Abstract:
A mechanism for attaching a boot to a ski with the heel end of the boot being height adjustable. The toe end portion of the boot is pivotly attaching to the ski. A pair of members extend from the heel end portion and the ski respectively and have serrated surfaces which face each other with serrations in one surface engaging complementary serrations in the other surface at various heights of the heel end portion. The members are fastened together at various heights to which the heel end portion is adjusted. A track on the heel end portion is slidably engaged by the heel end portion member. Alternatively, a pair of members are pivotly attached to the ski along a common pivot axis and are drawn together and apart by a screw, and a track structure on the boot is slidably engaged by end portions of the members. A boot plate is pivotly laterally adjustable. An extension member is attachable to an end portion of the boot plate for increasing boot plate length. Ski brake height is adjusted by cutting off a ground engaging portion of the brake and by applying to a shank of the brake a tubular portion of a member from which extends a replacement ground engaging portion providing a different brake length commensurate with a changed heel height.

Description:
The disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/419,186, filed Oct. 17, 2003 (the priority of which is claimed), is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

   The present invention relates generally to ski bindings, i.e., mechanisms for attaching boots to skis. 
   Typical ski equipment set-ups leave many people in very poor fore/aft positions, i.e., leaving many people inclined too far backward. This makes it difficult to balance with the result that it is harder to learn to ski, more tiring, and the risk of injury is increased. To achieve better balance, the skier&#39;s feet should often be inclined relative to the skis so that the heel is raised relative to the height of the toes. The correct fore and aft position will vary depending on the skier&#39;s body type. It is thus considered desirable for a skier to be able to adjust his or her fore and aft position to achieve the correct balance for him or her. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,946 to Sarver discloses in FIG. 8 thereof a ski having a height-adjustable heel device for elevating the heel of a skier&#39;s boot. The device has a pair of “scissors” members pivotly connected to the underside of a plate to which the boot attaches, and a screw mechanism connected to the ski spreads or contracts the members to lower or raise respectively the heel, the plate being pivotly mounted at the toe end thereof to the ski. Such a device may be “wobbly” and not provide the desired stability. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,736 to Druss, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a boot binding ski assembly having front and rear rests with the binding, illustrated at 82 in FIG. 12 thereof, positioned at the center. An adjustable heel comprising an adjusting mechanism is provided for elevational positioning. Druss discloses in FIGS. 10 and 11 thereof a variation of the rear rest vertical members with cooperating teeth, illustrated at 86 and 88 therein, and two screws received in height adjusting slots to provide height adjustment of the heel. This is for taking up play between the boot and ski and accordingly has a very limited height adjustment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,938 to Sigl discloses a ski with a boot platform which is inclinable by a pivot connection at its forward end and a mechanism for adjusting the height of the rear end. This height adjustment mechanism includes a stud to which a pin is welded, the pin being slideably received longitudinally in a recess, which is illustrated at 88 therein. The reason for the recess is stated, at column 3, lines 35 to 37, thereof to be to accommodate longitudinal adjustment of the position of the platform member and boot. Such a mechanism is “wobbly” and does not provide the desired stability. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,570 to Sudmeier discloses height adjustable connections at all four corners of the plate to which the boot is attached. Such a height adjustment mechanism is also undesirably very complex and has many moving parts. 
   Other art which may be of interest includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,085,947; 4,139,214; 4,353,575; and 4,586,727. 
   It is also important that the ski be able to flex as much as possible. The attachment of the adjusting screw mechanism of Sarver to the ski would undesirably inhibit flexion. The rigid plate, illustrated at 34 in FIG. 1 of Sigl, attached to the ski thereof would also undesirably inhibit flexion. 
   In order to improve ski flexion, bindings currently have been provided to be held in place on a ski at a single binding location (rather than both fore and aft binding locations) for movement in a track on the ski. 
   It is considered desirable to provide a stable and easy to use mechanism for making adjustment of a skier&#39;s fore and aft position much easier and in a large range to accommodate a maximum number of skiers regardless of body type. It is a goal to make the adjustment easy enough that most people could do it on their own on the slopes so that they can fine tune their positions to where they feel the most in balance. 
   It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an easy to use, uncomplicated and with a minimum of moving parts, stable, and reliable mechanism for adjusting the height of a skier&#39;s heel relative to the toes so that proper balance may be achieved by a maximum number of skiers regardless of body type. 
   It is a further primary object of the present invention to provide such an adjustment mechanism while eliminating or minimizing any reduction in ski flexion, thereby enhancing the ability of the ski to flex evenly. 
   In order to provide such an easy to use, stable, uncomplicated, reliable mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, the toe binding for a boot (by means of a plate attached thereto or otherwise) is pivotably attached to a ski, and the heel binding for the boot is attached to the ski by a pair of members attached to the heel binding (by means of the plate attached thereto or otherwise) and ski respectively and having complementary serrations for interlockingly engaging each other at various adjusted positions of one of the members relative to the other thereof for adjustment of the heel height and at least one fastener for connecting the members at any of the various heights to which the heel is adjusted. In order to eliminate or minimize any reduction in ski flexion, in accordance with the present invention, the upper one of the members is slidably connected to the heel end portion of the plate (or otherwise the boot). 
   In order to provide such an easy to use, stable, uncomplicated, reliable mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, the toe binding for a boot (by means of a plate attached thereto or otherwise) is pivotably attached to the ski, and the heel binding for the boot is attached to the ski by a pair of members lower end portions of which are pivotly attached to the ski, and the upper end portions of which are attached to the heel binding (by means of the plate attached thereto or otherwise), and a screw draws the members together and apart. In order to eliminate or minimize any reduction in ski flexion, in accordance with the present invention, the upper end portions of the members are slidably connected to the heel end portion of the plate (or otherwise the boot). 
   The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which the same reference numerals depict the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a ski binding according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a view thereof taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of a ski binding in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the boot plate thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of a ski binding in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a view thereof taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of one of a pair of brackets for the ski binding of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of a ski binding in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a nut used in the binding of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing a conventional ski brake for the ski. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an attachment to the ski brake for use when using the present invention. 
       FIG. 10A  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 10  of an alternative embodiment of the attachment. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective expanded view of a lateral adjustment mechanism which may be used with the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view, with a side wall of the housing removed, of an end portion of the adjustment mechanism. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the other end portion of the adjustment mechanism. 
       FIG. 14  is a partial view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of a ski binding in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the height adjustment mechanism for the binding of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded view of a binding attachment plate (partially shown) in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, in combination with a toe end pivot structure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown generally at  20  a mechanism for attaching a boot to a ski  22 , the toe and heel binding being conventional and illustrated at  24  and  26  respectively and corresponding to the toe and heel portions respectively of a boot to be attached to the ski  22 . It is of course to be understood that the attachment of a boot to a ski, in accordance with the present invention, is via the use conventionally of bindings, as discussed hereinafter. 
   The mechanism  20  includes an elongate plate  28  to which the bindings  24  and  26  are suitably and conventionally attached in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, the plate  28  having a toe end portion  30  to which the toe binding  24  is attached and a heel end portion  32  to which the heel binding  26  is attached. The plate  28  has a width and length equal generally to the width and length of the bindings for the boot to be bound thereto (which is generally equal to the width and length of the boot). 
   For purposes of providing a means for attachment of the elongate plate end portions  30  and  32  to the ski  22 , as hereinafter discussed, corresponding plates  34  and  36  respectively are fixedly attached to the ski  22  such as by screws  38  or other suitable means. The width of each of the plates  34  and  36  is generally equal to the width of the elongate plate  28 , and the length of each of the plates  34  may, for example, be generally equal to the width thereof, or otherwise as suitable. Each plate  34  and  36  may, for example, have  4  of the screws  38 , one at each corner, or other suitable number of screws. 
   The toe end portion  30  is pivotly connected to the plate  34  by a conventional pivot or hinged connection, illustrated at  40 , including a hinge pin  41 , to allow the elongate plate  28  to be adjusted through the angle illustrated at  42  so that the height of the skier&#39;s heel relative to the skier&#39;s toes may be adjusted to achieve the optimum balance for the particular skier. The hinged connection  40  may, for example, be similar to the hinged connection illustrated in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,575 and discussed at column 3, lines 1 to 5, thereof, which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference. For another example, the hinged connection may be similar to a conventional door hinge, such as shown at  86  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In order to accommodate most skiers, the angle  42  is preferably adjustable up to at least about 10 degrees. 
   In order to provide an easy to use, stable, uncomplicated, reliable means for adjustment of the height of the heel end portion  32  relative to the toe end portion  30  through the angle  42 , in accordance with the present invention, a height adjustment assembly, illustrated generally at  43 , is provided wherein the heel end portion  32  is attached to the ski plate  36  by upper and lower members  44  and  46  respectively having complementary teeth or serrations, illustrated at  48 , on facing sides for interlockingly engaging each other. The lower serrated member  46  is pivotly attached to ski plate  36  by a conventional pivot or hinged connection, illustrated at  50 , which may be similar to hinged connection or otherwise as suitable. The upper serrated member  44  is attached to the elongate plate heel end portion  32  as hereinafter discussed. The members  44  and  46  are fixedly attached at an adjusted position by at least one but preferably a pair of bolts  52  and corresponding nuts  54  or other suitable fasteners, the shanks of the bolts  52  received in apertures (not shown) in member  44  and in vertically elongated adjustment slots, illustrated at  56 , in the other member  46 . It should be evident that the adjustment slots  56  may be provided in either of the members  44  and  46  and that the bolts  52  and nuts  54  may be interchanged. It should also be understood that either the bolt heads or the nuts may desirably be conventionally fixed to the respective member so as to be free from turning thereby making height adjustment easier for the skier. The width, illustrated at  58 , of each of the members  44  and  46  is generally equal to the width of the elongate member  28  to thereby provide stability. Thus, it can be seen that the members may be attached by the bolts  52  and nuts  54  at any of various heights to which the heel portion  32  is to be desirably adjusted, with the serrations  48  on the upper member  44  bearingly and interlockingly engaging the complementary serrations  48  on the lower member  46  to stably provide the needed support. The serrations  48  are desirably sized, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, to provide height adjustments of, for example, as little as ⅛ degree. 
   It is important that the ski  22  be able to flex as much as possible to make turning easier, and modern skies are typically constructed to maximize their flexing ability. During flexing of the ski, the distance between the plates  34  and  36  varies. In order to compensate for this variance in distance so that the ski  22  may be enabled to sufficiently flex as well as to evenly flex, the upper serrated member  44  is slidably attached to the heel portion  32  by an overhanging upper portion  60  of upper member  44  which is slidably received in a track, illustrated at  62 , on the lower surface of heel portion  32 . The track  62  comprises a pair of underhang portions  64  which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the width of the member overhanging portion  60  so that the portion  60  is retained slidably within the track  62 . The track  62  may be open-ended at one or both ends to allow the member portion  60  to be inserted into the track  62  and is desirably long enough so that the member portion  60  does not come out of the track  62  during skiing. 
   In order to adjust the angle  42  so as to adjust the height of the skier&#39;s heel relative to the toes for improved balance as well as to achieve increased leverage, even while on the ski slopes, the skier may easily and quickly loosen the nuts  54 , incrementally raise or lower the upper member  44  relative to the lower member  46 , tighten the nuts  54  on the bolts  52  to firmly secure the members  44  and  46  in the newly adjusted position, and then go about enjoying skiing even more at the improved balance and leverage and with the upper member portion  60  sliding within the track  62  so that flexing of the ski for better turning is not unduly hampered. 
   It should be understood that the boot and ski plates  28 ,  34 , and  36  are not essential to the present invention and that the toe binding  24  may be directly or otherwise pivotly connected to the ski  22  and the serrated members  44  and  46  directly or otherwise connected to the heel binding  26  and ski  22  respectively. The device of the present invention need not be a separate device but may instead be built into the ski and/or binding. Thus, a reference to the toe or heel end portion or to a ski in the claims is meant to also refer to plates attached or attachable thereto. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown generally at  70  an alternative embodiment of the height adjustment assembly. The assembly  70 , like the assembly  43  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises upper and lower serrated members  44  and  46  respectively attached by fasteners  52  and  54  and with the lower serrated member  46  pivotly mounted to the ski plate  36 . In accordance with this alternative embodiment, the upper serrated member  44  is slidably attached to the heel end portion  32  of the boot plate  28  by a pair of tubular portions  72  suitably formed or otherwise attached on opposite sides respectively of the upper serrated member  44  and a pair of round rods  74  suitably formed or otherwise attached in cut-outs  76  respectively on opposite sides respectively of the heel end portion  32  of the boot plate  28  and which are slidably received in the tubular portions  72  respectively. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  6 A, there is shown generally at  80  an alternative embodiment of the height adjustment assembly. The assembly  80  comprises a pair of channel members  82  having side flanges  83  and the lower end portions  84  of which are pivotly attached to the ski plate by a suitable conventional pivot or hinge assembly  86 , which is shown to be similar to a conventional door hinge. Thus, a hinge pin or pivot rod  96 , providing a common pivot axis, is suitably received in apertures, illustrated at  95 , in the side flanges  83  of each of the members  82  and in apertures, illustrated at  97 , in alternate eyelet or tubular portions  99  on the bottom edges of the members  82 , and at each end the hinge pin  96  is received in apertures, illustrated at  101 , in eyelet members  103  which are welded or otherwise suitably attached to plate  36 . The pin  96  is desirably (but not required to be) secured against removal from the hinge by suitable means such as, for example, a head  111  and washer  113  on one end and a nut (not shown) and washer (not shown) at the other end. Thus, the structural members  82  may be pivotly spread apart or contracted, as illustrated at  105  in  FIG. 5 , by pivotal movement on the hinge pin  96 . 
   The upper end portions  88  of the members  82  are attached to the heel end portion  32  of plate  28 , as hereinafter discussed. Intermediate the height of the members  82 , elongate members  91  and  92  such as bars or tubular members are mounted to extend between the respective flanges  83  of the members  82  respectively and are suitably attached to the respective flanges  83  such as by screws (not shown) so that they can pivot (i.e., are rotatable about the longitudinal axis). The head end portion  107  of an adjustment bolt or screw  90  is received in an unthreaded aperture in member  92  and a nut  94 , similar to nut  134  in  FIG. 8 , placed thereon so that the screw  90  rotates in place with the member  92  sandwiched between the bolt head and the nut  94 . The screw  90  is threadedly received in a threaded aperture centrally located in rotatable member  91  to draw the members together or apart, as illustrated at  105 ) to increase or decrease respectively the distance between the plates  28  and  36  and thereby adjust the heel height, the members  91  and  92  being rotatable (pivotal) to allow alignment of the apertures therein during adjustment. Suitable openings, illustrated at  109  for one of the channel members, are provided in the channel members  82  for unfettered passage of the screw  90 . The upper portion  88  of each of the members  82  is pivotably attached to an overhanging member  98  by means of a pin  104  or other suitable pivoting device. In order to allow the ski  22  to be able to sufficiently flex, these upper portions  88 , similarly as shown in  FIG. 2 , are slidably attached to the heel portion  32  by the pivotly-connected overhanging members  98  being slidably received in a track, illustrated at  100 , on the lower surface of heel portion  32 . The track  100  comprises a pair of underhang or rail portions  102  which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the width of each of the overhanging members  98  so that the overhanging members  98  are retained slidably within the track  100 . The track  100  may be open-ended at one or both ends to allow the members  98  to be inserted into the track  100  and is desirably long enough so that the members  98  do not come out of the track  100  during skiing. 
   The placement of an adjustment screw so that it is rigidly attached to the ski at the ski end of the “scissors” members, as in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,946, detracts from the ability of the ski to flex as needed. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the hinge  86  is instead placed at the ski plate  36 . In order to provide increased stability, the “scissors” members  82  have a width which is generally equal to the width of each of plates  28  and  36 . 
   The present invention is not limited to the particular components for the height adjustment assembly, which components are disclosed for exemplary purposes only. Thus, the present invention may be otherwise embodied for providing the desired height adjustment while allowing the ski to suitably flex. For example, the member  82  on the right side in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may be removed, its corresponding elongate member  92  suitably mounted to the track  100  (or plate  32 ) so that it can pivot (i.e., rotate about its longitudinal axis), and elongate member  91  positioned to also serve as pin  104 . This alternative assembly would thus allow pivoting at  104  and at the hinge  86  for height adjustment while also still allowing the ski to suitably flex. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown generally at  110  an alternative embodiment of the height adjustment assembly. The assembly  110  comprises a member  112  pivotly mounted at pivot assembly  114  to the boot plate end portion  32  and another member  116  pivotly mounted at pivot assembly  118  to the ski plate  36 . The pivot assemblies  114  and  118  may each be similar to hinge  50 . Member  116  has a portion  120  which extends upwardly from hinge  116  to a point midway between the plates  28  and  36  and a portion  122  extends therefrom generally normal thereto. Member  112  is similarly shaped; a portion  124  terminates at a point midway between the plates  28  and  36  and has a track (not shown) on each side (similar to track  100  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) in which is slidably received member  116  to act as a backing or support for member  116  to thereby provide increased stability, and another portion  126  extends from the hinge  114  and generally normal to portion  124 . Thus, as seen in  FIG. 7 , the portions  122  and  126  are generally parallel to each other and spaced vertically so that by drawing them together or apart the heel height may be adjusted. Adjustment is provided by a pair of bolts or screws  128  (one on each side, only one shown) having a head  130  and the shank  132  of which is received in an aperture in portion  126  and a nut  134  applied thereto so that the portion  126  is disposed between the bolt head  130  and the nut  134 . The nut  134 , as seen in  FIG. 8 , has a roll pin  136  which passes centrally through the nut (normal to the nut axis) and is received in an aperture in the shank  132  whereby the bolt  128  cannot be moved axially but can be turned for providing height adjustment. The shank  132  is threadedly received in a threaded aperture in the portion  122 . A locknut  138  is provided on the shank  132  to lockingly bear against the underside of the portion  122 . Thus, by turning the bolt head  130 , the vertical distance between the portions  122  and  126  may easily, even while on the ski slopes, be increased or decreased to adjust the heel height. Each of the members  112  and  116  has a width generally equal to that of plates  28  and  36  to provide good stability. Since it is envisioned that the assembly  110  may be difficult to mount as shown, it is believed that it may be more easily mounted at the rear edge of plate  28 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a conventional ski brake  150  applied to the ski  22 . When the heel height is adjusted as described herein, the ground engaging portion  152  of the brake  150  may be too high. In order to accommodate for the increased height, in accordance with the present invention, the portion  152  is cut off, as illustrated at  154 , and an adaptive ground engaging portion, illustrated generally at  156  in  FIG. 10 , applied to the shank  158  of the brake  150 . The adaptive portion  156  comprises a tubular portion  159  in which the shank  158  is received, a ground engaging portion  160 , which is similar to the cut-off portion  152 , and a shank portion  162  for increasing the overall shank length to thereby position the ground engaging portion  160  lower to compensate for the increased heel height. The tubular portion  159  is suitably attached to the shank portion  158  by a pair of axially spaced screws  164  received in apertures  166  in the tubular portion  159  and screwed into the shank portion  158  or by other suitable means. The length of the shank portion  162  may, for example, be about 2 inches. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10A , in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide for adjustment of the length of the shank portion  162  to allow more precise brake height adjustment, an adapter member  200  having a ground engaging portion  202  and a shank portion  204  is attached to the shank portion  158  by a separate tubular portion  206 . The term “ground,” as used herein and in the claims, is meant to include “snow.” One end of the tubular portion  206  is slipped over the remaining shank portion  158  and attached thereto by a pair of axially spaced screws  208  received in apertures  210  respectively in the separate tubular portion  206  and screwed into the shank portion  158  or by other suitable means. The shank portion  204  is cut, as illustrated at  212 , to achieve the desired brake length, and the remainder of the shank portion  204  is then received in the other end of the tubular portion  206  and attached thereto by another pair of axially spaced screws  214  received in apertures  216  respectively in the separate tubular portion  206  and screwed into the shank portion  204  or by other suitable means. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , there is shown generally at  171  a lateral adjustment assembly for plate  190 , which plate serves the same function (attachment of bindings) as plate  28  in  FIG. 1 . The lateral adjustment assembly  171  includes a housing  191  having side walls  193  joined by end walls  195  and a floor  197 , the plate  190  being received over and spaced from the floor  197  and within the boundaries of the walls  193  and  195 . For increased structural integrity, the floor  197  extends entirely over the length of the assembly  171 , but it is not required that it do so. For example, floor portions may be provided at each end of the assembly  171  for purposes which will become apparent. An elongate rod  172  extends length-wise of the assembly  171  centrally of the width thereof, and the plate  190  rests thereon. The rod  172  is suitably fixedly received in and non-rotatably attached in a pair of apertures, illustrated at  170 , in the end walls  195  respectively to allow the plate  190  to tilt laterally about the rod  172 . Alternatively, the rod  172  may be mounted so as to be rotatable within the apertures  170 , and the plate  190  may be attached fixedly to the rotatable rod. The lateral adjustment assembly  171  is provided to allow the plate  190  to be adjusted, for example, plus or minus about 3 degrees laterally to adjust the position laterally of the skier on the ski. A bolt or screw  174  is received in an unthreaded aperture  176  in each corner of the plate  190 , and a nut  178  is screwed onto the bolt  174  so that the plate  190  is sandwiched between the bolt head  180  and the nut  178 , and a roll pin (similarly as shown for roll pin  136  in  FIG. 8 ) is inserted through the nut  178  and bolt shank  182  whereby the bolt  174  is prevented from vertical movement but can be turned to provide lateral adjustment. The bolt  174  is threadedly received in a threaded aperture, illustrated at  175 , in the floor  197 , whereby, by manipulation of the bolts  174  (i.e., by screwing inwardly on the bolts on one side of the plate  190  and by screwing outwardly a corresponding amount the bolts on the other side thereof), the lateral orientation of the plate  190  may be adjusted. The housing  191  is formed to have a track  199 , similar to tracks  62  and  100 , depending downwardly from the rear end portion thereof for rear height adjustment, and apertures  188  for receiving the pivot pin  41  (with the eyelet members  187  of plate  34  being disposed outwardly of the side walls  193  respectively) for pivotal movement of the assembly  171  at the forward end thereof. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , there is shown generally at  200  a height adjustment mechanism in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the toe end portion having a hinged connection similar to that shown at  40  in  FIG. 1 . Height adjustment is provided by a pair of members  202  and  204  having the complementary teeth or serrations  48 , similarly as shown for the assembly  43  of  FIG. 1 , on facing sides for interlockingly engaging each other. The member  202  is pivotly attached to the boot plate  28  as hereinafter described. The member  204  is pivotly attached to ski plate  36  by a hinged connection  50  similarly as shown for  FIG. 1 , including a hinge pin  206  which is received in an aperture, illustrated at  208 , extending through a lower portion of the member  204  and through apertures, illustrated at  210 , in eyelet members  212  protruding from opposite sides of the plate  36 . Similarly as shown in  FIG. 2 , the members  202  and  204  are adjustably connected by a pair of screws  216  receivable in laterally spaced countersunk apertures, illustrated at  218 , in member  202  and in laterally spaced vertically elongate apertures, illustrated at  220 , in member  204 , the head of one of the screws  216  illustrated at  222 , and nuts and washers therefor illustrated at  224  and  226  respectively. Thus, the member  204  may be moved upwardly or downwardly relative to member  202  then fixed at an adjusted position by the interlocking serrations  48  engaging and by tightening of the nuts  224  on the screws  216  with the serrations interlocking with each other. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to be able to adjust the angle  42  to a very small angle approaching zero degrees, the member  202  is pivotly attached to the rear end of the plate  28 . Thus, the rear end of the plate  28  has a cut out, illustrated at  228 , therein providing a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly extending protrusions  230 . The member  202  is received in the cut out  228 , and a pivot rod  232  is received in apertures, illustrated at  234 , in the protrusions  230  and in an aperture, illustrated at  236 , in the member  202 . It should of course be understood that variations may be made in the assembly  200  as well as the other assemblies discussed herein. For example, instead of a single pin  232  or a single pin  206 , a pair of short pins may be provided, each received on one side or the other of the respective member  202  and  204 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , there is shown generally at  300  a plate to which toe and heel bindings  24  and  26  (not shown in  FIG. 16 ) are attached and which is height adjustably attachable to a ski  22  as discussed hereinbefore. The plate  300  has a toe end portion  302  and a heel end portion  304  which are similar to the toe and heel end portions  30  and  32  respectively of  FIG. 1 . The plate  300  includes a generally flat portion  314  upon which the bindings are attached and a pair of flange portions  316  extending downwardly from the lateral edges of the flat portion  314 . The toe end portion  302  is pivotly attached to a plate  306  which is in turn attached to the ski  22  by screws such as screws  38  in  FIG. 1  received in apertures, illustrated at  308 , in the plate  306  and threadedly received in apertures in the ski  22 . The plate  306  is formed to have an upstanding tubular hinge portion  310 , i.e., having a bore, illustrated at  318 , extending laterally of the plates  300  and  306  therethrough. Forward of the hinge portion  310  is an increased width portion  312  of the plate  306 , i.e., a portion which generally extends to the lateral edges of the ski  22 . While shown to be integrally formed with the plate  306 , it should be understood that the hinge portion  310  may be a separate member which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the plate  306 . In order to pivotly attach the forward end of the bindings or boot plate  300  to the ski plate  306 , a hinge pin  320  is received in the bore  318  and in apertures, illustrated at  322  in the forward ends of the flange portions  316 . The flange portions  316  have rounded lower forward end corners, illustrated at  324 , in order to provide clearance with plate portion  312  during pivoting movement thereof. The plate  306  is of reduced width relative to the portion  312  thereof so as to be able to fit between the flange portions  316 . 
   Race plates have been provided to raise the boots and bindings above the skis for greater leverage. In order to accommodate almost any size boot, these race plates are often made long, for example, 24 inches. Thus, if plate  300  were 24 inches long, it would accommodate the boots of all or almost all skiers. However, since the plate  300  must be of sufficient thickness to suitably accommodate forces acting thereon, such a length undesirably increases the weight thus undesirably increasing the burden of carrying the skis, especially for smaller people who have boot sizes which do not require such long plates. In order to reduce the carrying burden on smaller (as well as larger) persons while also accommodating larger boot sizes of larger persons, in accordance with the present invention, the bindings plate  300  is made to a relatively smaller length of, for example, 18 inches, and a decreased thickness extension  330  is attached to the top surface of flat plate portion  314  at the forward end portion  332  thereof to increase the length thereof by, for example, about 2 inches, to 20 inches overall. If desired, the extension may be provided to increase the length thereof by, for example, about 4 inches or longer, to 22 or more inches overall. The extension  330  is attached to the plate  300  by screws  334 , for example, 4 no. 10-32 flat head screws, received in counterbored (to accommodate the flat heads) apertures, illustrated at  336 , in the rearward end portion of the extension  330  and threadedly received in threaded apertures, illustrated at  338 , in the forward end portion  332  of the flat plate portion  314 . The forward end portion  331  of the lighter (less thickness) extension thus extends forwardly beyond the plate  300  to increase the overall plate length by as much as 2 or more inches. 
   Snow may tend to build up and cake between the plate  300  and the ski  22 . This is a type of problem which used to be encountered under boots with the solution in recent years being that the soles of boots have been conventionally contoured to allow the escape of the snow. In order to allow snow to escape from between the plate  300  and the ski  22  as well as to reduce the carrying burden even more for both small and large people, a lightening cutout, illustrated at  340 , is provided centrally of the length of the plate  300  (between the attachments of the bindings). While the cutout  340  is shown to be rectangular in shape, it should be understood that it may otherwise be suitably shaped or provided in other ways such as a series of apertures. 
   The following dimensions of the plate  300  and extension  330  as well as other dimensions and examples contained herein (unless the context clearly indicates otherwise) are for exemplary purposes only and not for purposes of limitation. The overall length and width of plate portion  314  may, for example, be about 18 inches and about 2¼ inches respectively. The flange portion height, illustrated at  342 , may, for example, be about ½ inch. The thickness of each of the plate and flange portions  314  and  316  respectively may, for example, be about ¼ inch. The extension  330  may have a length, width, and thickness of about 4 inches, about 2¼ inches, and about 3/16 inch respectively and is attached to the plate  300  so as to extend, for example, about 2 inches forwardly thereof. The cutout  340  begins, for example, about 4½ inches from the forward edge of the plate  300 , extends lengthwise of the plate  300  a distance of, for example, about 4 inches, and extends widthwise, for example, over the entire distance between the flange portions  316 . The plates  300 ,  306 , and  330  are made of aluminum or other suitable material. 
   It should be understood that, while tracks such as at  62  in  FIG. 2  or  74  in  FIG. 4  are shown on the boot plate (and of course may alternately be directly on the boot), they may alternatively be on the ski plate or directly on the ski. 
   It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.