Patent Publication Number: US-4148502-A

Title: Cross-country ski binding

Description:
Further details of the invention will be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, which shows illustrative embodiments of a cross-country ski binding according to the invention and of a skiing boot designed for use with that binding. 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the toe iron of the cross-country ski binding and the skiing boot, which is only diagrammatically indicated. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II in FIG. 1 with the boot inserted. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation showing the toe iron viewed from the right hand side, with the skiing boot inserted and the handle cut off. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevation showing the toe iron viewed, from the left hand side also with the boot inserted. 
    
    
     The toe iron 1 of the cross-country binding according to the invention converges in a top plan view toward the tip of the ski and near its forward end has a constriction 2. A clamping member 3 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski over said constriction. The toe iron 1 has a soleplate 4, which has holes 5, which serve to receive screws for fixing the soleplate to the ski 6. A portion 9 projecting from the sole of a cross-country skiing boot is received between upturned longitudinal edge portions 7, 8 of the soleplate 4. The side edge of the portion 9 which projects from the sole conforms to the side of the toe iron 1 and has a corresponding constriction or throat, which ensures that the cross-country skiing boot 10 which has been introduced into the toe iron from above will be fixed in the longitudinal direction of the ski. 
     The clamping member 3 consists of resilient material and at one end is pivoted in an aperture 11 provided in the upturned longitudinal edge portion 8. The other end of the clamping member 3 forms a curved handle 12 and is adapted to be releasably locked in a recess 13, which is formed in the longitudinal edge portion 7 and defines a hook 14, which is downwardly open. 
     The projecting portion 9 has a curved top, i.e., it is arcuate or cambered in a sectional plane that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski. To facilitate the tightening of the clamping member 3, this curvature is non-symmetrical and its apex is near the aperture 11 in which the clamping member is pivoted. 
     The clamping member 3 has an offset portion 15, which prevents a rotation of the clamping member about its axis in its clamping position. Instead of the offset portion shown in the drawing, the clamping member may be provided for the same purpose with any desired portion which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the ski when the clamping member is in clamping position, or with a flat portion. In the present case the clamping member is made from a length of spring wire. Also, the pivoted clamping member 3 may be replaced by other retaining means, which are attached to the toe iron and when the binding is closed engage the portion 9 which projects from the sole so that said portion cannot lift from the toe iron. 
     As has been mentioned hereinbefore as an advantage of the invention, the skier steps into the toe iron 1 from above when the clamping member 3 has been swung open. The clamping member 3 is then swung down to its clamping position and is thus subjected to a progressively increasing stress, and is finally caused to be releasably locked in the recess 13. The binding has now been closed and retains the sole of the skiing boot. A slipping of the projecting portion 9 under the clamping member 3 may be prevented by various means, e.g., by the provision of a laterally enlarged portion 9A or of a vertically enlarged portion of the projecting portion in front of the constriction 2 so that the projecting portion can bear against the inwardly curved portions of the longitudinal edge portions 7, 8 or, in case of a vertically enlarged portion, against the clamping member 3. 
     Because the sole of the skiing boot and possibly also the upper thereof is made from plastics material by injection molding or casting or other operations, the portion 9 which projects from the sole can easily be provided in any desired shape which is suitable for the desired purpose. 
     It will be understood that various modifications in design may be adapted within the scope of the invention. For instance, the curvature provided for the top of the portion 9 which projects from the sole may alternatively or additionally be provided on the clamping member 3. If the portion 9 which projects from the sole is sufficiently compressible, the clamping member 4 may be rigid or may have only a small resiliency.