Abstract:
A ski or the like has integrated in it a flat retaining or securing system which bears the boot-retaining units of a binding in an adjustable manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a retaining system for front and rear boot-retaining units of a ski or snowboard binding or the like. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   In the case of ski bindings which are currently available on the market, the boot-retaining units are usually screwed firmly to the ski, the bores in the ski which accommodate the fastening screws having been introduced into the ski beforehand in accordance with the respective boot size and the pattern of holes necessary in each case for the boot-retaining units. 
   Furthermore, binding devices for ski rentals are also known in which the boot-retaining units are arranged on base parts such that they can be moved or adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the base parts themselves being screwed to the ski. In principle, this allows boot-retaining means of the abovementioned type, i.e. those which may also be screwed directly to the ski, to be arranged on the base parts. 
   Also known are skis with rails which are integrated in the ski structure and into which boot-retaining units which are adapted to the rails can be pushed or inserted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the invention, then, is to design skis or the like, such that, once fitted on the ski, conventional bindings, which up until now have been screwed directly to the ski, remain adjustable in adaptation to the respective boot size. 
   This object is achieved according to the invention by a retaining or securing system which can be integrated in a sunken manner in a ski or a snowboard, has a flat structure and is intended for front and rear boot-retaining units which interact with front and rear regions respectively of a boot. The system can have front and rear base parts which can be displaced longitudinally in a single-part or multi-part guideway on the ski or snowboard and which accommodate and/or secure the front and rear boot-retaining units. Also included in the system can be connecting rods, which are fastened on the base parts, and are essentially parallel to the guideway and extend in the direction of the respectively other base part, and a fixing device, which interacts with the connecting rods, locks the connecting rods simultaneously to the ski or snowboard, or releases them simultaneously, and, when actuated, results in elevations and/or recesses on the connecting rods and matching elevations and/or recesses of the fixing device, with horizontal relative movement approximately parallel to the top side of the ski or snowboard, engaging in one another with locking action and/or moving apart in order to release one another. 
   The invention is based on the general idea of a base arrangement, which serves for adjustably securing the boot-retaining units of a ski binding or of a binding for snowboards; this base arrangement is designed as a flat structure in order to make it easier for it to be arranged in a sunken manner in the ski or snowboard or to be integrated in the ski or snowboard structure. In particular, this makes it possible for the base arrangement to be embedded in the laminate which typically forms the snowboard or ski structure. The desirable flat construction is aided to a considerable extent in that, for locking and/or unlocking the connecting rods in the fixing device, all that is necessary is to have horizontal relative movements parallel to the top side of the ski or snowboard taking place between interacting locking and mating locking parts. A large amount of space is available in this movement direction on a ski or snowboard, with the result that reliable and deep locking engagement is possible, to be precise even when the connecting rods are configured flexibly or have a thin vertical profile to give the ski or snowboard improved deflection properties. 
   Furthermore, it is advantageous for it to be possible for the flat structure according to the invention to be connected to the ski or snowboard over a large surface area and, accordingly, such that it can be subjected to high loading and can withstand significant loads. 
   According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the connecting rods, on the one hand, and the fixing parts of the fixing device cooperating therewith, on the other hand, are provided, in the plane perpendicular to the top side of the ski or snowboard, with protrusions and set-back portions which can be brought into locking engagement with one another. 
   The connecting rods are particularly expediently designed as flat strips with a toothed longitudinal border which interacts with an essentially mating toothing formation on parts of the fixing device. In addition to simplicity of design, high flexibility of the connecting rods is achieved here. 
   According to a first embodiment, the two connecting rods may be arranged one beside the other in the same horizontal plane, if a particularly flat construction is sought. 
   It is then possible for the connecting rods to be toothed on their longitudinal borders which are remote from one another and to cooperate with a cam which is arranged between the connecting rods. In a rotary position, with engagement of the toothing formations on the connecting rods in stationary mating toothing formations of the fixing device, the cam can spread the connecting rods apart from one another. 
   Alternatively, it is also possible for moveable fixing parts, which are provided with a toothing formation fitting into the toothed longitudinal borders of the connecting rods and which are arranged such that they can be displaced transversely to the connecting rods in a direction parallel to the top side of the ski or snowboard and such that they are essentially fixed to the ski or snowboard in the longitudinal direction of the connecting rods, to be retained, by means of a cam, in locking engagement with the connecting rods in one rotary position of said cam and in a released state in another rotary position thereof. 
   According to an alternative embodiment, it is also possible for the two connecting rods to be arranged one above the other and to interact, by way of toothed borders located one above the other, with a correspondingly toothed mating locking part of the fixing device. 
   To facilitate simple or straightforward operation, it may be expedient if the front and the rear base parts are positively coupled to one another in terms of movement such that, when one base part is displaced in one direction, the other base part is displaced to a corresponding extent in the opposite direction. This ensures that the base parts are displaced symmetrically in relation to a “boot center”. 
   Since, however, it may also be desirable to be able to move the boot center relative to the ski or snowboard, an arrangement without synchronization of the base-part movements is also advantageous since, in this case, it is also possible for the base parts to be adjusted in the same direction or by different lengths or distances. 
   It is always expedient for gearing elements which are provided for the synchronized movements of the base parts to be arranged separately from the connecting rods and the fixing device. As a result, the abovementioned synchronizing means need only absorb the low displacement forces which occur during adjustment of the base parts, and need not absorb the much greater retaining forces which occur during skiing or snowboarding. Moreover, it is then also possible, without adversely affecting the safety of the retaining system, for the synchronizing means to be designed such that the synchronizing action may be cancelled by the at least temporary removal of a synchronizing means. 
   In addition, regarding preferred features, one is referred to the claims and to the following description of the drawing, by way of which particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in more detail. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the retaining system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a section along section line II—II in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a plan view of a second embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  shows a section along section line IV—IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows a plan view of a third embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  shows a section along section line VI—VI in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows a plan view of part of a fourth embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  shows a section along section line VIII—VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  shows a plan view of part of a fifth embodiment; and 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternative to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  and  2 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , essentially rectangular depressions  2  are arranged in the top side of a central section of a ski  1 , the longitudinal borders of said depressions being designed as guide rails  3  or being formed by guide rails  3 . The guide rails  3  are, for example, in the form of C-profiles which have their open concave sides directed toward one another. 
   Each of the depressions  2  accommodates a base plate  4 , which is guided in a displaceable manner in the guide rails  3  of the respective depression  2 . Each base plate  4  has a pattern of holes such that a front or rear boot-retaining unit of a basically conventional ski binding can be fastened on each base plate  4 . Together with the base plates  4  which bear them, the boot-retaining units can then be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the depressions  2  or in the guide rails  3 , which bound the depressions  2  on the longitudinal sides. 
   Arranged in the ski  1 , between the depressions  2 , is a channel  5  which connects the depressions  2  and may be closed off on its top side by a ski-mounted covering (not illustrated). 
   Two flat-strip-like connecting rods  6  are accommodated, one beside the other in a common plane within the channel, and are each connected to one of the base plates  4 . For example, the bottom connecting rod  6  in  FIG. 1  is connected to the base plate  4  which is on the right-hand side of  FIG. 1 , while the other connecting rod  6  is fastened on the base plate  4  which is on the left-hand side in FIG.  1 . 
   On their longitudinal borders which are remote from one another, the connecting rods  6  are each provided with a toothing formation  7 , which each allow engagement in mating toothing formations  8  of a fixing body  9  which is fixed to the ski. The fixing body  9  essentially comprises a sole or bearing plate which is fixed to the bottom or floor of the channel  5  and/or has been lowered into the bottom of the channel  5  and on which are integrally formed upwardly angled side borders which, on their mutually facing sides, are provided with the abovementioned toothing formations  8 . The side borders are accommodated in corresponding recesses of the side walls of the channel  5  such that it is only the teeth of the toothing formations  8  which project, beyond the plane of the side walls of the channel  5 , into the channel interior. 
   A cam  10  is mounted for rotation on the sole plate of the fixing body  9 , in the center between the connecting rods  6 , and, in its position which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , retains the connecting rods  6  in a state in which their toothing formations  7  engaged in the toothing formations  8  of the fixing body  9 . If the cam  10  is rotated through 90°, the connecting rods  6  obtain a sufficient clearance in order to move out of the toothing formations  8  of the fixing body  9  by way of their toothing formations  7 . 
   The connecting rods  6  are preferably connected resiliently to the respective base plate  4 , or supported resiliently on the side walls of the channel  5 , such that they try to move out of the toothing formations of the fixing body  9  by way of their toothing formations  7 . This results in the toothing formations  7  and  8  disengaging from one another, and remaining disengaged from one another, when the cam  10  is rotated through 90° in relation to the position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and remains in this rotated position. 
   Accordingly, it is then possible for the base plates  4  and/or the boot-retaining units of the ski binding, which are arranged thereon, to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski for adaptation to the respective size of the ski boot or ski-boot sole. Furthermore, it is also possible for the two base plates  4  and/or the boot-retaining units arranged thereon to be displaced in the same direction in order to shift the position of the ski boot on the ski in the direction of the front end of the ski or in the direction of the rear end of the ski. 
   As soon as the cam  10  is rotated back again into the position illustrated, the connecting rods  6  are inevitably pushed, by way of their toothing formations  7 , into the toothing formations  8  of the fixing body  9  and, accordingly, the base plates  4  are secured in the longitudinal direction of the ski relative to the fixing body  9 , although the base plates  4 , and thus the boot-retaining units, can execute longitudinal displacement movements relative to the ski  1 , for example when the ski  1  flexes. 
   The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  essentially in that each of the base plates  4  is connected to racks  11  which, in the example illustrated, are arranged above the connecting rods  6  and are each connected to one of the connecting rods  6  such that each toothed rack  11 , together with its connecting rod  6 , forms a leg spring, wherein the leg formed by the toothed rack is tensioned or braced against the adjacent side wall of channel  5  and the leg formed by the respective connecting rod  6  is tensioned or braced against the cam  10 . 
   Toothed racks  11 , having much coarser teeth than the toothing formations  7  and  8 , are positively coupled to one another via a gearwheel  12 , which is mounted in a rotatable manner on the axle of the cam  10 , i.e. toothed racks  11  can only be moved in opposite directions to one another in the longitudinal direction of the ski. 
   When the cam  10  is rotated through 90° from the locking position illustrated, the connecting rods  6  move out of the toothing formations  8  of the fixing body  9  by way of their toothing formations  7 , and the connecting rods  6  and thus the base plates  4  can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Because of the positive coupling of the racks  11  via the gearwheel  12 , the base plates  4 , and accordingly the boot-retaining units of the ski binding which are arranged thereon, can only be displaced at the same time and in opposite directions. 
   The connecting rods  6  thus serve, in conjunction with the fixing body  9  and the cam  10 , to fix and/or unlock the base plates  4  and the ski-binding elements arranged thereon. The racks  11 , in conjunction with the gearwheel  12 , cause the base plates  4 , and the ski-binding elements fastened thereon, to be displaced simultaneously when the base plates  4  are unlocked. 
   As is illustrated by way of example in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a covering  13  may be arranged above the channel  5  between the depressions  2 , with the result that the connecting rods  6  and the racks  11  are concealed and are not visible on the outside of the ski  1 . The axle of the cam  10  passes through a corresponding opening in the covering  13  and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a handwheel  14  above the covering  13 . This handwheel, for its part, is provided with markers or pointer symbols  14 ′ or the like. When these pointer symbols  14 ′ are oriented in the transverse direction of the ski according to  FIG. 6 , the cam  10  is also oriented in the transverse direction of the ski and, accordingly, retains the toothing formations  7  of the connecting rods  6  in engagement with the toothing formations  8  of the fixing body  9 . If the handwheel  14  is rotated through 90°, the cam  10  releases the connecting rods  6 , and the base plates  4 , with the boot-retaining units of the ski binding which are arranged thereon, can be displaced, though only a coupled displacement of the base plates  4  in opposite directions is possible if the racks  11  and the gearwheel  12  are provided, i.e., in the example of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , are arranged beneath the covering  13 . 
   In the case of the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the connecting rods  6  of the base plates  4  are arranged one above the other to the side of the longitudinal axis of the ski and are provided with toothing formations  7  which are located vertically one above the other and interact with the toothing formation  8  of a fixing body  9 , which can be moved in the transverse direction of the ski and interact with a cam  15 . 
   The fixing body  9  is guided such that it can be displaced in the transverse direction of the ski in a ski-mounted sliding guide  16  and is secured such that it cannot be moved in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The cam  15  has a bottom section which is mounted for rotation in a recess of the movable fixing body  9 ; the cam  15  also has a top part, which is eccentric to its bottom part and butts against those longitudinal sides of the connecting rods  6  which are remote from the toothing formations  7  thereof. 
   If the cam  15  is rotated through 90° in the counterclockwise direction from its position which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the displaceable fixing body  9  in  FIG. 7  is displaced upward relative to the connecting rods  6 , with the result that the toothing formation  8  of the fixing body  9  engages in the toothing formations  7  of the connecting rods and fixes the latter in the longitudinal direction of the ski relative to the sliding guide  16 . 
   In order to ensure that the toothing formation  8  of the fixing body  9 , which can be moved in the transverse direction of the ski, moves away from the toothing formation  7  of the connecting rods  6  in that position of the cam  15  which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , it is possible to provide a spring (not illustrated) which tries to push the movable fixing body  9  upward in FIG.  7 . 
   The embodiment of  FIG. 9  differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in particular, in that a cam  18  is mounted for rotation in a ski-mounted bearing (not illustrated specifically) and interacts, by way of its cam part, with a guide slot  19  formed in the moveable fixing body  9 . In addition, the connecting rods  6 , within the channel  5 , are guided, on their longitudinal borders which are remote from their toothing formations  7 , on guide elements such that they can only be moved in the longitudinal direction of the ski, but not in the transverse direction of the ski. 
   In one position, the cam  18  interacts with a region  19 ′ of the guide slut  19  such that the moveable fixing body  9  is laterally moveable in a linear path and is retained in a position, or as brought into a position by lateral movement, in which the toothing formation  8  of the fixing body  9  has been disengaged from the toothing formations  7  of the connecting rods  6 . In a position rotated through 90° in the clockwise direction, the cam  18  interacts with a section  19 ″ of the guide slot  19  such that the moveable fixing body  9  is retained in a position, or is moved into a position, in which the toothing formation  8  of the fixing body  9  engages in the toothing formations  7  of the connecting rods  6  and the latter are secured in the longitudinal direction of the ski. 
   In contrast to the embodiment which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and in the situation wherein the fixing body  9  is non-movable and the connecting rods  6  can be moved in the transverse direction of the ski by way of their toothing formations  7 , it is also conceivable, in principle, to have an embodiment in which the connecting rods  6  are guided such that they cannot be moved in the transverse direction of the ski and the fixing device  21  provided is one which, according to  FIG. 10 , has two fixing bodies  23 ′ and  23 ″ which can be moved in the transverse direction of the ski in a ski-mounted sliding guide  22 . By virtue of a cam (not illustrated), which is mounted for rotation in the sliding guide  22  and has cam parts which interact with guide slots in the fixing bodies  23 ′ and  23 ″, it is then possible for the fixing bodies  23 ′ and  23 ″, by way of their toothing formations  8 , to be simultaneously disengaged from the toothing formations  7  of the connecting rods  6  or, for the purpose of fixing the connecting rods  6 , engaged in the toothing formations  7  thereof.