 sideways, the thrust piece must consequently be
deflected in the rearward direction. Corresponding to the setting
with the adjusting screw 149.2, a greater or lesser lateral torque
is necessary to be able to deflect the housing 142 of the sole
holder 8 (triggering force).
[0254] Along with the second triggering mechanism 61, the first
triggering mechanism 60 for the forward safety release can also be
seen here. By contrast with FIGS. 12 and 13, the mounting of the
adjusting screw 149.1 in the housing 142 of the sole holder 8 can
likewise be seen here. This mounting is configured in a way
corresponding to the second triggering mechanism 61, in such a way
that the adjusting screw 149.1 can be reached and can be turned
from the rear, whereby the screw nut 148.1 can be displaced in the
longitudinal direction. This allows the triggering force of the
first triggering mechanism 60 to be set.
[0255] As already described, in FIG. 14 the adjusting lever 6 is in
the locking position. Correspondingly, the axle bolt 7 is also in
the lowermost position. In this case, the axle bolt 7 is engaged at
the lower end of the slots 121.1 and 121.2 of the intermediate
piece 4 in the shorter arm of the L shape. Correspondingly, the
carriage 5 is in the forwardmost position and the catch is in the
position drawn back furthest in the rearward direction, the
deactivated position. In this case, the front end of the catch 10
scarcely protrudes beyond the front end of the intermediate piece
4.
[0256] FIG. 15 shows a further central cross section in the
longitudinal direction of the automatic heel unit 1. By contrast
with FIG. 14, here the adjusting lever 6 is in the first of the
three release positions, by analogy with FIG. 11. Correspondingly,
the adjusting lever 6 is righted obliquely in the rearward
direction and the axle bolt 7 is engaged in the rearmost transverse
recesses 136.5 and 136.6. In this case, the lowermost offsets 134.1
and 134.2 of the adjusting lever 6 have been pivoted into the path
of movement of the heel 601 of the ski boot as a walking step, such
that they form a support for the heel 601 of the released ski boot
600 (indicated by dashed lines). The adjusting lever 6 is in this
case formed in such a way that it partially encloses the heel of
the ski boot from the rear and from the sides. In particular, the
regions of the adjusting lever 6 in which the next-higher supports
134.3 and 134.4 are arranged are arranged in front of a rear end of
the ski boot sole in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
[0257] In this position of the adjusting lever 6, the axle bolt 7
is in the upper region of the slots 121.1 and 121.2 of the
intermediate piece 4. Correspondingly, the carriage 5 has been
displaced in the rearward direction in comparison with the downhill
position, whereby the automatic heel unit 1 is in a climbing
position. The raised position of the axle bolt 7 also has the
effect that the catch 10 has been displaced in the forward
direction over the loop 119. The front end of the catch 10 then
reaches beyond the front end of the intermediate piece 4 and
engages in a clearance 155 in the rear end of the lowered foot
plate 151 of the ski brake 9. The front end of the catch 10 thereby
comes to lie against the lower periphery of the clearance 155 in
the foot plate 151 and hinders upward yielding thereof on account
of the righting force. Correspondingly, the ski brake 9 is locked
by the catch 10 and activation of the ski brake 9 is prevented in
spite of the released heel 601 of the ski boot 600.
[0258] FIG. 16 shows a further central cross section in the
longitudinal direction of the automatic heel unit 1. By contrast
with FIGS. 14 and 15, here the adjusting lever 6 is in the middle
of the three release positions, in which the axle bolt 7 is engaged
in the middle transverse recesses 136.3 and 136.4. Correspondingly,
the adjusting lever 6 is positioned so steeply upward that the
offsets 134.3 and 134.4 that are present on the adjusting lever
midway from the axis of rotation 51 form a support for the heel 601
of the released ski boot 600.
[0259] FIG. 17 shows a further central cross section in the
longitudinal direction of the automatic heel unit 1. As already in
FIG. 14, here the adjusting lever 6 is in the locking position. As
a difference from FIG. 14, there is no heel 601 of the ski boot
locked at the automatic heel unit. Correspondingly, the ski brake 9
has been activated and the foot plate 151 has been raised in the
upward direction, while the free ends of the arms 152.1 and 152.2,
acting as braking members, project downward beyond an underside of
the ski 500. In the representation of FIG. 17, the ski brake 9 is
in a transitional position between the rest position and the
activated position. If the ski brake 9 is completely in the
activated position, the foot plate 151 is raised up further away
from the ski 500 and the braking members 152.1 and 152.2 project
downward beyond the ski 500 at a steeper angle.
[0260] FIG. 18 shows an alternative configuration of a catch 210 as
an actuating element of an actuating mechanism of the automatic
heel unit 1 in an activated position. For a better overview, only
parts of a further embodiment of the ski brake 209 and of the catch
210 are represented in a sectional view in the longitudinal
direction. The other parts of the automatic heel unit 1 correspond
to the parts of FIGS. 11 to 17 with the minor modifications
described below.
[0261] In the configuration of FIG. 18, the catch 210 is preferably
formed as a plastic part that is mounted displaceably in the
longitudinal direction on the intermediate piece 4, between the two
side plates 110.1, 110.2. For this purpose, the catch 210 has on an
underside a profile rail 211, such as for example a dovetailed
strip or a T-shaped profile rail, which engages in a corresponding
groove on the intermediate piece (not represented in FIG. 18). The
catch 210 is in this case subjected to a spring force in the
forward direction by a spring 212, which is internally arranged and
can be compressively loaded, via a support 213 on the intermediate
piece 4. The catch 210 can consequently be deflected in the
rearward direction with respect to the intermediate piece against
the spring force. At a front end face, the catch 210 has a
wedge-shaped nose 210.1, which has an upper side that is downwardly
inclined in the forward direction.
[0262] At a rear end, the catch 210 has an arm 220 protruding
obliquely upward in the rearward direction by approximately 45
degrees with respect to a perpendicular to the ski and is passed
through in the transverse direction of the ski by a slot 219 that
is likewise aligned obliquely upward in the rearward direction. The
slot 219 is in this case inclined to a greater extent in the
rearward direction than the longer arms of the slots 121.1 and
121.2 of the slotted link on the intermediate piece 4, and widens
continuously toward an upper end.
[0263] The axle bolt 7 guided in the slots 121.1 and 121.2 passes
through the slot 219 of the catch 210 (largely by analogy with the
loop 119 of the catch 10 described above). The widening of the slot
219 toward the upper end is formed in such a way that the catch 210
has been displaced all the way forward into its activated position
on account of the spring force acting on it when the axle bolt 7 is
arranged at an upper end of the slots 121.1 and 121.2 (i.e. when
the adjusting lever 6 has been pivoted into one of the release
positions). On account of the widening of the slot 219 at the upper
end, the catch 210 can yield to the spring force in the rearward
direction within the limits of the widening when a force acts from
the front to the rear.
[0264] If, on the other hand, the axle bolt 7 has been displaced
all the way downward in the slots 121.1 and 121.2 (not
represented), i.e. when the adjusting lever 6 is in the locking
position, the catch 210 is forced all the way rearward into a
deactivated position against the spring force on account of the
inclination of the slot 219. At a lower end, the slot 219 has a
width that largely corresponds to the diameter of the axle bolt 7,
whereby in this position of the axle bolt 7 the catch 210 is fixed
by said bolt.
[0265] For fastening on the baseplate 3 of the base part 2, the ski
brake 209 of FIG. 18 has a base part 250, preferably made of
plastic, on which both arms 252.1 and 252.2 of braking members of
the ski brake 209 and a wire bracket acting as a righting bracket
253 are mounted. The arms 252.1 and 252.2 as well as the righting
bracket 253 are in this case connected to one another by means of a
foot plate 251. The ski brake 209 in this case largely corresponds
to the ski brake 9 described above, with the difference that the
righting bracket 253 is also mounted on the base part 250 (and not
on the intermediate piece 4). The ski brake 209 is consequently
formed as an independent part that can be attached to the baseplate
3 by means of the base part 250. In this case, the base part 250
has guide grooves 250.1 and 250.2 (guide groove 250.2 cannot be
seen in the sectional representation of FIG. 18), which by analogy
with the carriage 5 enclose the guide rails 102.1, 102.2 of the
baseplate 3. The ski brake 209 can consequently be attached with
the base part 250 on the baseplate 3 such that it is guided
displaceably in the longitudinal direction. On a rear end face of
the base part 250, two rearwardly protruding holding lugs 254.1 and
254.2 are also formed (holding lug 254.2 cannot be seen in the
sectional representation of FIG. 18), with which the base part 250
can be hooked into corresponding clearances of the intermediate
piece 4 (not shown) from below. If a ski brake 250 is desired at
all, this takes place before the carriage 3 and the intermediate
piece 4 are pushed onto the guide rails 102.1 and 102.2 of the
baseplate 3 during the assembly of the automatic heel unit 1. This
achieves the effect that the base part 250 of the ski brake 209 is
coupled to the intermediate piece 4 fixedly with respect to
longitudinal displacement (but such that it can be released again
by pulling off the carriage 3 and the intermediate piece from the
baseplate 3). Consequently, when there is an adjustment of the
longitudinal position with respect to the baseplate 3, the ski
brake 209 is displaced at the same time by means of the spindle
drive 124 described above of the intermediate piece 4 and
consequently is at the same desired distance from the intermediate
piece 4, and consequently also from the carriage 3 coupled thereto
on which the sole holder 8 is provided, in every longitudinal
position of the intermediate piece 4.
[0266] As a further difference from the ski brake 9, the foot plate
251 has on a rear end face a projection 255, which is beveled
upwardly in the rearward direction on an underside. The projection
255 is in this case arranged in such a way that the nose of the
catch 210 can be brought into engagement with the projection 255
when the catch 210 is in the activated position and the foot plate
251 is lowered. If the catch 210 is in the activated position
represented in FIG. 18, the beveled underside of the projection 255
comes into contact with the beveled upper side of the nose 210.1 of
the catch 210 during the lowering of the foot plate 251 and
displaces the catch 210 in the rearward direction against the
spring force during the further lowering. If the projection 255
arrives under the catch 210, the catch 210 snaps forward on account
of the spring force, so that it overlaps with the projection 255.
In the activated position, the catch 210 consequently provides a
snap locking for the foot plate 151 of the ski brake 209. The
activated catch 210 consequently prevents the foot plate 251 from
being able to be raised again when the foot plate 251 has been
lowered--the ski brake 209 is consequently locked in a rest
position.
[0267] For the transfer into the deactivated position, the catch
210 is drawn in the rearward direction in the way described above
by means of the interaction of the axle bolt 7 with the slot 219,
whereby the catch 210 leaves the region of the projection 255 and,
no longer overlapping with it, cannot interact with it. The foot
plate 251 is consequently no longer locked and can be raised by the
spring force of the righting bracket, whereby the ski brake 209 can
go into the activated position if the foot plate is not otherwise
blocked (for example by a boot held in the binding)--the ski brake
209 is consequently unlocked or released.
[0268] This configuration of the catch 210 consequently ensures
that the foot plate 251 of the ski brake 209 can be locked without
any risk of damage to the actuating element, even if the catch 210
is already in the activated position, when the foot plate 251 is
for example lowered by stepping into a binding.
[0269] The invention is not restricted to the first automatic heel
unit 11 shown here and the second automatic heel unit 1 shown here.
Various modifications thereof are possible. As shown in FIGS. 19a
and 19b, for example, an automatic heel unit 550 according to the
invention can also be brought from the downhill position into the
at least one climbing position by the heel holder 552 being turned
about a substantially vertical axis, in order that the holding
means 553.1, 553.2 can no longer interact with the heel of the ski
boot. For this purpose, the automatic heel unit 550 may be formed
for example as described in EP 0 199 098 A2 (Barthel). However, in
this case the substantially vertical axis should be arranged either
on the carriage or else on the base element (551), so that, in the
downhill position, the carriage is movable along the dynamic
region.
[0270] To sum up, it can be stated that an automatic heel unit that
increases the safety for a skier is provided.
* * * * *