Abstract:
A ski binding, in particular for cross-country skiing, having a sliding element displaceable in the running direction, as well as at least two spring-loaded latching pins movable transversely to the running direction for latching engagement in corresponding fittings in the tip region of the ski boot. Each of the two latching pins is carried by a spring-loaded molded part, the molded parts being oppositely arranged relative to one another and guided in links of the sliding element.

Description:
This is a nationalization of PCT/AT03/00100 filed Apr. 4, 2003 and published in German. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cross-country ski binding having a step-in mechanism. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   From DE 27 06 111 A, a ski binding of the initially mentioned type is known, in which two transversely movable, spring-loaded pins are provided which are carried by a spring steel wire, which consists of two levers each rotatably held on a rotation axis fixed on a carrier and directed perpendicularly to the ski upper side, which levers comprise pins acting like tongs for a respective engagement in a bearing arranged at the side of the toe-cap. This binding harbors the risk of an unintentional opening of the binding when travelling over uneven ground. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide measures for counteracting the above-mentioned deficiency of the known ski binding and, moreover, to allow for a simple construction which is easy to mount. 
   This object is achieved by the a ski binding according to the present invention, in particular for cross-country skiing,that includes a sliding element displaceable in the running direction, as well as at least two spring-loaded pins movable in transverse direction for latching engagement in corresponding fittings in the tip region of the ski boot (step-in mechanism). Each of the two latching pins is carried by a molded part that is movable transversely to the running direction. Each molded part is loaded by a spring acting transversely to the running direction and is guided in one link each of the sliding element, the sliding element being displaceable in the running direction. 
   The sliding element may be guided in the running direction on a base plate fastened to the ski, the base plate being covered at least in the region of the tip of the ski boot by a housing in which openings are provided on either side thereof so as to receive the latching pins of the step-in mechanism. By thus dividing the control mechanism, a higher resilience is achieved and, thus, pressing out of amounts of snow possibly present in openings of the boot fittings is achieved. 
   According to one construction, the sliding element, via a hinge extending transversely to the running direction, is connected to a lever that projects obliquely upwards in the running direction, having an oblique surface destined for stepping out, and a depression for insertion of the pole for opening the binding. By this mode of construction, a particularly economical production is possible, on the one hand, while it is ensured, on the other hand that the opening mechanism will also remain functional under difficult environmental conditions (icing up). 
   The base plate may be provided with a peripheral rib which engages in a corresponding groove of the housing part. In this way, the binding mechanism is protected against the penetration of water and snow. 
   According to one preferred embodiment, the latching pins project on both sides of the binding from one molded part each. The molded Parts are located in mirror-inverted relationship on either side of the binding and are provided with a projection extending into a link of the sliding element. 
   The link may consist of preferably triangular openings located symmetrically opposite each other about an axis extending transversely to the running direction. Each of these openings is provided with a respective guiding face on which the respective projection of the molded part is supported. By the triangular opening, linear guiding of the projections of the molded part is achieved, and thus, a precise control with as little frictional resistance as possible is attained. 
   The molded parts are each provided with a tapped blind hole for receiving a pressure spring which is tensioned between oppositely arranged molded parts, allowing for a particularly simple mode of construction, in particular for mounting. 
   Viewed in the running direction, at least two pressure springs are adjacently arranged. In this way, an increased resilience is obtained, thereby making it easier for the projections of the molded parts to press out any possible accumulations of snow in the corresponding openings of the boot parts. 
   Oppositely arranged projections of the molded parts are supported on oblique guiding faces in the openings of the sliding element. These openings, which serve as links, are, by displacement of the sliding element, movable towards or away from each other, respectively, and are under the action of the springs. According to this arrangement, the safety of the binding is increased. 
   According to a further embodiment, the ski-tip side end of the sliding element or the end thereof facing away from the lever is guided in a bridge part of the housing. By this bridge-like configuration, the economical mode of production can be combined with an exact linear guiding. 

   
     In the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the cross-country ski binding according to the invention is explained in more detail. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a bottom view of the housing of the ski binding; 
       FIG. 2  shows a lid with the sliding element of the opening mechanism; 
       FIG. 3  shows the opening mechanism; 
       FIG. 4  shows a detail of the opening mechanism; 
       FIG. 5  shows a detail of the binding; 
       FIG. 6  shows a further detail of the binding; 
       FIG. 7  shows a central longitudinal section of the binding part according to  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 8  shows a section according to line VIII—VIII of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
   The binding housing consists of an external housing part  100  which has openings  103  on both sides for receiving the pins  101  of the step-in mechanism. 
   The housing  100  of the cross-country ski binding is seated on a base plate  120  which, e.g., is screwed to a ski, on which base plate a sliding element  142  is mounted so as to be displaceable in the running direction, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which sliding element, via a hinge  130 ′ extending transversely to the running direction, is connected to a lever  130  that projects obliquely upwards in the running direction, said lever, as is visible in  FIG. 5 , having an oblique surface  105  destined for stepping out, and a depression  106  for insertion of the pole for opening the binding. 
   To prevent snow from penetrating between base plate  129  and binding housing  100 , the former is provided with a peripheral rib  107  which engages in a corresponding groove  108  of the housing part  100  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). 
   For the inventive cross-country ski binding to function as a step-in binding, either the pin projections  101  may be chamfered or rounded towards the top, or vice versa, if the pins are not chamfered, the corresponding boot fittings may have appropriate guiding curves so that stepping into the binding is possible without actuating the lever  130 . 
   On both sides of the binding, the pins  101  project from one molded part  109  each ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ), which molded parts are located in mirror-inverted relationship on either side of the binding and provided with a projection  110  which, as shown in  FIG. 4 , extends into a triangular opening  111  or  111 ′, respectively, of the sliding element  142 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the openings  111 ,  111 ′ are located symmetrically opposite each other about an axis extending transversely to the running direction, and they are each provided with a guiding face  112 , or  112 ′, respectively, on which the respective projection  110  of the molded part  109  is supported, only one of the two projections  110  being entered in  FIG. 4  for the sake of clarity. 
   In the present case, the latching pins  101  are each provided with a rounded portion at their ends facing away from each other, which rounded portion is located above that plane which extends through the longitudinal axis of the pin and, in the engaged state, in parallel to the ski upper side. The rounded portion may, however, extend as far as to the lower generatrix of the latching pins. 
   The molded parts  109  are each provided with a tapped blind hole  113  for receiving a pressure spring  136  ( FIGS. 3 and 6 ) which is tensioned between the molded parts  109  and the housing wall of the binding housing  100 . As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , preferably two pressure springs  136  are provided which are located adjacent each other in running direction. 
   The mirror-inverted arrangement of the two molded parts  109  and the possibility of installing two adjacently arranged pressure springs  136  provide for a substantially higher resilience than exists in conventional cross-country ski bindings, making it possible to better press out snow accumulated in corresponding holes of the boot. 
   The diagonally oppositely arranged projections  110  are supported on the oblique guiding faces  112 ,  112 ′ in the acute-angled corners of the openings  111 ,  111 ′ of the sliding element  142 . When displacing the sliding element, the projections  110  are pressed towards each other under the influence of the guiding faces  112  and  112 ′ contrary to the force of the springs  136 , so as to release the pins  101  from their engaged position. 
   For stepping out, the skier presses the lever  130  downwards in the depression  106  with his pole. By this, the lever  130  slides along the chamfered face  105  obliquely forwards and downwards, thereby pulling the sliding element  142  forwards, whereby the two molded parts  109  are pulled together along the control curves  112 ,  112 ′ and thus, the latching pins  101  release the boot. 
   On its front end facing away from the lever  130 , the sliding element  142  is guided in the bridge part  114  of the housing  100  visible in  FIG. 5 . 
   In  FIG. 3 , the boot fittings are schematically indicated and denoted by  115 . 
   The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.