Binding for retaining a boot on a gliding or rolling apparatus

A binding to retain a boot on a gliding or rolling apparatus, such as a snowboard, ski, or roller skate. The binding includes a linkage that connects first and second flanges. The linkage includes a first band attached to the first flange, and a tightening device attached to the second flange. An abutment of the binding is fixed to the first band toward a free end of the band, so as to be located on the other side of the tightening device with respect to a fastening end of the band, thus preventing a separation of the first band and of the tightening device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of bindings adapted to retain a boot on a gliding or rolling apparatus, such as a ski, a snowboard, a roller skate, or the like.

2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

Generally speaking, when a user wears flexible boots to operate the apparatus, whether it be a ski, snowboard, or roller skate, e.g., each boot is retained by a binding provided with one or more linkages, such as one or more straps with buckles.

To be able to put on or remove the boot, i.e., to affix the boot to the binding, or to remove it therefrom, each linkage can be opened or closed. Moreover, the length of the linkage can be adjusted.

In general, a linkage includes two bands each attached on a respective side of the binding, as well as a device for tightening the linkage. A manual action on a button, buckle, lever or other member of the device enables the linkage to be opened.

Closing the linkage requires the user to adjust the position of a band with respect to the tightening device, then to introduce the band into the device, and then to reduce the length of the linkage, in particular by means of a lever for driving the band located on the device. To do this, the user generally needs to bend his/her body and lower limbs, and to use both hands.

Therefore, closing the linkage can be an arduous task and a waste of time for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention in particular is to make it easier and quicker to fit a binding provided with linkages.

To this end, a binding adapted to retain a boot on a gliding or rolling apparatus, according to the invention, includes a first lateral flange, a second lateral flange, and at least one linkage connecting the first flange to the second flange, the linkage including a first band that extends from one fastening end to one free end, the fastening end being attached to the first flange, the linkage further including a tightening device attached to the second flange, the tightening device making it possible to adjust the length of the linkage by retaining a portion of the first band in a removable fashion.

An abutment of the binding according to the invention is fixed to the first band toward the free end of the band, so as to be located on the other side of the tightening device with respect to the fastening end of the band, thus preventing a separation of the first band and of the tightening device.

As a result, the user does not have to adjust the position of the band with respect to the tightening device, then to introduce the band into the device. He/She must only adjust the length of the linkage, which can be done with only one hand.

Advantageously, the result is that closing the linkage is easy and quick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The examples described hereinafter correspond to an application in the field of snowboards.

According to the first example, as seen inFIG. 1, a binding1retains a boot2on a board3.

In a known manner, the binding1includes a base4on which a first lateral flange5and a second lateral flange6are attached, the flanges5,6being transversely spaced apart and connected by an arch7.

The base4extends, along a longitudinal direction L of the binding1, between a front end8and a rear end9of the base.

Affixing the binding1to the board3is done by a means shown in the form of a disc10.

A rear support element11, provided to retain the rear of the user's lower leg, is attached on the binding1, for example, by means of a journal axis12on the flanges5,6.

The binding1also includes a front linkage13and a rear linkage14, each shown in a position for retaining the boot2inFIG. 1.

For reasons of convenience and for facilitating an understanding of the invention, only one of the linkages is described hereinafter in more detail.

For example, the front linkage13includes in particular a first band15, a second band16, and a tightening device17making it possible to adjust the length of the linkage.

The first band15is attached to the first flange5, by a means shown in the form of a journal axis18. By analogy, the second band16is attached to the second flange6, by a means shown in the form of a journal member positioned along axis19.

The connection of the first band15to the second band16is done by a tightening device17which, to this end, includes in particular a drive lever20and a button21for releasing the first band15.

As the tightening device17is fixed to the second band16, by any suitable means, the lever20and button21make it possible to adjust the length of the linkage13by displacing one band with respect to the other.

The structure and functioning of the linkages are explained hereinafter in more detail by means ofFIGS. 2–4.

The front linkage13is schematically shown inFIG. 2, in a top view, in a case where its length is reduced. This means that the first15and second16bands are superimposed over a substantial distance.

The first band15extends between a fastening end22and a free end23. An opening24, provided in the fastening end22, enables the passage of a fastening means or fastener, such as a rivet or other journal connection, to provide the journal member at axis18.

By analogy, the second band16extends between a fastening end25and a free end26. An opening27, provided in the fastening end25, enables the passage of a fastening means or fastener, such as a rivet or other journal connection, to provide the journal member at axis19.

Also, as shown in the drawings,FIG. 2in particular, between the opening24of the fastening end of the first band16and the opening27of the fastening end25of the second band, the first and second bands15,16extend along a straight line III—III prior to assembly to the lateral flanges5,6. Stated another way, between their respective pairs of ends22,23and25,26, the first and second bands15,16, before or after attachment to the lateral flanges5,6, extend along a common median plane, as shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3discloses the internal structure of the linkage13.

The first band15is obtained in the form of a rack, whose teeth28and core29preferably form a unitary piece.

The tightening device17has a passage30for guiding the band15. The passage30is formed in particular by two wings31,32connected by a bridge33. A pawl34is journaled between the wings along an axis35. The pawl34has a retaining end36, provided to oppose a lengthening of the linkage13by engagement of the retaining end36with an abutment formed by a tooth28, and an end forming a release button21to allow disengagement of the retaining end36with the abutting tooth. The end36is constantly biased toward the bridge33by an elastic means, not shown, such as a spring.

The drive lever20is journaled between the wings31,32along an axis37. It has at least one tooth38for driving the first band15in a shortening direction of the linkage13.

An elastic member or mechanism (not shown for sake of simplicity), such as a spring, constantly biases the lever20such that the teeth38move away from the bridge33.

The tightening device17is fixed to the second band16, for example, by means of a rivet having an axis39.

According to the invention, an abutment40is fixed to the first band15, so as to enable an extension of the linkage to a maximum length, and to prevent a separation of the first band15and of the tightening device17.

Preferably, the abutment40is fixed to the free end23of the band15, for example, by a nesting of the band15in a cutout41of the abutment40, combined to a retaining element shown in the form of a rivet42that extends through the band15and the cutout41.

Complementarily, the abutment40is guided along the second band16, by a guide shown in the form of a screw43which extends through a longitudinal slot44of the second band16.

The screw43is screwed into the abutment40. The screw43has a head whose diameter is greater than the width of the slot44.

As a result, the two bands of a same linkage slide parallel to one another when the linkage is extended or shortened.

When the linkage has a maximum length, as is the case inFIG. 4, the abutment40is in support on the wings31,32, of the tightening device17.

Indeed, the abutment40cannot pass in the passage30, because its width is greater than the distance that separates the wings31,32. As a result, the bands cannot separate.

When the user wishes to shorten the linkage, he/she only needs, for example, to act on the drive lever20.

This structure of the linkage enables the user to remove the boot, as shown inFIG. 5.

Each of the linkages13,14is lengthened by a manual action from the user, so as to leave a space between the boot and the linkage. When each space is large enough, the boot can be removed from the binding. Given that the straps of the linkages are journalled on the flanges5,6of the binding1, it is possible to tilt the linkages13,14toward the front of the binding. In the case of the front linkage13, the tilting is done rotationally along the axes18,19. After tilting, such as shown by the front linkage13inFIG. 5, the linkages are positioned to extend substantially along a plane parallel to the base4, that is, along a plane positioned substantially 0° relative to the plane of the upper surface of the base.

Advantageously, the result is that the operations of putting on and removing the boot are made easier, because nothing hinders the movement of the boot into the binding or movement of the boot from the binding. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the two bands15,16of the linkage13extend longitudinally along a common plane, the plane intersecting with the fasteners that fasten the linkage to the lateral flanges5,6, so that the linkage13can assume a flat unrestrained position so that the rider's boot can be readily inserted into, or removed from, the binding.

Preferably, the length of each of the front13and rear14linkages is such that when it is tilted toward the front of the binding1, it goes around the front end of the boot2, if the latter is in position on the base4and in contact with the arch7.

For example, the front linkage13can have a maximum length between about 25 centimeters and 50 centimeters, and the rear linkage14can have a maximum length between about 45 centimeters and 85 centimeters.

These lengths enable the linkages to go around the boot in the plane of the sole. As a result, the linkages do not create any hindrance when the boot is put on or removed.

The other embodiments of the invention are presented hereinafter.

For reasons of convenience, only the differences with respect to the first example will be shown.

According to the second example, as seen inFIG. 6, an abutment60is fixed to the first band61of a linkage toward the free end62of the band61. The abutment60and the first band61are shown in the form of a unitary piece. The binding of the abutment60to the band61is a broad expression meaning that the abutment and the band are affixed to one another.

The abutment60projects with respect to an outer surface63of the band, the outer surface63facing away from the base of the binding and the boot, whereas the opposite, inner, surface faces toward the boot, i.e., toward the base of the binding. The abutment60is shown in the form of a wedge whose surface64, substantially perpendicular to the surface63, is turned toward the rack65of the band61and facing longitudinally of the band toward the tightening device. The surface64takes support on the pawl to avoid an opening of the linkage, because the surface64is higher than the teeth of the rack65.

The band61preferably has a longitudinal slot66.

According to the third example, as seen inFIG. 7, an abutment70is fixed to the first band71of a linkage toward the free end72of the band71. The abutment70and the first band71are shown in the form of a unitary piece.

The abutment70is shaped like an arrow head, i.e., it has a longitudinally tapered shape, narrowing to the free end of the band71, the shape including includes two lateral teeth73,74separated at least partially by a slot75, which is open at the free end of the band.

The teeth73,74prevent an opening of the linkage by taking support on the wings of the tightening device.

The slot75enables the teeth73,74to come close together, under the action of an external force, for the mounting or dismounting of the linkage. A hole76, at the end of the slot75, prevents the appearance of incipient fractures in the first band71.

The band71preferably has a longitudinal slot77.

The invention is not limited to the examples described hereinabove, and it includes all of the technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.

In particular, the abutment40could be obtained in a different manner. As seen inFIG. 5in the case of the rear linkage14, the abutment is obtained in the form of a guide45fixed to the free end46of a first band47. The guide is large enough to play its role of an abutment; but at the same time, it enables the guiding of the free end along a second band48of the rear linkage14. In this case, the second band48has a continuous width.

The device for tightening the first band could have a different structure. Supplemental layers can be added to the linkage, in particular to ensure functions of protection and ease of use.

Furthermore, a linkage could include only one band and one tightening device. In this case, the tightening device is attached directly to a flange of the binding.

Conversely, a linkage could include more than two bands.

Still, the binding may not include the base, the flanges being in this case directly affixed to the board.

Finally, although the examples have been described for an application in the field of snowboards, the binding according to the invention can be used in other fields such as skis, snowshoes, or the like.