U.S. patent number 3,866,928 [Application Number 05/304,736] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for safety ski binding.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Gertsch AG. Invention is credited to Ernst Gertsch, Ulrich Gertsch.
United States Patent |
3,866,928 |
Gertsch , et al. |
February 18, 1975 |
SAFETY SKI BINDING
Abstract
A safety ski binding embodying a release plate intended to be
releasably secured to a ski boot. The release plate possesses at
one end a supporting surface engaging beneath an associated holding
surface of a holder element secured to the ski and the other end of
which cooperates with a locking pin subjected to the pressure of an
adjustment spring, so that there is possible both lateral release
of the release plate as well as also upward release thereof away
from the ski. A circular-shaped bearing disc is secured to the ski
and engages with a lengthwise extending slot of the release plate,
so that the release plate can pivot about the bearing disc, can
displace in the lengthwise direction with respect to the bearing
disc and can be raised therefrom. The supporting surface of the
release plate and the holding surface of the holder element form a
lateral guide with regard to the axis of the bearing disc.
Inventors: |
Gertsch; Ernst (Wengen,
CH), Gertsch; Ulrich (Matten, CH) |
Assignee: |
Gertsch AG (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
4419465 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/304,736 |
Filed: |
November 8, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 17, 1971 [CH] |
|
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16696/71 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/618 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C
9/0855 (20130101); A63C 9/081 (20130101); A63C
9/08542 (20130101); A63C 9/005 (20130101); A63C
9/0805 (20130101); A63C 9/003 (20130101); A63C
9/08557 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63C
9/081 (20060101); A63C 9/086 (20060101); A63C
9/08 (20060101); A63c 009/081 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/11.35K,11.35C,11.35Y,11.35T |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schonberg; David
Assistant Examiner: Mitchell; David M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen,
Steadman, Chiara & Simpson
Claims
While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of
the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention
is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and
practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,
what is claimed is:
1. A releasable ski binding for a ski comprising a release plate
intended to be releasably secured to a ski boot, said release plate
being provided at one end with a supporting surface, a holder
element for attachment to the ski, said holder element including a
holding surface which engages with the supporting surface of the
release plate, a spring-loaded locking pin cooperating with the
other end of the release plate, means for adjusting the
spring-loading of said spring-loaded locking pin, said release
plate being releasable laterally as well as upwardly with regard to
the ski, a substantially circular-shaped bearing disc for
attachment to the ski, said release plate having a lengthwise
extending slot which engages said bearing disc, so that said
release plate can pivot about the bearing disc, can displace in the
lengthwise direction relative thereto and can be raised away from
said bearing disc, said supporting surface of the release plate and
the holding surface of the holder element forming a lateral guide
with regard to the axis of the bearing disc, said supporting
surface of the release plate and the holding surface of the holder
element cooperating with one another to provide selective vertical
release action, said lateral guide having an arcuate surface
cooperating with an arcuate surface of said release plate for
freely permitting pivoting of said release plate, said
spring-loaded locking pin providing both lateral release action and
vertical release action for said binding, said spring-loaded
locking pin in conjunction with said bearing disc providing
different release moments for the ski binding for the vertical
release
2. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the
release plate contacts the bearing disc at one end of the
lengthwise extending slot under the action of the locking pin in
the normal non-release
3. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the
supporting surface of the release plate and the holding surface of
the holder element extend in respective substantially circular
arc-shaped configuration with
4. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the
supporting surface and the holding surface are respectively
inclined from the bottom
5. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said
locking
6. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said
locking
7. In a releasable ski binding for a ski including a release plate
and means for securing said release plate to a ski boot, the
combination comprising first holding means adapted to be secured to
said ski juxtaposed with the toe end of said boot, for releasably
holding one end of said release plate relative to said ski, second
holding means adapted to be secured to said ski at the opposite end
of said release plate juxtaposed with the heel end of said boot for
releasably holding said opposite end of said release plate against
upward motion relative to said ski, said second holding means
having an arcuate surface cooperating with a corresponding surface
of said release plate for permitting unrestrained lateral movement
of said release plate relative to said ski and pivot means adapted
to be secured to said ski at a point intermediate said first and
second holding means and cooperating with said release plate to
permit said release plate to pivot relative to said ski at the
location of said pivot means and permitting vertical separation of
said release plate from said ski while preventing sidewise movement
of said release plate relative
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said pivot means
comprises a pivot member to be secured to said ski to extend
upwardly therefrom, and wherein said release plate is provided with
a recess for receiving said pivot member, said recess having
opposed side walls for engaging opposed
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, including resilient means for
yieldingly urging said release plate toward said second holding
means, said recess being elongated in a longitudinal direction
relative to said ski, to permit longitudinal movement of said
release plate against said resilient
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said release plate
comprises a relatively flat plate, and wherein said recess
comprises a slot formed in
11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first holding
means includes spring means for urging said release plate toward
said second holding means with said pivot member bearing against
the end of said
12. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first holding
means includes spring means adapted to urge said release plate
against said pivot means and for yieldingly restraining pivoting of
said release plate relative to said ski, and wherein said second
holding means includes guide means for cooperating with said
opposite end of said release plate for holding it against upward
movement away from said ski while freely
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said pivot means
comprises a pivot member adapted to be secured to said ski to
extend upwardly therefrom, and said release plate having an
elongate recess for receiving said pivot member and allowing
longitudinal movement of said release plate relative thereto, said
spring means adapted to yieldingly urge said release plate toward
said pivot member with said pivot member bearing against the end of
said recess closer to said first holding means, and wherein said
second holding means is provided with a first inclined surface,
said opposite end of said release plate being provided with a
correspondingly inclined second inclined surface adapted normally
to underlie said first inclined surface, and wherein said recess is
sufficiently long to permit said release plate to move
longitudinally relative to said pivot member until said second
inclined surface no longer underlies said first surface so that
said opposite end of said release
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first and second
inclined surfaces are surfaces of revolution relative to the axis
of said pivot member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of
safety or release ski binding embodying a release plate serving for
releasable attachment to a ski boot, the release plate having at
its one end a supporting surface which engages beneath an
associated holding surface of a holder element secured to the ski
and the other end of which cooperates with a locking pin which is
subjected to the pressure of an adjustment spring, so that there is
possible both lateral release of the release plate as well as
upward release thereof.
With such prior art ski bindings faulty release of the binding
could occur, during normal skiing owing to the favorable friction
conditions which were obtained by virtue of the release plate, in
that non-dangerous impact forces and the forces exerted by the
skier for controlling the movement of the skiis during skiing could
cause unintentional release of the release plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Hence, it should be apparent from the foregoing discussion that
this particular field of technology still is in need of a safety
ski binding which is not associated with the aforementioned
drawbacks and limitations of the prior art proposals. Therefore, it
is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved
construction of safety ski binding of the aforementioned type which
effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art and
is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations
of the prior art constructions.
Another and more specific object of the present invention relates
to an improved construction of releasable ski binding which
overcomes, in an effective manner, the previously discussed
drawbacks, and wherein the construction of such binding is
relatively simple, renders same economical to manufacture, and the
binding is extremely reliable in operation.
Yet a further significant object of the present invention aims at
the provision of an improved construction of safety ski binding
which generally is only responsive to the type of forces exerted
upon the skier's legs which would require release of the binding,
so as to prevent premature release thereof under skiing conditions
not warranting initiation of the binding release action.
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the
invention, which will become more readily apparent as the
description proceeds, the safety ski binding of this development,
also referred to as a releasable ski binding, of the aforementioned
type, is manifested by the features that a substantially
circular-shaped bearing disc which is secured to the ski engages
with a longitudinal or lengthwise extending slot of the release
plate, so that the release plate can pivot about this bearing disc,
can displace in the lengthwise direction relative thereto and can
be raised therefrom. The supporting surface of the release plate
and the holding surface of the holder element form a lateral guide
with regard to the axis of the bearing disc.
Owing to the arrangement of the bearing disc the action of the
release forces can be chosen to be more favorable for the different
release directions of the binding, and the bearing disc directly
contributes to the beneficial result that non-dangerous short-lived
impact forces exerted laterally can be absorbed. Hence, the
sensitivity of the ski binding to faulty release action is
considerably reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred constructinal embodiment
of safety ski binding designed according to the teachings of this
invention and shown mounted upon a ski, only a portion of which has
been depicted to preserve clarity in illustration and;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the safety ski binding arrangement
depicted in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Considering now the drawing, there is disclosed therein a preferred
exemplary embodiment of safety ski binding or releasable ski
binding wherein it will be noted that an attachment flange 2 of a
sleeve or housing 3 is secured by means of screws 4 or equivalent
expedients to the top surface of a ski 1. A locking element 5a is
pivotably mounted in the sleeve 3, locking element 5a possessing a
locking pin 5, a domed central portion 6 and a flat end face or
surface 7 which cooperates with a planar or flat end surface of a
piston 8. The piston 8 is displaceably guided within sleeve 3. A
substantially circular ring-shaped shoulder 9 of the locking
element 5a engages behind a substantially circular ring-shaped
inner flange 3a at the end of the sleeve 3. A pressure or
compression spring 12 is arranged within the sleeve 3 between the
piston 8 and an adjustment screw 11 threaded into the sleeve 3.
Between the sleeve 3 and the adjustment screw 11 there is inserted
a plurality of thin rings 13 by means of which the screw 11 can be
fixed in different adjustment positions.
The locking pin 5 of the locking element 5a cooperates with a
recess 14a provided at a shoulder or projection 14 appearing at the
front or standing edge 15 of a release plate 16. At the inside of
the upstanding edge 15 there is secured for elevational
adjustability, by means of a screw 18 or the like, a sole holder or
holddown mechanism 17. At the rear end of the release plate 16
opposite the sole holder or holddown mechanism 17, there are
provided threaded bores or holes 19 for selectively receiving
threaded bolts 20 which are flexed or bent in a manner to form two
legs arranged substantially at right angles to one another. Each of
the bolts 20 is connected at one respective end, through the agency
of a respective threaded sleeve 21, with a respective tension
spring 22. Each tension spring 22 is connected through the agency
of a respective angled bolt 23 with a sleeve 24 at which there is
seated a clamping lever 25. The one arm 25a of the clamping lever
25 is intended to engage over the heel portion of a ski boot 26, as
indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2, and the other arm 25b of
which serves as an actuation arm.
Now at the ski 1 there is secured by means of a screw 27 or any
other suitable fastening element a substantially circular-shaped
bearing disc 28 which engages with a longitudinal or lengthwise
extending slot 29 of the release plate 16. Owing to this
arrangement the release plate 16 is pivotable about the central
axis of the bearing disc 28 and at the same time is displaceable
over a limited distance in the lengthwise direction of the ski.
Furthermore, the release plate 16 can be raised upwards away from
the bearing disc 28. The rear end of the release plate 16 possesses
a bevelled or inclined supporting surface 30 extending in a
substantially circular arc-shaped fashion with regard to the
upstanding central axis of the bearing disc 28. The support or
supporting surface 30 bears against a correspondingly configured
substantially circular arc-shaped bevelled holding surface 31 of a
holder or holding element 32 secured to the ski 1. Both of the
surfaces 30 and 31 extend upwardly and forwardly from the bottom
towards the top thereof and in the direction of the bearing disc
28, as shown. During lateral release, the release plate 16 is
rocked about the bearing disc 28, whereas during a fall towards the
front by the skier the release plate is shifted towards the front
against the pressure of the spring 12 until the supporting surface
30 no longer contacts or engages with the holding surface 31.
Instead of using the illustrated pivotal pin 5 which cooperates
with a recess 14a at the front and of the release plate 16 it would
be also possible to provide an axially displaceable pin which
cooperates with an appropriately constructed countersurface at the
front end of the release plate 16, as is well known in this
art.
It should be understood that the locking pin 5 could be arranged at
the rear end of the release plate 16 and the bevelled surface 30 at
the front end of such release plate. Also with this variant
embodiment of the invention, as with the illustrated exemplary
embodiment, the release plate 16 can be supported at the bearing
disc 28 through the agency of the corresponding end of the
lengthwise extending slot 29.
* * * * *