Patent Publication Number: US-7909352-B2

Title: Article including a button which is movable between at least two positions

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 06 11119, filed on Dec. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of sports articles including a button that is movable between at least two positions. 
     The invention more particularly relates to a device for retaining an article of footwear onto a sports apparatus or a device for tightening a boot, provided with a button. 
     2. Description of Background and Other Information 
     Articles of the aforementioned type are used for the practice of various sports, such as gliding, rolling, and walking sports. More particularly, such sports include snow skiing, water-skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, roller-skating, and the like. 
     In the case of a device for retaining a boot on a gliding board, such as a binding for a cross-country ski, a button that is movable between at least two positions allows the boot to be released. This means that an actuation of the button allows the boot to separate from the device. 
     It is known that the button can be acted upon by pressing, especially against the action of an elastic mechanism, such as a spring. Such pressing can be carried out by hand or with a pole, such as a ski pole. In such a case, the skier moves one end of the pole toward the binding, contacts the button, and then presses to release the boot. This technique allows the skier to maintain an orthostatic position, which is more comfortable than bending the body. Thus, the pole extends the arm to allow the boot to be removed more comfortably. 
     However, despite the comfort of the skier, actuating the button by means of a pole presents certain drawbacks. 
     For example, the end of the pole is provided with a basket to allow the skier to be supported on the snow. The basket tends to hide the tip of the pole from the skier&#39;s sight. Therefore, because the skier cannot see whether he/she is correctly positioning the tip of the pole, the skier tends to fumble with the binding, delaying actuation of the button. The operation of the binding, therefore, tends to be inefficient. Frequently, the skier is required to press the button numerous times before finally managing to actuate it. In addition to wasting time, the action of the pole can damage other parts of the device, for example by scratching it, or it can alter the user&#39;s balance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention facilitates movement of the tip of the pole on the button of a device for retaining a boot on a sports apparatus, such as a binding for a cross-country ski, thereby improving the efficiency of the device. 
     The same type of drawback mentioned above exists in alpine skiing, whereby the lever of the rear binding, or heel piece, is unlocked by means of a ski pole. 
     Therefore, in a more general manner, the invention improves the actuation of a button or lever of a sports article by means of an external member. 
     To this end, the invention provides an article adapted to be associated to a sports apparatus, the article including a control mechanism that is movable between at least a locking position and an unlocking position. 
     A control mechanism according to the invention includes an article having an arrangement to attract an actuating member separate from the article. 
     The attraction arrangement biases the separate member, such as a pole, toward the control mechanism, such as a button or a lever. Consequently, the user does not need to fumble to position the tip of the pole on the button or lever. The tip of the pole is attracted to its position on the control mechanism. This positioning is carried out with a minimum assistance from the user, which means that positioning the top of the pole is done rapidly and directly. The ease and rapidity of action are two of the resulting advantages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, in reference to the annexed drawings showing, by means of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be implemented, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a device for retaining a boot on a ski, according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the retaining device on the ski according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial side view of the device of  FIG. 2 , in a position for retaining the boot; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-section of the device along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , in a position for retaining the boot; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-section of the device similar to  FIG. 4 , for a first mode for releasing the boot; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-section of the device similar to  FIG. 4 , for a second mode for releasing the boot; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a piece forming a button of the device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the piece according to  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial longitudinal cross-section, similar to that of  FIG. 4 . for a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 4  or  9 , for a third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although the two first embodiments described hereinafter relate to a device for retaining a boot on a cross-country ski, i.e., a cross-country ski binding, they also apply to other articles such as mentioned above. 
     The first embodiment is schematically shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a boot  1  is temporarily retained on an apparatus  2  by means of a retaining device or binding  3 . The apparatus  2  is a cross-country ski, for example, the device  3  being a cross-country ski binding. 
     In a known manner, the boot  1  includes a sole  4  and an upper  5 . 
     By way of example, the boot  1  includes a two-part connection to the binding  3 . 
     Such connection includes one or two bars, pins, or rods,  6 ,  7 , as in the embodiment shown, which are arranged in the sole  4  so as to be flush with the latter, or at least not projecting downwardly beyond the lowermost sole surface. The rods  6 ,  7 , are known to one having ordinary skill in the art, examples being disclosed in patent documents EP 913 102; EP 913 103, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,610, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,610 being herein incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety for this purpose. The two rods here are two cylindrical rotational rods arranged across a longitudinal groove housed in the sole, although such rods could, instead, be connection members having a different shape. The front rod  6  is located toward the front end  8  of the sole, for example, and the rear rod  7  is rearwardly offset so as to be arranged in the area of or at the front of a zone of the boot corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal flexion zone of the user&#39;s foot. This arrangement of the rods  6 ,  7  is advantageous in cross-country skiing because, with a boot provided with a flexible sole, the boot can thereby be maintained in a flexed position that corresponds to the flexed position of the foot. 
     Alternatively, the invention could be implemented with a connection to the binding having a different geometry or configuration, such as, for example, rods having non-circular cross-sections, hooks, projections or fastening grooves formed directly in the sole, or the like. As described above, the invention could be implemented with merely one rod or other connection member. 
     The retaining device  3 , shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, includes a baseplate  15 , which extends along a longitudinal direction L, from the front end  16  to the rear end  17 , transversely from a first edge  18  to a second edge  19 , and height-wise from a support surface  20  to a receiving surface  21 . The support surface  20  is adapted to cover the ski  2 , directly or indirectly. In the same context, the receiving surface  21  is adapted to receive the sole  4  of the boot. 
     To this end, the baseplate  15  carries a reversible locking mechanism  25  provided to retain the front rod  6  of the boot, an elastic return mechanism  26  provided to counter the movement of the rear rod  7  away from the baseplate  15 , as well as a rib  27  for guiding the sole  4 . 
     The locking mechanism  25  is well-known to one having ordinary skill in the art, for example, from the patent documents FR 2 882 658 and US 2006/0197312, the disclosure of the latter of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. Therefore, the mode of operation of the locking mechanism  25  is only summarized herein. 
     As shown particularly in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the locking mechanism  25  includes a housing  28  for receiving a movable piece or slide  29  and spring  30 , or other elastic expedient. The spring  30  can be a compression spring, for example. An area of the housing  28  forms a fixed jaw  31 , whereas an extension of the slide  29  forms a movable jaw  32 . The spring  30  constantly biases the movable jaw  32  toward the fixed jaw  31 . Thereby, the front rod  6  of the boot, shown only for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, is retained by the locking mechanism  25 . 
     The boot  1  can be released by means of a voluntary action performed by the user. To this end, the mechanism  25  includes a lever  38  pivoted, or otherwise articulated, with respect to the housing  28  about a swivel pin  39  having a transverse axis  40 , as well as a control member or button  41  that connects the lever  38  to the slide  29 . A connection including, for example, a swivel pin  42  extending along a transverse axis  43 , connects the button  41  to the lever  38 . 
     This swivel pin extends through a hole of the button  41  along the axis  43  and cooperates with a slot  44  of the lever  38 . In addition, another connection, which includes, for example, a swivel pin  45  with a transverse axis  46 , connects the button  41  to the slide  29 . The lever  38  and the button  41  control the locking and the unlocking of the retaining device. 
     The locking mechanism  25  operates in a manner schematically shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In fact, the user can unlock the mechanism  25  by means of either one of two modes of operation. 
     The first mode, illustrated by  FIG. 5 , involves manually biasing the lever  38  in traction, i.e., pulling upwardly on the lever  38 . Such biasing shown schematically by the arrow F 1 , acts in a direction along which the lever  38  moves away from the receiving surface  21  of the device. The biasing causes the lever  38  to rotate about the axis  40  and causes the button  41  to be raised and moved forward. Such movement of the button drives the slide  29  toward the front  16  against the action of the elastic spring  30  in this embodiment. This moves the jaws  31 ,  32  away from one another, i.e., the jaws are moved apart, whereby the front rod  6  of the boot can then be disengaged, i.e., released from the locking mechanism  25 . 
     According to the first embodiment of the invention, the button  41  can be regarded as an intermediary between the lever  38  and the slide  29 . 
     When the traction force in the direction F 1  is stopped, the slide, the button, and the lever each return to a folded position, for which the mechanism  25  retains the rod  6 . 
     The second mode of operation according to  FIG. 6  involves biasing the button  41  directly in compression. This application of force, shown schematically by the arrow F 2 , acts downwardly, i.e., in a direction by which the button  41  is moved closer to the receiving surface  21 . The biasing lowers the button  41  and moves it forward. This effect is obtained by sliding the swivel pin  42  in the slot  44 . The lever  38  remains immobile, but the slide  29  moves again against the action of the spring  30 . The jaws  31 ,  32  move away from one another. The mechanism  25  is opened. 
     The biasing in compression F 2  can be carried out with a member separate from the device  3 . This member is a ski pole  50 , for example, which includes a metallic tip or nib  51  provided to penetrate into the ice and snow, as well as a basket  52  adapted to provide support on the snow. The basket widens the surface area of the tip  51  to provide the pole with sufficient support surface. 
     To receive the tip  51  of the pole, the button  41  has a receiving zone  53 , which is made in the form of a cavity  54 , i.e., a depression or open recess, for example, arranged in the button. However, the receiving zone  53  could also have any appropriate structure, such as a raised portion projecting with respect to the button  41 . 
     According to the first embodiment of the invention, the user brings the tip  51  of the pole to the receiving zone  53 , in this case the recess  54 , when he wants to actuate the button  41  directly. This maneuver is hindered by the basket  52 , which hides the button  41  from the user&#39;s sight. 
     For this reason, the invention provides for the button  41  to include an arrangement to attract a separate actuating member, i.e., such as a pole  50 . 
     The attraction arrangement biases the tip  51  of the pole toward the receiving zone  53  of the button. In this way, the tip naturally moves toward the button  41 , even though it is hidden from the user&#39;s sight by the basket  52 . The user only has to move the tip of the pole toward the mechanism  25 , while avoiding fumbling that is characteristic of known bindings. As contrasted with conventional bindings, the binding of the invention allows the user to achieve the release of the boot easily and quickly. 
     According to the first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6  as well as in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the attraction arrangement includes a magnet  60  capable of attracting the metallic tip  51  of the pole or a metallic piece adapted to attract a magnet housed inside the tip or other portion of the pole. This means that the button  41  includes a magnet  60  or a piece capable of attracting a magnet. 
     The magnet  60  is associated with the button  41 , as can be better understood by means of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Generally speaking, the button  41  extends lengthwise from a front end  61  to a rear end  62 , widthwise between a first lateral edge  63  and a second lateral edge  64 , and thickness-wise between an inner surface  65  and an outer surface  66 . 
     The inner surface  65  is turned toward the housing  28  of the locking mechanism  25 . The outer surface  66  is turned outward from the mechanism  25  so as to be accessible to the ski pole or the skier. Therefore, the zone  53  for receiving the tip of the pole, in this case the recess  54 , is arranged on the outer surface  66 , the recess thereby constituting an outer recess. Further, as shown in  FIG. 4  in particular, at least in a locking position the outer recess  54  is recessed, front and rear, within the adjacent outermost surface of the control/locking mechanism—in this case the outermost adjacent surface of the lever  38 . 
     According to the first embodiment, the magnet  60  is associated with the button  41  on the side of the inner surface  65 , opposite the outer surface  66 . More precisely, the magnet  60  is housed in an inner recess  68  of the button, the recess  68  being open and opening out onto the side of the inner surface  65 . In other words, the recess  68  is outwardly closed. More generally, one could say that the magnet is located on the control mechanism  41 , i.e., on the button. The recess  68  has a bottom  69 , an inlet spaced upwardly from the bottom in  FIG. 8 , as well as a periphery  70 , generally cylindrical in  FIG. 8 , that connects the inlet to the bottom. 
     In a non-limiting manner, the inner recess  68  has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. By analogy, the magnet  60  also has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The magnet in this case is made in the form of a flat disk. The shapes of the inner recess  68  and magnet  60  complement one another, that is, they are provided such that the magnet becomes nested into the recess. 
     Therefore, the inner recess  68  has a diameter and a depth equal to or slightly greater than the diameter and thickness of the magnet  60 . 
     The magnet  60  and the button  41  are associated together by the insertion of the magnet into the inner recess  68 . A retaining arrangement maintains the magnet  60  in place in the inner recess  68 . This arrangement includes, for example, material extensions  75  originating from the inner surface  65  and bent over the inlet of the inner recess  68 . The extensions are bent back after the magnet  60  has been positioned. Thereby, the magnet is retained within the button  41 . In other words, the magnet  60  is set in the inner recess  68  of the button  41 . More particularly, according to an embodiment of the invention in which the button  41  of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is a molded plastic part, the extensions  75  can be prongs which are sufficiently flexible to allow the magnet  60  to bend them back as the magnet is being inserted within the inner recess  68  and then snap back over the magnet as the magnet is fully received in the inner recess  68 . 
     Alternatively, other arrangements can be provided as a magnet retaining arrangement. Such arrangements, for example, include gluing the magnet in place in the inner recess  68 , or enclosing it with a cap or any equivalent, or the like. 
     A wall  76  of the button  41  separates the magnet  60  from the tip  51  of the pole when the tip is in the open outer recess  54 . This is shown in  FIG. 6 . In fact, the wall  76  demarcates the bottom  69  of the inner recess  68 , as well as the bottom of the outer recess  54 . As a result, the action of the magnet  60  is carried out through the wall  76 , that is, indirectly. Alternatively, the magnet could be positioned in the outer recess  54 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the exemplary embodiment, e.g., the lengthwise extent of the outer recess  54  of the control member/button  41 , within which the tip  51  of the pole is received, is greater than the lengthwise dimension of the magnet  60 , i.e., the diameter of the cylindrical magnet  60 . This relationship, i.e., a relatively elongated outer receiving surface compared to the size of the magnet, inherently, facilitates placement of the ski tip  51 .  FIG. 6  also shows the tip  51  of the pole engaged with a front end of the outer recess  54  spaced forwardly of the magnet  60 . In addition, the rear end of the outer recess is spaced rearwardly of the magnet. 
     The button  41  includes one or several materials that enable a magnetic field to pass through. For example, the button  41  can be a piece made of plastic material, such as polyurethane, polyamide, or any equivalent material. According to the first embodiment, the button  41  is a unitary piece, which facilitates making the rear end  62  in two parts or arms  77 ,  78 . The arms  77 ,  78  demarcate openings  79 ,  80  for the swivel pin  45  having an axis  46 . The arms  77 ,  78  extend on respective opposite sides of the slide  29  and receive the spring  30  therebetween. The front end  61  demarcates an opening  81  for the swivel pin  42  extending along axis  43 . Therefore, the magnet  60  is housed between the swivel pins  42 ,  45 . 
     Additional embodiments of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . For reasons of convenience, only the elements necessary to the understanding are shown. 
     For the second embodiment, according to  FIG. 9 , the elements are designated by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, increased by one hundred. It includes a ski  102 , a retaining device  103 , a locking mechanism  125 , a housing  128 , a slide  129 , a spring  130 , a fixed jaw  131 , a movable jaw  132 , and a button  141  with an outer recess  154 . A magnet  160  is housed in the button  141 . The mode of operation for opening the mechanism  125  by means of a pole requires, in this case also, pressing on the outer recess  154 . 
     A particular difference between the first and the second embodiments is the lack of a traction lever. Therefore, unlocking of the binding is achieved only by actuating the button  141 . In other words, the locking mechanism  125 , according to the second embodiment, can be used according to a single mode of operation. The button  141  is the only element which controls the unlocking of the binding. 
     The elements of a third embodiment, according to  FIG. 10 , are referred to with the same numerals as those of the first embodiment increased by two hundred. Included are a ski  202  and a heelpiece  203 , the latter being, in fact, part of the retaining device, or binding, provided to removably retain the rear of a boot, i.e., such as the heel, onto an alpine ski. Therefore, the heelpiece  203  includes a locking mechanism  225 , a movable jaw  232  capable of cooperating with the boot sole, and a control arrangement or lever  241  with outer recess  254 . A magnet  260  is housed in the lever  241 . The mode of operation for opening the mechanism  225  by means of a pole can, in this case also, be carried out with a pressure applied to the outer recess  254 , so as to pivot the lever  241  downward. 
     In a general manner, the invention is implemented from materials and according to implementation techniques known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
     The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments hereinabove described, and includes all the technical equivalents within the scope of the claims, which follow. 
     In particular, the magnet and its receiving recess can have any appropriate form. 
     Several magnets can be provided on the locking mechanism, and/or the magnet can be arranged on the ski pole as previously described, which means that the magnet is located in the actuating member. 
     Other modes for positioning the magnet can be provided, particularly so as to have a direct contact surface with the tip of the pole. 
     The article can be something other than a retaining device or part of a device. It can be, for example, a mounting wedge.