Safety ski binding

A safety ski binding having an automatic heel release binding which releases when the skier suffers a frontal fall and a front jaw or front release binding which releases when the skier experiences a torsional fall. The automatic heel release binding is secured to the rear end of a release plate connected by means of a pivot pin with the ski and freely pivotable to both sides. The front jaw is anchored in spaced relationship forwardly of the release plate at the ski. At the region of its front end the release plate is provided with two, oppositely situated, substantially L-shaped entrainment elements, attached by one leg to be pivotable about a related shaft at the release plate. In the normal skiing position of the release plate the entrainment elements are retained in their effectual position, by bearing upon the ski, and the other leg of each entrainment element protrudes upwardly from the release plate and bears snugly at the ski boot which has been placed into the safety ski binding. As soon as during such rocking movement an entrainment element no longer bears upon the ski, then it is tilted over downwardly into its release position, so that the ski boot is freed and can detach from the release plate. Thereafter, by virtue of the action of resilient or spring rods, biased during the rocking of the release plate, the latter is again pivoted back towards its normal skiing position, with the result that the previously tilted over entrainment element again is moved back into its effectual position.

This application is related to the commonly assigned copending application 
Ser. No. 048,659, filed June 14, 1979, and now abandoned. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of safety 
ski binding which is of the type comprising a heel holder and a sole 
holder, one of the holders being fixedly arranged at the ski and the other 
holder being secured to a release or sole plate fixed at the ski. The 
release plate can laterally pivot or rock, out of its normal skiing 
position, when the skier experiences a torsional fall. This release plate 
is equipped with an entrainment arrangement which coacts with the ski 
boot. 
With the ski binding known to the art from U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,155, the 
release plate, provided with a heel holder and an entrainment device for 
the ski boot, and which release plate can rock to both sides, engages, in 
the normal skiing position of such release plate, by means of a tooth in a 
tooth gap of a sole holder. The sole holder, when the skier experiences a 
torsional fall, is laterally rocked or pivoted, and thus, releases the 
release plate, whereupon the ski boot can detach from the ski binding. 
This coupling action between the release plate and the sole holder is 
associated with the drawback that the bending behavior of the ski, during 
skiing, is appreciably impaired by the ski binding, producing a 
deformation in the lengthwise direction of the ski, which, in turn, has 
been found to be extremely disadvantageous, especially during excessive 
bending-through of the ski. Until, in the presence of a torsional fall, 
the ski boot is capable of completely releasing from the sole holder and 
also from the release plate, it is necessary for the release plate to move 
through a relatively large pivotal path. Consequently, the release of the 
ski boot is correspondingly delayed. Additionally, the release plate must 
be manually returned into its normal skiing position, before the skier can 
again step into the safety ski binding. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a new 
and improved construction of safety ski binding which avoids the 
aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art constructions of 
safety ski bindings of the release plate type. 
Still a further significant object of the present invention is to devise a 
safety ski binding of the previously mentioned type, which, while avoiding 
the aforementioned disadvantages, effectively affords complete release of 
the ski boot, in the presence of a torisonal fall of the skier, already 
after the release plate has moved through a small pivot or rock angle, and 
furthermore, does not require any manual return of the release plate into 
its normal skiing position. 
A further important object of the present invention is to provide a safety 
ski binding of the character described wherein the release plate 
automatically resets into its normal skiing position, following release of 
the ski boot, and furthermore, the boot entrainment arrangement for 
retaining the ski boot upon the release plate equally is returned, 
following the ski boot release action, into its ski boot-entrainment 
position during return of the release plate back into its normal skiing 
position. 
Another and noteworthy object of the invention is aimed at providing a new 
and improved construction of safety ski binding of the releasable plate 
type, which is simple in design, easy to handle and use, does not require 
any manual resetting of the release plate, is not prone to malfunction or 
breakdown, and generally is affected as little as possible by bending of 
the ski, thereby insuring for reliable and faultless release of the ski 
boot when the skier experiences a fall. 
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 the present development is manifested by the 
features that the release plate, which in its normal skiing position is 
decoupled from the ski fixedholder, following the pivoting movement of the 
release plate, is returned back into the normal skiing position by a 
return or restoring device. Advantageously, the entrainment arrangement is 
movably connected with the release plate and, following the outward 
pivoting of the release plate, is movable out of its effectual position, 
where it retains the ski boot at the release plate, into a release 
position where it frees the ski boot so that it can move off of the 
release plate. 
By virtue of the provision of the entrainment arrangement there is insured 
for a connection between the ski boot and the release plate, so that prior 
to and during a release action, initiated by a torsional fall of the 
skier, no relative or no appreciable relative movement can occur between 
the release plate and the ski boot. Upon completion of the release action 
of the ski boot from the release plate, the entrainment arrangement is 
moved into ski boot-release position. Now the ski boot can move relative 
to the release plate and, directly following the release action, can 
positively release from the safety ski binding. Since the release plate 
need only pivot or rock through a relatively small angle, in order to 
completely release the ski boot, it is possible to insure, at any time, a 
positive return of the release plate back into its normal skiing position 
by providing a simply constructed return or restoring device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Describing now the drawings, it is firstly mentioned that throughout the 
various Figures there have been generally used the same reference 
characters to denote the same or analogous components for the different 
embodiments. Turning attention now to the exemplary embodiment of safety 
ski binding shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be recognized that a release 
plate 3 is pivotably mounted upon a ski 1 by means of a substantially 
cylindrical pivot pin 2 or equivalent structure which is attached at the 
ski 1. This pivot pin or pivot means 2 enables lateraly rocking or outward 
pivoting of the release plate 3, however prevents lift-out of the release 
plate 3 from the ski 1. This can be easily accomplished by a number of 
different techniques, such as providing a stepped bore 3c in the release 
plate 3 which receives an enlarged head portion 2d of the pivot pin 2, so 
that when the latter is attached, for instance threaded at the ski 1, the 
release plate 3 is pivotably mounted at such ski 1. An automatic heel 
release binding 4 is attached, for instance by being screwed or otherwise 
secured, at the rear end 3d of the release plate 3. This automatic heel 
release binding 4, hereinafter usually referred to also as an automatic 
heel step-in binding, is adjustable in the lengthwise direction in order 
to provide a lengthwise adjustment thereof so as to accommodate different 
size ski boots. Such automatic heel release binding or heel step-in 
binding 4, which performs a release action when the skier suffers a 
frontal fall, is of conventional construction, so that there is no need to 
describe its construction and mode of operation in detail, since it is 
well known in the skiing art. Moreover, this automatic heel step-in 
binding 4 possesses a heel holder or heel holddown 5 which engages over 
the sole of the ski boot. The heel holddown or holder 5, in the presence 
of a frontal fall of the skier, rocks upwardly, and thus, releases the 
heel of the ski boot. By means of a release or unlocking lever 6 or 
equivalent structure, it is possible to open the automatic heel step-in 
binding 4 in order to permit the skier to conveniently step into and out 
of the binding. 
At the end of end region 3e of the release plate 3, positioned opposite the 
automatic heel step-in binding 4, this release plate 3 carries an 
entrainment arrangement or entrainment means, here shown in the form of 
two entrainment elements 7 and 8 whose lengthwise axes are situated 
opposite one another, as best seen by referring to FIG. 1. These 
entrainment elements 7 and 8 coact with the ski boot for holding the 
latter upon the release plate 3 during the normal skiing position. Each of 
the entrainment elements 7 and 8 has a substantially L-shaped 
configuration and incorporates the legs 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b, respectively. 
The one leg or leg member 7a and 8a of each of the corresponding 
substantially L-shaped entrainment elements 7 and 8, extends upwardly from 
the release plate 3 and snugly bears laterally at the sole of the ski 
boot, so that a connection, essentially free of play, exists between the 
ski boot and the release plate 3. The other leg 7b and 8b of the 
entrainment elements 7 and 8, respectively, is connected with an axle or 
shaft 9 and 10, respectively. These shafts 9 and 10 extend essentially 
parallel to the lengthwise direction of the release plate 3 and are 
rotatably mounted therein. In the normal skiing position--sometimes also 
referred to simply as the normal position--of the release plate 3, shown 
in FIG. 1, the legs or leg members 7b and 8b of the entrainment elements 7 
and 8, respectively, bear upon the ski 1, so that these entrainment 
elements 7 and 8 are retained in their effectual position where, as 
already mentioned, the other legs 7a and 8a extend upwardly and bear 
against the sole of the ski boot. 
Arranged in spaced relationship from and forwardly of the release plate 3 
is a releasable toe holder 11, usually referred to hereinafter as a front 
jaw, which is suitable attached, as by threading or bolting, at the ski 1. 
This front jaw 11, likewise of conventional construction and commercially 
available in the market place, and therefore, need not here be further 
described, as is well known in the ski binding art engages over the sole 
of the ski boot at the tip thereof and releases when the skier encounters 
a torsional fall. However, the front jaw 11 also can be designed so that 
it accomplishes a release action when the skier encounters a rearward or 
backward fall. Between the release plate 3 and the front jaw 11 there is 
no mechanical coupling. The connection between this front jaw 11 and the 
release plate 3 occurs by the ski boot when it is placed into the safety 
ski binding. 
Operatively engaging with the release plate 3 is a return or restoring 
device 12 which, as a matter of convenience in illustration, has not been 
particularly shown in FIG. 2 but illustrated in detail in FIG. 1. This 
return or restoring device 12 serves for the automatic resetting of the 
release plate 3 into its normal skiing position. This return device or 
return means 12 will be seen to comprise two resilient or spring rods 13 
and 14 which extend essentially parallel to the lengthwise direction of 
the release plate 3. The resilient or spring rods 13 and 14 are anchored, 
in the embodiment under discussion, at both of their ends in the release 
plate 3, although, as will be explained hereinafter, these spring rods 13 
and 14 can also be connected differently, for instance secured at the ski 
1. Each spring rod 13 and 14, in the normal position of the release plate 
3, bears against a flat or beveled portion 2a and 2b of the pivot pin 2. 
By the action of such spring rods 13 and 14 the release plate 3 is 
retained in its normal skiing position, so that the ski binding is in a 
state where the skier can step into the same at any time. 
When the skier experiences a frontal fall, then, as already mentioned, the 
automatic heel step-in binding 4 releases, and consequently, frees the ski 
boot from the release plate 3. When the skier experiences a torsional 
fall, causing release of the front jaw 11, the latter is laterally rocked 
or pivoted, as shown in FIG. 2. Due to the laterally outwardly pivoting 
motion of the ski boot which is connected with the entrainment elements 7 
and 8, as explained above, also the release plate 3 together with the 
automatic heel step-in binding 4 is rocked out of its normal skiing 
position, this having been likewise shown in FIG. 2. Now as soon as during 
the course of such pivoting or rocking movement the leg 8b or 7b, as the 
case may be, of the related entrainment element 8 and 7, respectively, no 
longer bears upon the top surface of the ski 1, then the relevant 
entrainment element 8 or 7 pivots downwardly about its related shaft 10 or 
9, respectively, so that the other leg 8a or 7a can release from the ski 
boot sole. Consequently, the entrainment connection between the release 
plate 3 and the ski boot is eliminated and the ski boot now can completely 
release from the ski binding. During such pivoting movement of the release 
plate 3 the spring rods 13 and 14 of the return device 12 are deflected by 
the pivot pin 2, and thus such spring rods 13 and 14 are pre-biased or 
stressed. Now as soon as the ski boot has completely detached from the 
binding, the pre-biased resilient or spring rods 13 and 14 cause an 
immediate return of the release plate 3 into its normal skiing position. 
The entrainment element 8 or 7, as the case may be, which as described has 
been rocked downwardly into its release position, now can again rock into 
its effectual position, by virtue of the return movement of the release 
plate 3, since such previously downwardly rocked entrainment element 8 or 
7 again bears at the top surface of the ski 1. Hence, the ski binding, 
following the release action, again is immediately ready to be stepped 
into by the skier, without there being required any additional manual 
operations. 
Since the ski boot is completely released, due to the flopping over of the 
entrainment elements 7 and 8, already after a small pivotal path of the 
release plate 3, it is possible, with a simply constructed return device 
12, to insure for a faultless resetting of the release plate 3 at any 
point in time. This positive resetting action is particularly then of 
significance if, as shown in FIG. 3, a ski brake 15 is incorporated into 
the release plate 3. This ski brake 15 is of conventional design and as 
shown in FIG. 3, which in all other respects corresponds to the safety ski 
binding of FIG. 1, has been portrayed in its normal skiing position. Thus, 
the ski brake 15 is retained in its normal skiing position, by the action 
of the ski boot which has been placed into the binding, and thus, exerts a 
force upon the front part 15c of the ski brake 15. Both of the drag or 
brake legs 15a and 15b of the ski brake 15 thus extend laterally of the 
ski 1 in its lengthwise direction. But as soon as the ski boot has been 
released from the release plate 3, then the ski brake 15, which is under 
spring tension, automatically shifts into its ski braking position, where 
now the drag or brake legs 15a and 15b depend downwardly and extend past 
the running surface of the ski, so as to prevent any further sliding of 
the ski 1. However, this shifting of the ski brake 15 into its brake 
position can only then occur when the release plate 3 is located in its 
normal skiing position. Therefore, it is of importance that the release 
plate 3, following the release action, be returned as quickly and 
faultlessly as possible back into its normal skiing position. Since, as 
mentioned, owing to the entrainment elements 7 and 8 tilting into their 
release position there is possible release of the ski boot already 
directly after the release action, the release plate 3 need only be 
pivoted or rocked through a small angle of, for instance, 5.degree., so 
that the resetting of the release plate 3 can be accomplished without any 
problem and there is insured for the proper functioning of the ski brake 
15. 
With the exemplary embodiment of safety ski binding shown in FIG. 4, 
corresponding in construction and mode of operation extensively completely 
to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the release plate 3 consits of two 
parts or components 3a and 3b which can be adjusted relative to one 
another in the lengthwise direction of the release plate 3. The part 3a is 
connected by means of the pivot pin 2 with the ski 1. The part 3b, 
displaceable relative to the ski fixed-part 3a, is provided with the 
entrainment elements 7 and 8. This part 3b is displaceably guided upon the 
shafts 9 and 10 of the entrainment elements 7 and 8, respectively, which 
are anchored at the part 3a. Adjustment of the part 3b is accomplished by 
means of an adjustment screw 16 or equivalent structure which engages in 
the other part 3a. By adjusting the part 3b it is possible to accommodate 
the length of the safety ski binding to different ski boot sizes. 
The exemplary embodiment of safety ski binding shown in FIG. 5 differs from 
the previously described embodiments by virtue of a different construction 
of the return or restoring device 12 for the release plate 3. Such return 
device or return means 12 possesses a slide-like configured return or 
restoring element 17 which is displaceably arranged in a recess 18 of the 
release plate 3. The return element 17 is secured at the front ends 19a 
and 20a of two bolts 19 and 20, respectively, extending essentially 
mutually parallel to one another and in the lengthwise direction of the 
release plate 3. These bolts 19 and 20 or equivalent structure are 
displaceably guided in two guide bores 21 and 22 provided in the release 
plate 3. The return element 17 bears upon two compression or pressure 
springs 23 and 24 or equivalent structure, urging the return element 17, 
by means of its front surface 17a, against a flattened portion or flat 2c 
of the pivot pin 2. Consequently, the release plate 3 is retained in its 
normal skiing position. In the presence of a release action, brought about 
by a torsional fall of the skier, aand as already explained based upon the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, both the front jaw 11 and also the release 
plate 3 rock or pivot laterally outwards. Hence, the return or restoring 
element 17 is displaced back, against the force of the springs 23 and 24, 
by the caming action of the pivot pin 2. As soon as the ski boot has 
completely released from the release plate 3, then the biased or loaded 
springs 23 and 24 cause a return positioning of the release plate 3 back 
into its normal skiing position. The return element 17 further serves for 
length compensation during bending-through of the ski. 
Apart from the illustrated solutions there are conceivable still further 
possibilities for constructing the return or restoring device 12. Among 
other things, the return device 12 also can have a leg spring, the legs of 
which, during rocking of the release plate 3, are tensioned or biased, and 
thus, cause a return setting of the release plate 3. Such proposal has 
been disclosed for instance in my commonly assigned, copending United 
States application Ser. No. 048,659, filed June 14, 1979, and entitled 
"Safety Ski Binding", to which reference may be readily had and the 
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
Continuing, with the embodiment of safety ski binding shown in FIGS. 6 and 
7, both the automatic heel step-in binding 4 and the likewise known front 
jaw 11 are of different construction than with the exemplary embodiment of 
FIGS. 1 and 2, but in all other respects the construction and mode of 
operation of this embodiment of safety ski binding is extensively similar 
to that of the previously described embodiments. However, in FIGS. 6 and 
7, as a matter of simplification of the drawings, the return device, for 
returning the pivoted-out release plate 3, has not been shown. Both of the 
oppositely situated entrainment elements 7 and 8, protruding upwardly from 
the release plate 3, are interconnected by a connection web or strap 25 
extending below the undersurface of the release plate 3. This connection 
web or strap 25 is pivotably mounted, as best seen by referring to FIG. 7, 
by means of a pivot pin or plug 26 or equivalent structure at the release 
plate 3. This connecting or connection web 25 and the entrainment elements 
7 and 8 are thus pivotable about an axis extending perpendicular to the 
release plate 3. 
Now with the embodiment of safety ski binding shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, which 
is of the same construction as the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 with the 
exception of the entrainment arrangement, the release plate 3 is provided 
at its front end 3e with an upwardly protruding entrainment cam or dog 27 
or equivalent entrainment member. This entrainment cam or dog 27 engages, 
when the ski boot is placed into the ski binding, into an appropriate 
recess provided at the ski boot sole or in a recess of a mounting or strap 
30 or the like connected with the ski boot sole, as will be explained more 
fully hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 10. Now as seen by referring to 
FIG. 10, where there is illustrated the front part of a ski boot 28 and 
its sole 29, the mounting or strap 30 is fastened at such ski boot sole 
29, for instance is threaded or bolted thereat. This mounting or strap 30 
is provided with the aforementioned recess, here designated generally by 
reference character 31. Recess 31 is open towards the heel of the ski boot 
28, as portrayed by the opening 31a. An entrainment connection is 
established between the ski boot 28 and the release plate 3 by virtue of 
the entrainment cam or dog 27 engaging into the recess 31, but such 
entrainment connection can easily and immediately be annihilated as soon 
as, following a lateral release, the ski boot 28 together with the release 
plate 3 is laterally pivoted or rocked through a certain angle. As 
mentioned above, the ski boot sole 29 can be directly provided with the 
recess 31 for receiving the entrainment cam or dog 27. 
FIG. 11 illustrates a further embodiment of safety ski binding where the 
automatic heel step-in binding 4 and the front jaw 11, both of which are 
of known construction, are structured the same as for the embodiment 
according to FIGS. 6 and 7. However, in all other respects the variant 
construction of FIG. 11, as to its structure and function, corresponds to 
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there having simply been omitted as a 
matter of convenience in illustration the showing of the return device 12 
for the release plate 3. Both of the lateral entrainment elements 7 and 8, 
wherein in FIG. 11 only one such entrainment element has been shown, 
namely the entrainment element 8, are likewise laterally downwardly 
tiltable. At opposite sides of the sole 29 of the ski boot 28 there are 
attached impact elements or cams 32 or equivalent structure which protrude 
laterally outwardly from the ski boot sole 29. Each such impact element 32 
bears against its related entrainment element 7 and 8. These impact 
elements 32 can be, for instance, mountings or fixtures screwed into the 
ski boot sole 29 or projections molded at the sole 29. 
By means of such impact elements or cams 32 and the entrainment elements 7 
and 8, thrust forces acting in the ski lengthwise direction at the ski 
boot 28, are transmitted to the ski 1. Such thrust forces can arise, for 
instance, during bending-through of the ski, during changes in the contact 
or pressure force of the automatic heel step-in binding 4, or in the 
presence of a torsional fall of the skier with simultaneous thrust force 
action. 
It is possible to limit the pivotal movement of the release plate 3 by 
providing stops or impact members which are fixed to the ski, so as to 
avoid any too pronounced outward pivoting of the release plate 3. 
Furthermore, it is possible, as a reversal of the illustrated exemplary 
embodiments, to arrange the automatic heel step-in binding fixedly at the 
ski, instead of at the release plate 3, and to secure the front jaw or toe 
holder 11 at the front end 3e of the release plate 3. The entrainment 
elements 7, 8 then would be arranged at the region of the rear end 3d of 
the release plate 3. Such solution would then differ from the exemplary 
embodiments illustrated and disclosed in the already mentioned United 
States application Ser. No. 048,659, filed June 14, 1979 in that, the 
entrainment elements would then have to be constructed so as to be 
tiltable following a release into a release position thereof, in the 
manner shown in conjunction with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5. 
With the previously mentioned solutions the spring elements, which are 
biased or loaded upon outward pivoting of the release plate 3 and cause a 
resetting of such release plate, have been mounted at the release plate 3. 
However, it is also conceivable to stationarily arrange such resilient or 
spring elements, i.e., to secure the same at the ski, and to provide for 
the biasing or loading of such spring elements an appropriate plug or cam 
or the like at the release plate 3. 
Since, as already mentioned, both the automatic heel step-in binding 4 and 
also the front jaw or automatic toe release binding 11 are of conventional 
construction, it is possible to combine toe jaw-heel-bindings, which are 
commercially available, with the release plate 3. 
Since only a slight spacing is present between the ski-fixed elements, 
i.e., between the pivot pin 2 and the front jaw 11, there occurs a minimum 
reduction in spacing or shortening between such elements by virtue of the 
bending-through of the ski which arises during skiing, so that the thus 
arising lengthwise distortions can be maintained correspondingly small. 
The pivot axis of the release plate 3, defined by the pivot pin 2, is 
located at the region of the prolongation of the leg axis, something which 
is extremely desirable for safety reasons. 
Since at the point in time of the lateral release of the ski binding the 
ski boot, by virtue of the entrainment elements, rocks along with the 
release plate, there is insured, just as is known for conventional plate 
bindings, functioning of the ski binding independently of the condition of 
the ski boot sole. 
Furthermore, the entrainment elements 7 and 8 also can be mounted at the 
release plate 3 such that their mutual spacing can be changed and/or that 
they can be adjusted, relative to the release plate 3, in its lengthwise 
direction. Hence, there is possible an accommodation of these entrainment 
elements 7 and 8 to the width and length of the encountered ski boot. One 
possibility for such type construction of the entrainment elements 7 and 8 
has been disclosed, by way of example, in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the previously 
mentioned United States Patent application Ser. No. 048,659, filed June 
14, 1979. 
While there are 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,