Patent Publication Number: US-2004056449-A1

Title: Binding device with front unfastening

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/054,913, filed on Jan. 25, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety and the priority of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.  
     [0002] This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French patent application No. 01.01603, filed on Feb. 2, 2001, and French patent application No. 02.10185, filed on Aug. 8, 2002, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0004] The invention relates to a device for binding a boot to a sports article.  
       [0005] More particularly, the invention can be applied to devices for binding a boot to a ski. It can be implemented particularly in the construction of bindings for cross-country skiing, alpine ski touring, mountain ski touring, and telemark skiing. It can also be implemented in the construction of bindings for ice skates, roller skates, and snowshoes.  
       [0006] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information  
       [0007] An example of a binding of the aforementioned type is described in patent publication WO 00/13755, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, to which reference will be made as necessary for an overall understanding of the functioning of such a binding. Additionally for this purpose, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761 is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. Another example of a binding of the aforementioned type, designed more specifically for alpine ski touring and telemark skiing, is described in European patent publication EP-A1-890 379.  
       [0008] A principle of these devices is to provide for a binding of the boot onto the ski, which is perfectly rigid in torsion, but which allows the heel of the boot to be free to be raised. The device described in the document WO 00/13755 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761 is an improvement to the binding systems currently used, for example, in cross-country skiing or ski touring, in which the boot is journalled by its front end about an axis that is transverse with respect to the ski. Indeed, in the improvement the movement of the foot with respect to the ski, during the lifting of the heel, is a movement that is no longer a mere rotation but which is as close as possible to a natural rolling movement of the foot.  
       [0009] The invention can also be implemented within the scope of a binding device of the type such as those described in the document WO 96/37269 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 to which reference will be made as necessary for an overall understanding of the functioning of such a binding. Additionally for this purpose, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.  
       [0010] In this type of binding device, the boot is no longer fastened to the sports article by one or several stationary points, but it is fastened (and affixed) to a linkage/connecting member that can be displaced with respect to the sports article. This displacement can be a mere rotation; however, in the previously cited examples, it is rather a complex displacement that combines rotational as well as translational movements.  
       [0011] These types of bindings can have elastic return arrangements that return the linkage member to a low position corresponding, for example, to the position it occupies when the boot to which it is connected takes support at its front and rear on the sports article. Such elastic return arrangements are very useful, for example, when the binding device is adapted to cross-country skiing, telemark skiing or ski touring, or even for ice skating or roller skating.  
       [0012] Documents WO 00/13755, WO 96/37269, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 do not describe in specificity the manner by which the boot is adapted to be fastened to the linkage member.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] An object of the invention is to provide for the fastening and unfastening of a boot with respect to a linkage member, or connecting member, of a binding device that encompasses those of the aforementioned types. If one wants the boot to be detachable from the sports article, the fastening and unfastening maneuvers must be as simple as possible for the user. The fastening mechanism must therefore be simple, reliable, lightweight and, in particular, it must have a minimum number of elements to remain compact and inexpensive to produce.  
       [0014] To this end, the invention proposes a device for binding a boot to a sports article, the device being a type that has a member for linking to the boot, such member being capable of being displaced with respect to the sports article between a low position and a high position, wherein, for fastening the boot, the linkage member has a front retaining system that cooperates with a front anchor of the boot, and a rear retaining system that cooperates with a rear anchor, whereby the front retaining system can be opened to allow the unfastening of the boot from the binding device.  
       [0015] The invention encompasses particular embodiments in which the boot has a flexible sole. The invention also encompasses embodiments in which the rear anchor of the boot is positioned in the area of, or in front of, the metatarso-phalangeal bending zone of the boot sole.  
       [0016] Still further according to the invention, the connection for effecting the displacement of the connecting/linking member between high and low positions can be of the type that effects pivotal movement about an axis that is stationary relative to the sports article. The connection according to the invention can include one or more connecting rods for connecting the connecting/linking member to the sports article. Further, the invention encompasses a connection whereby the connecting/linking member effects a rolling movement relative to the sports article. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from an understanding of the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view along a longitudinal and vertical plane, of a binding device according to the teachings of the invention before fastening the boot;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, which shows a boot being fastened to the device;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the boot is fastened to the device;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 in which the boot is being unfastened.  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is a top view of a binding device according to a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,913;  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5, the device being associated with a sports apparatus and a boot;  
     [0024]FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the automatic front locking member along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5;  
     [0025]FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic cross-sectional views along a longitudinal and vertical plane of a binding device according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761 on which the improvement according to the invention can be implemented, the figures showing the linkage element of the binding respectively in its low position and in its high position, but the improvement according to the invention not being shown; and  
     [0026]FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic cross-sectional views along a longitudinal and vertical plane of a binding device according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 on which the improvement according to the invention can be implemented, the figures showing the linkage element of the binding respectively in its low position and in its high position, but the improvement according to the invention not being shown. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0027] The binding device  10  shown schematically in FIGS.  1 - 4  has a base  12  that is adapted to be fixed to a sports article (such as a ski, skate, or snowshoe), but which could also be directly integrated therewith. The binding device  10  also has a linkage member  14  (also referred to as a connecting member or a linking member) on which a boot  11  is adapted to be fastened and unfastened.  
     [0028] This fastening, which is encompassed by the invention, is preferably a “step-in” type system in which the fastening of the boot on the linkage member  14  occurs automatically, by simple contact between the two. The unfastening requires a manual action by the user.  
     [0029] Examples described below (with reference to FIGS.  8 - 11 ) are directed to the manner by which the linkage member  14  can be connected to the base  12 , although such connection is not intended to be limiting to the invention. As a matter of fact, the invention can be implemented with various types of mechanisms in which the linkage member  14  is movable with respect to the base  12 . In this manner, this linkage member  14  can be connected to the base by a mere articulation, as will be described with reference to FIGS.  5  to  7 , or by a more complex mechanism, such as those described in the documents previously cited and which have, for example, at least one connecting rod connecting the linkage member  14  to the base  12 . In one of these mechanisms, which is illustrated here in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 and which is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, the linkage member  130  takes support on the sports article by a convex surface  134 , and when the linkage member  130  is displaced between its high and low positions, it effects a rolling movement that slides with respect to the sports article  100 . One can also see on these figures that the linkage member  130  is linked to the a base member  111  of the device by a connecting rod  122 , and that the linkage member  130  is biased by a rubber band  140  for elastically returning it to its low position. In another of these mechanisms, which is illustrated here in FIG. 10 and in FIG. 11, and which is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111, the linkage member  203  is linked to the sports article  214  (here an ice-skate) by a number of connecting rods  216 ,  217 ,  218 ,  219 . The linkage member is also equipped with means  215  for elastically returning it to its low position.  
     [0030] In the example shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the boot  11  has a flexible sole, allowing the sole to bend/flex, having two anchoring elements  31 ,  32 , or anchors, arranged in the sole so as to be flush with the lower surface thereof or, at least, so as not to extend below the lowermost surface of the sole. Anchoring elements  31 ,  32  of this type are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,610, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and in European patent publications EP-A-913 102 and EP-A-913 103, to which reference will be made heretofore, as necessary, for more details. Thus, here there are two cylindrical anchors, or pins, positioned across a longitudinal groove provided in the lower surface of the sole. The front pin  31  is, for example, located in the area of the front end of the sole, and the rear pin  32  is offset toward the rear by approximately 50 millimeters (mm). Nevertheless, the invention could be implemented with anchoring elements having a different geometry. Preferably, the rear anchoring pin is located behind the front anchoring pin, but it is located in the area of or in front of a metatarso-phalangeal bending zone of the boot, i.e., approximately in the front third of the sole. Consequently, the fastening of the boot on the linkage member  14  maintains the flexibility of the boot sole. However, this arrangement does not come without additional constraints for the design of the fastening system, particularly for the rear retaining system.  
     [0031] The linkage member  14  has, at its front end, a first retaining system that, in this case, includes an automatic front latch  34 , and which is provided to receive the front cylindrical pin  31  of the boot.  
     [0032] According to this example, the automatic front latch  34  has a stationary jaw  13  that is affixed to the front end of the linkage member  14 , and which defines, at its upper portion, a groove  16  that is upwardly open, and a movable jaw  15  that is articulated about a transverse axis  18  directly on the stationary jaw  13 , or on the linkage member  14 . The movable jaw  15  is provided with an elastic return mechanism, such as a torsion spring  18 ′ positioned around the axis  18 , that pushes the jaw  15  back to the closing position shown in FIG. 1, in which the two jaws  13 ,  15  define a housing having a cross-section corresponding to that of the front transverse pin  31  of the boot  11 . The movable jaw  15  has an inclined ramp  17  that is arranged such that, when the pin  31  exerts a substantially vertical force on the ramp  17 , from the top downward, it causes a retraction by rocking the movable jaw  15  about the axis  18  toward an open position in which it allows access to the groove  16 . When the pin  31  has penetrated into the groove  16 , the mechanism for returning the movable jaw  15  returns the latter to its closing position. The pin  31  is then confined in the housing defined by the front latch  34 . Due to their rotating cylindrical sections, the pin  31  and the front latch  34  then allows a rotation of the boot  11  with respect to the linkage member  14  about the transverse axis of the pin  31 . Due to the geometry of the elements, particularly that of the movable jaw  15 , the front pin  31 , once engaged in the latch, cannot cause the opening of the latch.  
     [0033] The linkage member  14  also has a rear retaining system  23  provided with a hook that is mounted to slide longitudinally on the linkage member  14  between an advanced closing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a pushed back open position. The hook is returned to the front towards its closing position by a spring  22 , for example, a compression spring. The hook of the rear retaining system  23  demarcates a groove  38  that is forwardly open whereas its upper surface has a ramp  40  that is inclined downwardly and forwardly.  
     [0034] At rest, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring  22  pushes the hook of the rear retaining system  23  to take support toward the front against an abutment surface  25  of the linkage member  14 . This abutment surface  25  is positioned such that, when the front pin  31  of the boot  11  is latched in the front latch  34 , the rear pin  32  is exactly perpendicular to the inclined ramp  40  of the rear retaining system  23  (see FIG. 2). Consequently, when the rear pin  32  is lowered vertically downwardly, by pivoting about the front pin  31 , the rear pin  32  takes support against the inclined surface  40  and causes the backward movement of the rear hook of the rear retaining system  23  with respect to the linkage member  14  by compressing the spring  22  until the hook is completely withdrawn. The rear pin  32  is then facing the groove  38  and the hook of the rear retaining system  23  can once again advance under the action of the return spring  22  until the rear pin  32  is housed in the groove  38 . The rear pin  32  can then no longer move upwardly with respect to the linkage member  14 .  
     [0035] Preferably, the rear pin  32  is then blocked longitudinally toward the rear not only by the back of the groove  38  of the hook of the retaining system  23 , but also by a blocking surface (not shown) provided on the linkage member  14 . In this manner, the longitudinal blocking toward the rear occurs by a mechanical abutment, independent of the force of the spring  22 . In this position, with the two pins  31 ,  32  being blocked, the boot  11  is completely fastened to the linkage member  14 , as can be seen in FIG. 3.  
     [0036] According to the teachings of the invention, the unfastening of the boot occurs along a movement that, in contrast to the norm, is not a mere reverse movement of the movement for putting on the boot.  
     [0037] As a matter of fact, one can see that the movable jaw  15  of the front latch is capable of being tilted towards its opening position by a mere movement of support on an unlatching member  36  integrated with the movable jaw  15 . Advantageously, this unlatching, or actuating, member  36  is arranged outside of the form of the boot, for example, toward the front, which allows it to be very easily accessible. Thus, the unlatching member  36  can be manipulated, for example, by means of a ski pole without the user having to bend down.  
     [0038] Once the front latch  34  is open, the user can lift the front end of his/her boot to disengage the front anchoring pin  31  from the groove  16  (a movement indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4). Once the front pin  31  is disengaged, the user can very easily disengage the rear pin  32  from the hook of the rear retaining system  23  by merely advancing the boot forwardly (a movement indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 4) without having to manipulate the rear retaining system  23 . As a matter of fact, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the rear hook of the rear retaining system  23  takes support against the abutment surface  25  and cannot further advance forwardly. The rear retaining system that is in use under the boot  11 , therefore, has no means for opening.  
     [0039] This system for fastening the boot is particularly simple and uses a limited number of elements. It is very compact while being very easy to use when putting the boot on as well as when taking the boot off.  
     [0040] One skilled in the art can break down the invention by creating, only using his/her own general knowledge, alternative embodiments that easily result from the system described hereinabove.  
     [0041] In this manner, one can provide for the front latch to have a movable jaw that is slidable rather than pivotal and/or for the rear hook to be pivotal rather than slidable. Likewise, one can provide for the front latch to be a manual latch that has no elastic return mechanism, instead of being automatic as described.  
     [0042] The elastic return mechanism (such as the spring  22 ) can possibly be designed to act both on the front latch as well as on the front retaining system. Similarly, the elastic return mechanism of the front and/or rear retaining systems can be constituted by means for returning the linkage member to its low position.  
     [0043] According to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.  5  to  7 , the binding device, is adapted to be inserted between a boot  11  and a sports apparatus  3 , which is for example the deck of a snowshoe. As shown in these figures, this binding occurs by means of a front transverse anchor  4 , shown as a pin or rod, located in the area of the sole  5  of the boot  11 .  
     [0044] The front transverse anchor  4  is adapted to cooperate with corresponding retaining mechanism  6 A affixed to a front zone of a linkage element or support plate  7 A of the apparatus  3 . The support plate  7 A is connected to the deck  3  by a transverse axis  80 A, so that the support plate  7 A is movable with respect to the sports apparatus between a low position (shown at FIG. 6) and a high position (not shown) by a pivotal movement around the stationary transverse axle  80 A. Furthermore, the binding is also carried out by a rear retaining system  8 A for retaining a rear anchor part  24 A of the heel zone of the boot  11 .  
     [0045] The retaining mechanism  8 A is affixed to a slide  10 A mounted freely in a rectilinear guide  11 A of the plate  7 A so that it can be adjusted into a position relative to the front of the boot  11 .  
     [0046] The front retaining system  6 A and the rear retaining system  8 A are constituted by positive locking members  12 A,  40 A with automatic snap engagement, which can be actuated without manual intervention by mere pressure of the boot  11  on the front, then on the rear, along substantially vertical downward movements F 1 , F 2 , and consequently in a substantially horizontal position of the boot  11 .  
     [0047] The front retaining system  12 A for automatic locking of the boot  2 , comprises a fixed jaw  13 A affixed to the front end of the plate  7 A and defines, at its upper portion, a first groove portion  14   a  open upwardly, and by a movable jaw or rocker  15 A journalled  16 A at the end of the plate  7 A in the vicinity of the fixed jaw  13 A and defining, at an upper inner portion, a second groove portion  17 A open downwardly and complementary to the first  14 A so as to define a cross-section corresponding to that of the front anchor  4  adapted to be housed therein after pushing back the movable jaw  15 A against an elastic return member  20 A that is specific thereto.  
     [0048] Advantageously, the fixed jaw is made as a single piece with the plate  3 , i.e., the fixed jaw and plate are made unitary, during a common molding operation of a plastic material.  
     [0049] The groove portion  14 A of the fixed jaw  13 A and the complementary groove portion  17 A of the movable jaw  15 A have outer engagement ramps  18 A and  19 A defining therebetween a V in which the transverse rod/pin  4  is positioned prior to its snap engagement.  
     [0050] Furthermore, the rocker  15 A has a nose  15   a  directed forwardly in a direction opposite that of the energy lug  20 A in relation to the journal axle  16 A, so as to enable its rocking about this axis thereof during an unlocking maneuver.  
     [0051] According to this same second example, the rear retaining system  8 A for automatic locking of the boot  11  is constituted by a rigid front spoiler  23 A oriented downwardly and forwardly, projectingly raised on the plate  7 A and movably affixed to the slide  10  adapted to slide freely in the rectilinear guide  11 A of the plate  7 A along a rear direction F 3  until snap engagement of the front spoiler  23 A on an edge  24 A of the heel zone of the boot  11  forming a rear anchor, occurring under the action, along a front direction F 4 , of an elastic return member  25 A which is specific thereto and distinct from the elastic return member  20 A of the front locking member  12 A.  
     [0052] According to this same embodiment, the slide  10 A includes an inner part or strip  26 A with a width corresponding substantially to a lower inner groove  27 A of the plate  7 A forming the rectilinear guide  11 , on the one hand, and of an outer part or back  28 A perpendicularly extending the front spoiler  23 A forwardly and taking support on the upper plane  29 A of the plate  7 A, the strip  26 A and back  28 A constituting the slide  10 A being joined together by an assembly mechanism  30 A.  
     [0053] According to a particular characteristic of the front spoiler  23 A, the latter has on its upper portion a boot insertion slope  31 A directed forward and downward.  
     [0054] Furthermore, the front spoiler  23 A is affixed to the outer upper part or back  28 A of the slide  10 A by means of a perpendicular extension  32 A of the latter, on which the front spoiler  23 A is fixed by an assembly mechanism  33 A.  
     [0055] As seen particularly well in FIG. 8, the front spoiler  23 A and extension  32 A of the back  28 A of the slide  10 A on which it is fixed form an interface including complementary teeth  34 A enabling a height adjustment, so as to render the rear locking member  8 A adaptable to any boot height.  
     [0056] The elastic member  25 A for returning the slide  10 A and the front spoiler  23 A, which is affixed thereto, is constituted by a rubber band, perforated along its entire length with successive adjusting holes  35 A, one end hole of which cooperates with a pin  36 A obtained beneath the lower surface of the back  28 A of the slide  10 A, and one of the other holes of which, selected as a function of the length of the boot  2  and of the desired return force F 4 , cooperates with a fixed pin  37 A made on the upper surface  29 A of the plate  7 A.  
     [0057] Preferably, the pin  36 A for fastening the end of the rubber band  25 A, positioned beneath the back  28 A of the slide  10 A, is arranged in longitudinal alignment with another blind and threaded pin  38 A, also positioned beneath the lower surface of the back  28 A of-the slide  10 A, the latter being adapted to the fixing of the strip  26 A of the slide  10 A, so that the two pins  36 A and  37 A can constitute guides of the slide  10 A by displacement in a longitudinal slot  39 A of the plate  7 A through which they extend.  
     [0058] As a matter of fact, one can see that the movable jaw  15 A of the front retaining system  6 A is capable of being tilted towards its opening position by pushing downwards on an unlatching member  15   a  integrated with the movable jaw  15 A. Advantageously, this unlatching member, or actuating member,  15   a  is arranged outside of the form of the boot, for example, toward the front, which allows it to be very easily accessible. Thus, the unlatching member  15   a  can be manipulated, for example, by means of a ski pole without the user having to bend down.  
     [0059] Once the front retaining system is open, the user can lift the front end of his/her boot to disengage the front anchoring pin  4 . Once the front pin  4  is disengaged, the user can very easily disengage the rear part of the boot from the hook of the rear retaining system  23 A by merely advancing the boot forwardly without having to manipulate the rear retaining system  23 A.