Binding system for and on a ski or snowboard

A binding system for and on skis or snowboards having slider elements that are insertable into a guiderail arrangement and may be secured for front and rear sole holder units by multi-section retaining element. The retaining element is arranged on the skis or on the guiderail arrangement longitudinally between the slider elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a binding system for and on skis or snowboards havinga guiderail arrangement,a front slider element of a front boot holder unit to accommodate the front boot holder unit, displaceable therein,a rear slider element of a rear boot holder unit to accommodate the rear boot holder unit, displaceable therein, anda retaining member arranged between the slider elements that is securable on the guiderail arrangement or on an abutment that is stationary relative to the guide rail, having couplings for securing the slider elements in longitudinal direction of the guide rail arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A binding system of such kind is the object of German Patent No. DE 100 398 16 A1. With this known system, a flat strap is provided as a retaining member, the middle area of which is secured to a fixed abutment and the free ends of which are attached to front and rear boot holder units. For adjusting the longitudinal distance between the boot holder units, i.e. for adapting the positions of the boot holder units to the respective length of the sole of the boot to be inserted into the binding, the boot holder units may be displaced relative to the ends of the flat strap connected to the boot holder units by means of freely accessible spindle screws.

In another embodiment, separate strap-like connecting elements are assigned to the boot holder units and may be secured in different positions on an abutment that is shared by both members in order to allow distance between the boot holder units to be adapted to the length of the boot sole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task of the present invention is to produce a binding system which may be easily mounted and is secure against unintentional or unauthorized displacement.

This task is solved according to the present invention by securing the sliding side ends of the couplings in positions that are provided for different distances between the sliding members (also referred to as slider members or sliders or sliding elements) and which may only be adjusted when the slider or sliders are separated from the guiderail arrangement.

The invention is based on the general idea of allowing the longitudinal distance between the sliding members to be adapted to the respective boot size or sole length only when the binding system is dismantled i.e. when the sliding members have been removed from the guiderail arrangement. This way, a very high degree of security against any unintentional or undesirable adjustment of the binding system is assured.

In such an arrangement, it is advantageous if the sliding members may be connected to the couplings using plug-in type connectors that may be inserted and removed without the use of tools. In a particularly suitable configuration of the invention, the inserted condition of such connectors may be assured when the sliders are inserted in the guiderail arrangement simply by ensuring that the couplings are inserted on the underside of the sliders and inside the guiderail arrangement, i.e. when the slider elements have been slid into the guiderail arrangement, there is no room for the plug-in type connector to become disconnected.

In a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the retaining element may be constructed in multiple sections and may have a first coupling member connected with the first coupling and a second coupling member that is connected with the other coupling and which may be connected to the first coupling member. Thus each sliding member may be connected to its coupling independently of the other sliding member so that the corresponding assembly is particularly simple.

In addition, the coupling members may engage with one another in the form of a clip or snap lock, preferably in such manner that the clipped or locked condition may be achieved by pushing the coupling members towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the guiderail arrangement. Thus it is easily possible to insert the sliding elements with their couplings independently of one another into the guiderail arrangement at either end thereof.

A locking element preferably cooperating positively with both coupling members, e.g. a lock bolt that may be attached to the guiderail arrangement or the abutment, is used to secure the retaining element and/or the coupling members.

In the rest of the text, the description refers to preferred features of the invention as characterised in the claims and the following explanation of the drawing, on the basis of which a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Two parallel guiderail arrangements2are arranged in a manner known in the art on a ski1—indicated only by the dashed lines in FIG.1. These are affixed by both non-positive and positive means via pins conformed therewith and engaging securely with corresponding holes in the ski, and also by material means via adhesion or otherwise to the top of the ski.

Guiderails2essentially have a double “T” shaped profile with guidance grooves conformed on both sides of the rails.

Guiderails2serve as a movable seating for a front sliding member3and a rear sliding member4. These sliding members3and4are constructed as platforms to accommodate a front boot holder unit5—indicated only by dashed lines in FIG.2—and a rear boot holder unit6of and entirely conventional ski binding, wherein rear sliding member4also serves to accommodate a ski brake, of which only the base part7supported on rear sliding member4is represented in FIG.2.

Front boot holder unit5is securely arranged on front sliding member3. On the other hand, rear boot holder unit6is movable on rear sliding element4in the longitudinal direction thereof and against the force of a compression spring resistance pushing rear boot holder unit6in the direction of front boot holder unit5against the heel extremity of the sole of a ski boot—not shown—that is detachably secured by boot holder units5and6. The compression spring resistance ensures that boot holder units5and6remain positively engaged with the sole of the ski boot even with flexing movement of ski1and thus undesirable tensions between the ski boot sole and ski1are avoided.

Sliding members3and4are secured with practically no vertical or transverse play on guiderails2. To this end, front areas3′ and4′ and rear areas3″ or4″ of sliding members3and4engage and are profiled reciprocally with the rail profile which enables them to engage in the rail-side grooves on the sides of the rails. In a middle area, i.e. between front and rear area3′ and3″ of front sliding member3and between areas4′ and4″ of rear sliding member4, guiderails2have no positive locking engagement with the slider members. This facilitates flexing movements of ski1.

In the longitudinal direction of the ski, sliding members3and4are secured via a retaining element8consisting of multiple sections.

This retaining element8essentially consists of a front coupling member9, which is conformed integrally with a front coupling10that may be attached to front sliding member3, and of a rear coupling member11, which is conformed integrally with a rear coupling12that may be attached to rear sliding member4. Coupling members9and11may be connected together in a locking engagement if coupling members9and11are pushed towards each other in the longitudinal direction of guiderails2. For this purpose, a catch mechanism13is conformed on a base area of rear coupling member11, into which front coupling member13is able to engage from above with a mating locking mechanism14. Tapered sections are provided on both profiles13and14, so that catching and mating profiles13and14initially slide towards each other and may then lock together when coupling members9and11are pushed towards each other.

The area of catch mechanism13on rear coupling member11is securely retained on guiderails2in the vertical and transverse directions, as is particularly evident inFIGS. 1 and 4. On the other hand, coupling member9is “cantilevered” on its coupling10, so that it may be deflected upwards by spring action when the tapered sections of catch and mating mechanisms13and14slide towards one another. Subsequently, front coupling member9may be moved downwards to lock catch and mating mechanisms13and14.

When locked together, coupling members9and11are secured jointly to the ski by a retaining pin or a locking pin15, which may be inserted into corresponding transverse holes in guiderails2when these transverse holes align with a transverse hole provided in front coupling member9and with downwardly open transverse slots on rear coupling member11. These transverse slots are provided on legs of rear coupling member11that laterally enclose front coupling member9in a section of rear coupling member11that moves essentially without vertical or transverse play on guiderails2. This serves to ensure that rear coupling member11cannot become disengaged from retaining pin15. In addition, retaining pin15acts as a hinge pin15inside the transverse hole in front coupling member9, with which front coupling member9is secured firmly to guiderails2and relative to rear coupling member11to form a hinged connection between front coupling member9and rear coupling member11.

Couplings10and12each possess slider-side endpieces16and17, which serve to attach couplings10and12to respective slider elements3and4. Endpieces16and17are each guided with flange-like lateral shaped elements conformed therewith in the opposing longitudinal grooves on the interior sides of guiderails2, as is shown inFIG. 5with the example of endpiece17. Above these guidance flanges, each endpiece16and17has vertical lateral surfaces with a serrated profile, i.e. the aforementioned lateral surfaces are provided with multiple consecutively arranged vertical ribs. The aforementioned serrations engage with positive locking into matching serrations18and19on slider elements3and4. These serrations18and19form the lateral walls of downwardly open longitudinal channels in slider elements3and4. Endpieces16and17of couplings10and12may accordingly be introduced into the aforementioned channels of slider elements3and4from below, such that endpieces16and17may be inserted optionally at various positions in the longitudinal direction of slider elements3and4.

By appropriate selection of the insertion positions, the longitudinal distance is determined between slider elements3and4and thus also between the boot holder units5and6arranged thereon.

As may be seen inFIG. 3, measurement numbers270,280etc., are indicated on the underside of the slider elements3and4, which are chosen to reflect the length, in mm, of normal, standardized ski boot soles. Windows20and21are arranged on endpieces16and17of couplings10and12, through which the measurement numbers are visible when endpieces16and17are in the corresponding positions on the slider elements3and4. In the example ofFIG. 3, the measurement numbers310appear in the each of the corresponding windows20. This indicates that couplings10and12, with associated slider elements3and4, are adapted to a position corresponding to a ski boot sole having a length of 310 mm.

In order to mount the binding system according to the invention the first boot holder units5and6are mounted on the associated slider elements3and4, and in the preferably prepared fastening positions. This ensures that the parts of the boot holder units cooperating with the boot sole assume a reference position relative to slider elements3and4. Thereafter, couplings10and12are connected with the slider elements3and4. For this purpose, endpieces16and17of couplings10and12are inserted into the respective slider-side serrations18and19on the underside of the respective slider element3or4in accordance with the respective length of the ski boot sole. The sole length corresponding in each case to the positioning made of couplings10and12on slider elements3and4can be read in windows20and21.

The positioning of couplings10and12is secured by the fact that couplings10and12are lockable on the respective slider elements3and4. For this purpose, catch elements22may be conformed on slider elements3and4. On the other hand, it is also entirely possible to arrange corresponding catch elements on couplings10and12, by which couplings10and12may each be locked on slider elements3and4. If required, separate retaining elements, for example clips or the like, may also be used to lock couplings10and12with slider elements3and4.

Now, slider elements3and4with couplings10and12positioned thereon are slid into guiderails2on the ski1. Then, slider elements3and4are pushed together with their couplings10and12, so that coupling members9and11of couplings10and12engage. Slider members3and4are locked together via their couplings10and12.

Now slider elements3and4are moved jointly so that retaining pin15may be installed. Locating the mounting position is made easier by the fact that engaging elements are provided on one of couplings10or12—on coupling12in the example shown—which cooperate with engagement recesses23on guiderails2. As soon as this locked position has been set, retaining pin15may be pushed without effort into the openings or recesses that are now aligned with each other to accommodate retaining pin15on guiderails2and on coupling members9and11, and secured therein.

Subsequent alteration of the binding arrangement to accept ski boots having a different sole length may be effected without difficulty: retaining pin15must simply be dismantled again. Slider elements3and4may then be withdrawn from guiderails2together with couplings10and12. Now, endpieces16and17of couplings10and12are repositioned on slider elements3and4according to the length of the currently desired ski boots. Then, slider elements3and4may be reinstalled on the ski together with their couplings10and12as described in the aforegoing.

In all cases, it is possible to effect a modified assembly instead of the standard assembly previously described, for example to improve the slaloming or deep snow properties of the ski.

For especially good slaloming properties, it is normally desirable for the ski boot to be displaced somewhat forward relative to a standard position on the ski. In order to allow this, coupling10, with its endpiece16, may be positioned at a position intended for a longer sole length, for example at the position for a sole length of 320 mm, if the actual sole length is 310 mm. Conversely, coupling12with its endpiece17on rear slider element4is inserted in a position for a smaller sole length, here set at 300 mm. Now when slider elements3and4with the couplings positioned as just described are secured in guiderails2, the ski boot is held on the ski in a position that is somewhat advanced.

In correspondingly reverse manner, the position of the ski boots may be transferred somewhat backwards if it is desired to lend the ski to especially good qualities in deep snow.

The invention may be modified from the embodiment shown in the drawing in many ways. For example, guiderails2may have practically any profile that allows the components to be inserted in the guiderails to move along the rails with no vertical or transverse play. In particular, guiderails2may have a C-shape or a shape with a longitudinal groove on only one rail flank, wherein the longitudinal groove is preferably arranged on the flanks of guiderails2that face each other.

In addition, it is also possible to arrange guiderails2in a depression on the top side of the ski, for example in an indentation provided on the top side of the ski, wherein guiderails2may form the longitudinal borders of the indentation.

It is also possible to provide only a single guiderail, which may for example be arranged in the middle of the ski.

The two couplings10and12may be connected non-detachably to one another and/or may be connected to a single-piece retaining element8.

Instead of retaining pin15, other retaining elements may also be provided. In particular, it is also possible to lock retaining element8and/or coupling members9and11directly on the ski1instead of on the guiderail or guiderails2.