Abstract:
The binding comprises a pair of pistons ( 7, 8 ) extending under the boot and each stressed by a spring ( 14, 15 ). The arms of a sole clamp ( 2, 3 ) act on these pistons. The pistons are connected together by a linking means ( 20 ), and the binding comprises means ( 24, 25 ) for controlling the linking means, capable of occupying a first position, in which the pistons are secured by the linking means, and a second position in which one of the pistons is able to move on its own, at least over a certain travel common to the two pistons. The control means ( 24, 25 ) are controlled magnetically by the boot so as to obtain a binding with asymmetrical release resistance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a safety binding for ski boot, in particular, the invention relates to the means for controlling release of the ski bindings such as described in documents CH 686 707 and WO 00/29078, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto, in order, more simply, to produce an asymmetrical or symmetrical binding with automatic positioning by the boots using a sole clamp and a piston.  
           [0002]    The sole clamp is preferably divided into two independent sole clamps, each mounted so as to pivot about an individual axis.  
           [0003]    A binding of this type, which includes a single sole clamp and a single piston, is known from patent CH 686 707. This binding has the advantage of controlling, by means of a spring placed under the bearing surface of the boot on the binding, not only the pivoting of the sole clamp about a vertical axis in the event of a fall, but also the rocking of the sole clamp in a vertical plane. The arrangement of the spring under the bearing surface of the boot makes it possible to have a favorable relationship between the load moments exerted on the boot in the horizontal plane and in the vertical plane. A binding of the same type, but one which includes two sole clamps, is known from international patent application WO 00/29078. The sole clamps constitute two levers of the first class, having divergent arms for laterally holding the boot, and two convergent arms substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and each equipped with a descending arm bearing at two points which are close to one another on the end of a piston mounted axially in the body of the binding extending under the boot and pushed by a spring. The presence of two sole clamps with two close bearing points makes it possible to reduce the lateral forces on the piston and, consequently, to reduce the friction forces opposing the sliding of the piston. The friction of the sole clamps on the flange of the boot is also less than in a binding with a single sole clamp. According to an embodiment shown in that document, the sole clamps bear on two parallel pistons, but it is revealed that it is preferable to have a single piston common to the two sole clamps. The inventor has thus not seen the advantage he could draw from having two pistons.  
           [0004]    Patents FR 1 503 847, 1 503 848, and 1 503 849, the contents of which are incorporated by reference, furthermore disclose bindings with resistance to asymmetric release in order to take account of the fact that the skier&#39;s knee, subject to twisting forces at the time of a fall, is more vulnerable to an inward rotation of the foot than to an outward rotation of the foot. As these bindings require pairing between boots and skis, i.e. a left ski for the left foot, and a right ski for the right foot, and as swapping the skis round has an effect which is the reverse of the desired effect, which may have serious consequences, a binding has been sought which adapts automatically to the boot when the boot is fitted into the binding. The skier can thus fit his boot into either ski as he is accustomed to doing, with the advantage of having bindings with lower resistance to release in the event of stresses from inward rotation of the foot than in the event of outward rotation. Such bindings are described in documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,108, the content of which is incorporated by reference, U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,679, the content of which is incorporated by reference, WO 96/32168, the content of which is incorporated by reference, and EP 0 739 646, the content of which is incorporated by reference. These bindings have in common a conventional design for the toe piece, i.e. a spring arranged in front of the sole clamp, at the location of the boot flange. The sole clamp is either in a single piece, with the spring pivoting with the sole clamp (U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,108), or in two components, in the form of a lever bearing on a rod (U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,679, WO 96/32168, EP 0 739 646). The binding is made asymmetrical by means of a complex mechanism controlled magnetically or electromagnetically by the boot equipped, for this purpose, with bosses or with a permanent magnet.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A safety binding for ski boot, of which the sole has a flange comprising a binding body of which a horizontal part, intended for vertical support of the boot and extending under the boot, contains a pair of movable pistons stressed by elastic means, and another part carries a sole clamp for holding the boot via its flange, this sole clamp being mounted so as to pivot about an at least approximately vertical axis in order to release the boot, and pivoting by an angle limited in a vertical plane about a real or virtual axis located at the location of holding of the boot by the sole clamp, this sole clamp being equipped with two descending arms rigidly connected to the sole clamp, the ends of which bear respectively on each of the pistons.  
           [0006]    The sole clamp is preferably divided into two independent sole clamps, each mounted so as to pivot about an individual axis.  
           [0007]    The object of the present invention is to take advantage of the presence and of the arrangement of the two pistons of the means for controlling release of the bindings described in documents CH 686 707 and WO 00/29078 in order, more simply, to produce an asymmetrical or symmetrical binding with automatic positioning by the boots.  
           [0008]    The binding according to the invention is defined in that the elastic means consist of two parallel springs on which each of the pistons bears, respectively, wherein the pistons are connected together by a linking means, and wherein the binding comprises means for controlling this linking means which are capable of occupying a first position, in which the pistons are secured by the linking means, and a second position in which one of the pistons is able to move on its own, at least over a certain travel common to the two pistons and over at least a portion of the total travel of the two pistons.  
           [0009]    Like the pistons and the springs, the control means may be arranged entirely under the boot bearing plate. The necessary mechanism is relatively simple and compact.  
           [0010]    The sole clamp is preferably divided into two independent sole clamps, each mounted so as to pivot about an at least approximately vertical individual axis and consisting of two levers of the first class having two divergent lever arms for laterally holding the boot, and two convergent arms at least approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the binding and bearing, respectively, on the end of each of the pistons via a descending arm at two points which are close to one another.  
           [0011]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the linking means consists of a small bar articulated to each of the pistons.  
           [0012]    Clearance is provided at at least one of the articulations or in the guiding of the pistons in order to allow the small bar to pivot.  
           [0013]    The binding may thus be used either as an asymmetrical binding or as a conventional symmetrical binding.  
           [0014]    According to one embodiment, the means for positioning the small bar comprise means for controlling the small bar comprising means for holding the small bar in its median position, these holding means being able to occupy two positions, i.e. a position in which the small bar is held or a position in which the small bar is released.  
           [0015]    According to one embodiment, the means for holding the small bar comprise a pair of independent holding components holding the small bar on each side via its sides.  
           [0016]    According to embodiments, the means for controlling the small bar comprise components made from ferromagnetic material or permanent magnets so as to be able to be actuated by a boot equipped with a permanent magnet.  
           [0017]    The holding components consist of rockers or of studs that are movable in translation perpendicularly to the plane of the binding. These rockers and these studs could themselves be made from ferromagnetic material so as to be able to be attracted by a magnet equipping the boot.  
           [0018]    According to a further embodiment, the components for holding the small bar consist of rockers which can be rocked mechanically by studs or the like fixed on one side of the boots.  
           [0019]    The binding also preferably comprises a second, fixed means for laterally holding the small bar, arranged such that the small bar is released only after a certain simultaneous travel of the two pistons. This second means advantageously consists of a notch in which the curved end of the small bar is engaged.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The appended drawing shows, by way of example, embodiments of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binding, more precisely of a toe component as shown in the first two embodiments which will be described.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism for controlling release of the binding according to a first embodiment, in a neutral or symmetrical position.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows the central part of the mechanism according to FIG. 2.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism according to FIG. 2 in the asymmetrical position, during release, also showing the means for adjusting hardness, in this case in the position of minimum hardness.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of Figure  4 , but with the hardness adjustment in the position of maximum hardness.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mechanism according to a second embodiment.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view of FIG. 6, showing the control of the mechanism by a boot equipped with a magnet.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a toe piece according to a third embodiment.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows the mechanism of this third embodiment in the symmetrical position and during release.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a view in elevation of the rear, in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows a part of the mechanism, without the pistons and springs and without the means for controlling the rockers.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 shows one of the control levers of the rockers.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 shows one of the rockers.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 is a detail of FIG. 9, showing one of the rockers and its control lever.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 shows the automatic positioning of the binding by a boot in the third embodiment.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 16 shows the binding and the boot according to FIG. 15 during release.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 is a plan view of the raised rocker and of its control lever in the same position as FIG. 16.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 is a view in elevation of the components of FIG. 17, seen in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 17. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    The binding shown in FIG. 1 comprises a binding body  1  for fixing to a ski, on which body there is a pair of sole clamps  2  and  3  for holding a boot via its standard front flange, as shown in FIG. 8, in which the boot is shown in broken lines. The sole clamps  2  and  3  are each mounted so as to pivot about an approximately vertical individual axis, and they are also able to rock through a limited angle about a horizontal transverse axis. The sole clamps  2  and  3  are mounted as shown in FIG. 26 of document WO 00/29078, which must be regarded as forming an integral part of the present description. Reference should thus be made to that document regarding any detail concerning the form and mounting of the sole clamps  2  and  3 . Regarding the form of the sole clamps, this is shown in detail in FIG. 4 of the cited document. It will simply be mentioned that the sole clamps  2  and  3  constitute two levers of the first class, having two divergent arms  2   a  and  3   a  for holding the boot laterally, and two convergent arms substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and each equipped with a descending arm  5 ,  6  (FIG. 4) bearing at two points close to one another and, respectively, on two parallel pistons  7  and  8  moving horizontally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the binding. FIG. 4 also diagrammatically shows the approximately vertical pivoting axes  9  and  10  of each of the sole clamps  2  and  3 . As may be seen in FIG. 1, the mounting plate  4  is equipped with a base  11  distinct from the binding body  1 .  
         [0040]    Behind the sole clamps  2  and  3 , i.e. in a region located under the boot, the device for controlling release of the binding is mounted in the binding body  1 , as in the bindings described in document WO 00/29078. This mechanism is mounted in a housing  12  of the body  1 , and it is covered by a cover plate  13  on which the boot rests. The pistons  7  and  8  are of rectangular parallelepipedal general shape. They are guided partially in the base  11  and partially in the binding body  1 . The piston  7  bears on a first spring  14  and the piston  8  on a second spring  15  identical to the spring  14  mounted parallel with the latter. These springs  14  and  15  bear, via their upper end, on a transverse small plate  16  (FIG. 3), simultaneously forming a nut which is stationary in rotation engaged on a screw  17  extending axially through the binding and equipped with a head  18  bearing on the mounting plate  4  at the front of the binding, as may be seen in FIG. 8. As will immediately have been understood, the screw  17  serves for adjusting the precompression of the springs  14  and  15 , i.e. the hardness of the binding at the time of release. A stirrup  19 , the role of which will be described below, is fixed on the bearing small plate  16 .  
         [0041]    The pistons  7  and  8  are connected together by a small bar  20  articulated on the pistons  7  and  8  about two studs  21  and  22 . These articulations have transverse clearance so as to allow a rectilinear displacement of the pistons, whereas the pivoting of the small bar  20  tends to impart to these studs a trajectory in the form of an arc of a circle. The small bar  20  extends toward the rear of the binding, along the axis of symmetry of the binding, in the neutral or symmetrical position of the binding. The small bar has an end  23 , which is curved toward the bottom, engaged in a notch  38  of the body  1 , opening toward the rear. A rocker  24  and  25 , respectively, is mounted on each side of the housing  12  of the binding body. These rockers have a control arm  24   a,    25   a  and a holding arm  24   b,    25   b.  All these arms are directed toward the axis of symmetry of the binding. The control arms  24   a  and  25   a  carry a magnetized pad  26 ,  27 , for example made from ferrite. If the rockers  24  and  25  are made from non-ferromagnetic material, the pads  26  and  27  could be simply made from a ferromagnetic material. The curved end  23  of the small bar has two wings for abutting against one of the arms  24   b  or  25   b.    
         [0042]    In the position shown in FIG. 2, the small bar  20  is held in the median position by the notch  38  in which the end  23  of the small bar is engaged, and the pistons  7  and  8  are aligned transversely. In the absence of stress on the control arms  24   a  and  25   a,  the arms of the rockers occupy a low position through the effect of their own weight and, if necessary, through the effect of an auxiliary spring. The binding is symmetrical, i.e. it will have the same resistance to release whichever one of the sole clamps is entrained by the boot. This will become clearly apparent during the description of the operation of the binding.  
         [0043]    Suppose, now, that the skier is wearing a boot such as the boot shown diagrammatically by the rectangle  28  in FIG. 7. The sole of this boot contains a permanent magnet  29  arranged asymmetrically so that when the boot is fitted into the binding it is placed opposite one of the pads  26  or  27 .  
         [0044]    If, for example, the permanent magnet  29  is placed above the pad  27 , this pad is attracted toward the sole of the boot and the rocker  25  is raised. Its arm  25   b  is no longer able to hold the small bar  20  laterally.  
         [0045]    If the boot in entrained outward, as shown in FIG. 9, the sole clamp  2  is entrained by the boot and its arm  5  pushes the piston  7  rearward. The small bar  20 , held in the notch  38  via its end  23 , is not released immediately, so that the two pistons  7  and  8  are initially entrained. After a certain travel, the curved end  23  escapes the notch  38  and the small bar  20  can then pivot. This measure prevents accidental pivoting of the sole clamp located on the inner side of the boot during normal stress. A movement of the sole clamp in this case would, however, be prejudicial to proper guiding of the skis and could even give rise to a fall. This measure therefore makes it possible, using very simple means, to obtain favorable non-linear behavior.  
         [0046]    When the force on&#39;the pistons  7  and  8  is sufficient to release the small bar  20  from the notch  38 , the small bar  20 , which is not held by the rocker  25 , is able to pivot, as shown in FIG. 4, such that the piston  7  can be displaced on its own without entraining the piston  8 . Only the spring  14  continues to be compressed, so that the resistance to release is substantially reduced relative that offered in the symmetrical position shown in FIG. 2. After a certain travel of the piston  7 , the small bar  20  abuts against the end  19   b  of the stirrup  19 . If the piston  7  continues its displacement, it then entrains the piston  8  such that the resistance to release increases. The same effect is produced if the small bar abuts against the lateral wall of the housing  12  The piston  7  is therefore displaced on its own only over a portion of its travel. When the stress on the sole clamp  2  ceases, the spring/piston/small bar system tends to return to its initial position of equilibrium, and the end  23  of the small bar  20  re-engages in the notch  38 . The curved end  23  of the small bar  20  bears on the cylindrical face  50 , which is smooth so as to facilitate the sliding of the end  23  through the effect of the tangential component of the force acting on the small bar  20 . The face  50  has a curvature which promotes recentering of the small bar  20 .  
         [0047]    If it is the sole clamp  3  that is stressed, it pushes back the piston  8 . In such a case, the small bar  20  cannot pivot as it is held by the rocker  24 , and the piston  7  is entrained with the piston  8 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 shows a release which is similar to the release shown in FIG. 4, but with maximum hardness adjustment of the binding, the springs  14  and  15  being strongly precompressed by means of the screw  17 . In such a case, it will be seen that the small bar  20  abuts against the lateral wall of the housing  12 .  
         [0049]    The shape of the curvature of the face  50  influences the release curve. If, for example, the center of curvature of the part  50   a  of the face  50 , on which the small bar  20  bears in FIG. 4, is located at A, the spring  15  is neither compressed nor relaxed when the small bar  20  is displaced along the part  50   a  of the face  50 . If the center of curvature is at B, the spring  15  relaxes, and if the center of curvature is at C the spring  15  is compressed and the recentering force is increased. The center of curvature of the part  50   b  of the face  50  is, naturally, symmetrical to that of the part  50   a.  The position of the centers of curvature of the faces  50   a  and  50   b  will thus be chosen as a function of the desired release curve shape.  
         [0050]    To allow pivoting of the small bar  20 , clearance at only one of its articulations on the pistons would be sufficient. Instead of having clearance at the articulations, lateral clearance could be arranged in the guiding of the pistons  7  and  8 .  
         [0051]    The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 differs from the first embodiment only in terms of the means for laterally holding the small bar  20 . These holding means consist of two, relatively thin studs  30  and  31 , which are here in the form of a disk mounted so as to be movable vertically, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the binding, in housings  32 ,  33  made partly in the binding body  1  and partly in the cover plate  13 . A permanent magnet  34 ,  35  or a corresponding component made from ferromagnetic material is fixed in the center of these studs. The studs  30  and  31  are held in a low position by a spring  36 ,  37 , respectively. In this low position, the studs  30  and  31  are located on each side of the small bar  20 , at the same level as the latter, so that they Laterally hold the bar  20  on each side. The small bar  20  is also held laterally by the engagement of its curved end  23  in the notch  38 , as in the preceding embodiment.  
         [0052]    If the magnet  29  of the boot  28  is placed above one of the magnets, for example above the magnet  35 , said magnet is attracted toward the sole so that the stud  31  releases the small bar  20 . This second embodiment also differs slightly from the first embodiment in that pivoting of the small bar  20  is not limited by a stirrup.  
         [0053]    A third embodiment, with purely mechanical control, is shown in FIGS.  8  to  18 . In this embodiment, there are two rockers  40  and  41  articulated like the rockers  24  and  25  on the sides of the binding body, and their function is the same. The rockers  40  and  41  have a curved arm  40   a,    41   a,  respectively, and these arms laterally hold the small bar  20  via its curved end  23 . It will be noted that the small bar  20  is exactly the same in the three embodiments. The rocker holding arms are, in this case, elongate and intersect in order to increase the vertical displacement of the ends of these arms.  
         [0054]    The rockers  40  and  41  are actuated by cams  42  and  43  mounted on each side of the body of the binding. These cams are mounted on pins  44  and  45  which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the binding, and on them the cams can be displaced in translation and in rotation. The cams  42  and  43  are stressed by a spring  46 ,  47  working both in compression and in torsion. These springs thus tend to push the cams  42  and  43  forward, in abutment against the stops  49  formed on the binding body, and to hold the cams in a vertical position.  
         [0055]    The rocker  40  and its control cam  42  are shown in detail in FIGS. 12, 13,  14 ,  17 , and  18 . The rocker  40  has, on the side opposite the arm  40   a,  relative to its axis of pivoting, a tab  40   b  which is slightly curved in the form of an arc of a circle. The cam  42  has a projection  42   a  which also acts as a cam and pushes the tab  40   b  of the rocker  40  during rearward translational displacement of the cam  42 , which has the effect of rocking the rocker  40 , i.e. of raising its arm  40   a  as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. For actuation of the cam  42  or of the cam  43 , the boot  28  is equipped, in this case, with a nipple, stud, finger or the like  48  projecting slightly on the side of the sole, as shown in FIG. 15.  
         [0056]    When the boot is fitted into the binding, this stud  48  pushes the cam  42  rearward, which actuates the rocker  40 , releasing the small bar  20  on one side, as in the first embodiment.  
         [0057]    During release of the binding in torsion, the cam  42  opposes only the very low torsional resistance of its spring  46 , so that it rocks outward in order to allow the boot to pass.  
         [0058]    Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments of the invention described here. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described here, a wide range of modifications, changes, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoing description be construed broadly and understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims.