Patent Publication Number: US-3880442-A

Title: Ski binding

Description:
United States Patent [1 1 Humbert 1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 SKI BINDING Jack M. Humbert, 205 S. Blake Rd. Opportunity, Wash. 99214 22 Filed: Aug. 8, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 386,734  
 [76] Inventor:  
 Primary E.\&#39;aminerM. Henson Wood. Jr. Assistant E.\aminerReinhard .l. Eisenzopf [57] ABSTRACT A safety or release-type binding for snow skis which will detach the ski from the boot or foot when stress of a particular magnitude or type is developed in the binding. The binding includes a pair of axially spaced toe and heel engaging components structurally independent of each other and fixedly secured to the ski along the upper surface thereof. Each component includes a stress-responsive release structure in the form of a helical spring directly engageable with a bootequipped foot to confine the same within the binding but effective to release the foot therefrom upon development of a stress in the binding in excess of a predetermined magnitude. The rear or heel-engaging component includes foot-size adjustment mechanism enabling the spacing between the two spring structures to be varied selectively to adjust the binding to fit various foot sizes, and it further includes foot-removal mechanism by means of which the rear or heel engaging spring structure can be displaced axially relative to the toe-engaging spring structure independently of the fo0tsize adjustment mechanism and without changing the adjustment thereof for convenience in intentionally removing the foot from the binding when desired.  
 17 Claims. 7 Drawing Figures SKI BINDING This invention relates to bindings for snow skis and the like. and it relates more particularly to a safety ski binding effective to detach the ski from the bootequipped foot when a stress of a particular type or mag nitude is developed in the binding.  
  Safety bindings for snow skis are generally well known and have been in extensive use for a great many years. Their function is to bind or secure the bootequipped feet of a skier to the skis during all normal and usual skiing manipulations. and to quickly release each ski from the associated foot whenever an abnormal condition of stress develops in the binding as. for example. whenever the skier experiences an awkward fall. For the most part. such safety bindings are heavy. awkward. and impede use of the skis principally by constraining the same against flexure along the camber or midsection ofthe ski. Perhaps more significant. however. is the failure of conventional bindings to perform the functions intended therefor. In this reference. the bindings tend to be adjusted either too loosely so that they do not maintain the skis secured to the feed during ordinary skiing procedures. or they are adjusted too tightly (perhaps as an overcompensation to loose fitting) and do not properly release, to protect the skier from injury.  
  It is accordingly a general object ofthe present invention to provide an improved safety ski binding that obviates many of the disadvantages and limitations incident to safety ski bindings heretofore known and which. at the same time. is relatively lightweight and both convenient and easy to use.  
  Additional objects. among others. of the present invention are in the provision of an improved ski binding of the character described in which the binding includes axially spaced components that are essentially independent structurally one from another and therefore do not inhibit flexibility of the associated ski; in which foot-size adjustment mechanism is included in the binding that is quick and easy to use and positive in its adjustment so as to enable the binding to be adjusted to fit various foot sizes; in which the binding when once adjusted to the proper foot size in relation to the weight of the skier is automatically and properly adjusted to the correct stress requirement for release of the ski from the foot when abnormal skiing situations develop; in which foot-release mechanism is included that is selectively operable when the skier desires to release the foot from the binding such as during periods of rest without disturbing and completely independently of the foot-size adjustment mechanism; and in which the binding includes stress-responsive release structure including spring structure directly engageable with the skiers foot to confine the same within the binding during normal skiing procedures. but responsive when subjected to development of a stress in excess of a predetermined magnitude to release the foot from the binding.  
  Still further objects. among others. are that of providing a ski binding ofthe type described in which the skiers foot tends to be released gradually from the binding as an abnormal stress increases in magnitude rather than instantaneously so as to relieve the skier of substantial stress immediately preceding release of the binding; in which either the toe or heel of the skiers foot may be released initially from the binding. or both may be released concurrently; in which the skiers foot can be released by angular displacements along a plane substantially normal to the upper surface of the ski or by rolling or angular displacements generally about a longitudinal axis through the ski; and in which the spring structure may comprise a pair of coil springs re spcctively defining heel and toe-engaging components that enable the skiers foot to be rollingly released from the binding.  
  Additional objects and advantages of the invention. especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof. will become apparent as the specification continues.  
  An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a broken top plan.view of a ski binding embodying the present invention shown in position upon a ski with the location of a foot with respect thereto being illustrated in broken lines;  
  FIG. 2 is a broken side view in elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged. broken axial sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1:  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged. broken top plan view of the spring element of the rear binding component in the position enforced thereon by insertion of a shoeequipped foot into the binding;  
  FIG. 5 is an enlarged. broken axial sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 6 is a broken axial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and  
  FIG. 7 is a broken vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.  
  The ski binding illustrated in the drawings is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 10. and it includes front and rear foot-engaging components respectively denoted with the numerals 11 and 12. The binding 10 is shown secured to a ski 14 along the upper surface thereof at a midsection of the ski which generally has a slight arch or camber. as is apparent in FIG. 2. As respects the present invention. the ski 14 may be completely conventional. and the binding 10 is applicable to any ski whether metal. plastic. wood. combinations thereof. etc. As will be more apparent hereinafter. however. the binding 10 does not interfere with and permits the ski to flex along the midsection thereof. in contra-distinction to conventional bindings which inhibit flexibility of the ski thereat.  
  As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the front and rear foot-engaging components 11 and 12 are axially spaced by a distance generally sufficient to accommodate feet or shoes within a range of sizes and. as will be described in detail hereinafter. the binding is equipped with footsize adjustment mechanism to permit the binding to be specifically adjusted to shoe sizes within such range. In the case in which the ski 14 is to be used by a child or individual with relatively small feet. the components 11 and 12 will be secured to the ski 14 in closer axial proximity than in the case of the ski being used by an adult male or one having relatively large feet.  
  The binding 10 and components 11 and 12 thereof are adapted to engage a shoe-equipped foot 15, as shown best in FIG. 2, thereby making the front and rear components. respectively. toe and heel-engaging components. They are secured to the ski 14 by mounting plate structure that. in the form shown. includes a pair of axially spaced plates 16 and 17. The plate 16 is in the form of a generally U-shaped bracket having upwardly extending. transversely spaced legs 18 and 19 between which extends a pin or axle 20 having enlarged heads respectively disposed along the outer surfaces of the legs 18 and 19 to constrain the pin in position with respect thereto. The plate 16 is fixedly secured to the ski 14 by a plurality of fasteners 21 that may take the form of cap screws. as indicated in both FIGS. 1 and 3.  
  The front or toe-engaging component 11 further includes stressresponsive release structure operative to release the foot 15 from the binding and ski 14 upon a stress in excess of a predetermined magnitude being developed in the binding. The stress-responsive release structure takes the character of spring structure 22 that directly engages the foot 15 to secure the same releasably in position along the ski 14. The spring structure 22 is in the form of a coil or helical spring coaxially circumjacent the pin and having end portions turned relatively tightly thereabout so that the spring is confined in a relatively firm manner intermediate the spaced legs 18 and 19 of the mounting plate 16 and in generally coaxial relation with the pin 20. The spring 22 is rotatable about the axis of the pin 20, but a frictional resistance to rotation is established by compressive engagement of the end turns 24 and 25 of the spring with the respectively contiguous legs 18 and 19.  
  The spring 22 throughout substantially its entire length (except for the end turns 24 and 25 and transition sections associated therewith, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3) is considerably larger in diameter than the pin 20. thereby enabling substantially all of the spring to be displaced in axial directions. and/or differentially along successive turns thereof, relative to the pin 20 by the force exerted against the spring upon insertion of a foot 15 into the binding 10. as seen in FIG. 2. The spring 22 is also advantageously spaced from the upper surface of the ski 14 in its normal position to provide a type of over-center relationship with the toe of a foot 15 to confine the foot within the binding 10. as shown in FIG. 2.  
  The plate 17 of the rear or heel-engaging component 12 is substantially longer than the aforementioned plate 16; and as shown best in FIG. 6, it had downwardly and axially turned transverse end portions 26 and 27 fixedly secured to the ski 14 by a plurality of cap screws 28. The plate 17 is thereby provided with a raised section intermediate the transverse end portions 26 and 27 that is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the ski 14, and cooperatively engaging such intermediate portion is a genrally U-shaped bracket 29 having a transversely disposed base 30 underlying the plate and a pair of upwardly extending. transversely spaced legs 31 and 32 that straddle the plate.  
  A pin or axle 34 extends between the legs 31 and 32 and has enlarged heads generally engaging the outer surfaces thereof to constrain the pin in position therein. More particularly as respects the pin 34 and with specific reference to FIG. 5, the pin 34 is seen to have enlarged end portions 35 and 36 adjacent the legs 31 and 32 along the inner surfaces thereof which form bearing elements. and the pin is held in position with respect to the legs 31 and 32 by rivet-type friction fasteners 37 and 38 although other fasteners may be used such as threaded or screw-type. It may be noted that the aforementioned pin 20 associated with the front footengaging component 11 has the same construction as the pin 34 although not illustrated in the same specific- The rear or heel-engaging components 12 further in cludes stress-responsive release structure operative to release the foot 15 from the binding 10 and ski 14 upon a stress in excess of a predetermined magnitude being developed in the binding. The stress-responsive release structure takes the character of a spring 39 that directly engages the booted foot 15 to secure the same releasably in position along the ski 14. The spring structure 39 takes the form of a coil or helical spring coaxially circumjacent the pin 34 and having end portions turned relatively tightly thereabout so that the spring is confined in a firm manner intermediate the spaced legs 31 and 32 of the bracket 29 and is generally coaxial relation with the pin 34. The spring 39 is rotatable about the axis of the pin 34, but a frictional resistance to rotation is established by engagement of the end turns 40 and 41 with the spaced legs 31 and 32.  
  The spring 39 throughout substantially its entire length (except for the end turns 40 and 41 and transition sections associated therewith, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) is considerably in diameter than the pin 34., thereby enabling substantially all of the spring to be displaced in axial directions, and/or differentially along successive turns thereof. relative to the pin 34 by the force exerted against the spring upon insertion of a foot 15 into the binding 10. as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The spring 39 is also advantageously spaced from the upper surface of the ski 14 in its normal position to provide a type of overcenter relationship with the heel of a foot 15 to confine the foot within the binding 10. as shown in FIG. 2.  
  The binding 10 further includes foot-size adjustment mechanism connected with one of the components 11 and 12 and accommodating selective axial positioning thereof relative to the other to enable the binding to be adjusted to fit various foot sizes. In the particular binding 10 being considered, such adjustment mechanism is associated with the heel-engaging component 12 and cooperates with the plate 17 which is equipped with a plurality of axially spaced, transversely extending slots 42 therealong. as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The adjustment mechanism further includes a U-shaped latch member 44 having downwardly turned. transversely spaced, longitudinally extending edge portions 45 and 46 disposed inwardly of the bracket legs 31 and 32 and slidably engaging raised guides or rails 47 and 48 provided by the plate 17, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
  The latch member 44 has an elongated, rearwardly extending finger grip 49 that enables the latch member to be manually grasped and pivoted upwardly and downwardly in angular directions about a transversely extending pivot pin 50 extending through and between transversely spaced. upwardly extending legs 51 and 52 provided by the latch member (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The pin 50 also extends through the transversely spaced legs 31 and 32 of the bracket 29 which are located along the outer sides of the legs 51 and 52. The pin 50 is confined in the described relationship thereof with the legs 31. 51 and 32, 52 by enlarged heads which may take the form of rivet-type fasteners 54 and 55 extending into the pin. as shown most clearly in FIG. 7.  
  The latch member 44 is provided in generally overlying relation with the adjustment slots 42 with a depending latch tongue 56 adapted to selectively cooperate with the slots 42 so as to determine the specific position of adjustment selected for the component 12. The latch member 44 is resiliently biased downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 6 in which the latch tongue 56 thereof is disposed within a slot 42 by a torsion spring 57 coaxially circumjacent the pivot pin 50 intermediate the latch legs 51 and .52. The torsion spring 57 is a helical coil spring that snugly fits about the pin 50, and ad jacent one end thereof the spring has a rearwardly extending end 58 that bears downwardly against the latch member 44 so as to urge the same in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6.  
  Since the pivot pin 50 extends through both the latch member 44 and aforementioned bracket 29, it will be apparent that whenever the finger grip 49 of the latch member is raised so as to displace the latch member angularly in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 6) to withdraw the latch tongue 56 from a recess 42, the rear foot-engaging component 12 can be displaced axially along the ski l4 and mounting plate 17 within the limits defined by the mounting plate and elements cooperative therewith to select the axial location of the component 12 with respect to the toe component 11. Such position is then established by aligning the latch tongue 56 with the adjacent slot 42 and inserting the tongue thereinto in which position it is maintained by the biasing force of the torsion spring 57.  
  The binding further includes foot-remov l mechanism connected with one of the componentslland to enable the same to be displaced axially relative to the other independently of the foot-size adjustment mechanism heretofore described and without changing the adjustment thereof to enable the foot to be quickly and easily and intentionally removed from the binding whenever desired such as for periods of rest, etc. in the particular binding 10 being considered, the foot-removal mechanism is associated with the heelengaging component 12; and it includes a releasable fastener 59 of somewhat inverted U-shaped construction having depending legs 60 and 61 (FIG. 7) respectively disposed intermediate the legs 31, 51 and 32, 52 and through which the pivot pin 50 extends. The fastener member 59 has&#39;an elongated, rearwardly extending finger grip 62 adapted to be manually manipulated to displace the fastener member angularly in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions about the pivot pin 50, as viewed in FIG. 6.  
  The fastener member 59 further has a pair of transversely spaced, forwardly extending latch fingers 64 and 65 respectively adapted to releasably engage lock pins 66 and 67 fixedly secured to the upwardly extending legs 31 and 32 of the bracket 29 and extending inwardly therefrom (see FIGS. 2 and 5 The latch fingers 64 and 65 have recesses 68 (FIG. 6) adapted to seat the latch pins therein to connect the fastener member 59 with the bracket 29 and with the latch member 44 via the pin 50. The torsion spring 57 has a rearwardly extending end 69 underlying the fastener member 59 and bearing upwardly thereagainst so that the spring resiliently biases the fastener member in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 6) to maintain the latch legs 64 and 65 in cooperative engagement with the latch pins 66 and 67. 1  
  The upwardly extending legs 31 and 32 of the bracket 29a&#39;re respectively provided with elongated recesses 70 and 71 through which the end portions 54 and 55 of thep&#39;ivot pin 50 extend so as to enable the bracket 29 to move&#39;transvers&#39;ely relative to the pin 50, latch member44&#39;, plate 17, and ski 14 within the axial limits defined by such recesses whenever the finger grip 62 of the fastener member 59 is displaced downwardly to withdrawn the legs 64 and 65, from engagement with the latch pins 66 and 67. Such facility of displacement may beused topermit the foot 15 to be removed from the binding l0 whenever desired independentlyof and without affecting the size adjustment of the binding. Thefastener member 59 may be provided with one or more apertures 72 therein adapted to receive the end of a ski pole to enablea skier to depress the fastener to release the same so that the foot 15 can be removed from the binding without the skier having to bend to reach the finger grip 62. I  
  In the use of the binding 10, it is secured in appropriate position along the ski 14 by means of the aforementioned screws 21 and 28 in axially spaced relation so as to accommodate shoe sizes within the range for which this ski is intended. Customarily, friction pads 74 and 75 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) are secured to the ski 14 adjacent the binding components 11 and 12 to provide friction surfaces intermediate the ski and shoe. The finger grip 49 of the latch member 44 is raised to clear the tongue 56 from the slots 42, and the component l2 displaced along the skito the appropriate location for the shoe size being used. Once this is established, the tongue 56 is inserted into the adjacent slot whereupon the binding remains adjusted to that particular shoe size.  
  It should be noted that such adjustment of the binding to the proper shoe size automatically establishes the proper stress magnitude at which the binding will release the skier from the ski 14 should the fall or otherwise enter a situation in which injury is likely to occur should he not be freed from the ski. That is to say. to adjust the binding both to the proper stress magnitude for release andproper shoe size, the skier places the toe of the shoe in engagement with the spring 22 and in the approximate position illustrated in FIG. 2. At this time, the heel of the shoe is generally above the rear spring 39. The skier then presses downwardly with substantially his full weight onto the heel of the shoe; and if the heel moves downwardly along the spring 39, and into the position shown in FIG. 2, the binding has the proper size and stress adjustment.  
  If the skier cannot engage the heel of the shoe with the rear binding component 12 in the described manner, the binding is too small, and the rear component 12 must be moved rearwardly to a larger position by appropriate manipulation of the latch member 44. On the other hand, if the heel moves easily into engagement with the rear binding component 12 with less than the full weight of the skier being applied to the heel of the shoe and spring 39, the binding is too loose and should be tightened by appropriate manipulation of the latch member 44. Thus, the binding 10 is automatically adjusted or conditioned to the stress magnitude that is required for any particular skier simply by fitting the binding properly to the shoe size and weight of the skier.  
 &#39; Once the binding 10 has been adjusted to the proper size for one using the ski, the binding may be released by appropriate manipulation of the foot-removal mechanism. as previously explained, which simply entails downward displacement of the finger grip 62 (such as by insertion of the pole tip into the aperture 72 and then pressing downwardly upon the pole) so as to withdraw the latch recesses 68&#39;from the lock pins 66 and 67. The spring 12 and components associated therewith of the foot-removal mechanism can then be displaced axially in a rearward direction along the ski to release the spring from the heel of the booted foot 15 whereupon the foot is readily removed from the binding. The extent to which the spring structure 39 and associated components are axially displaceable is indicated in FIG. 6 by the dimensional arrow disposed between vertical lines depicting the center of the pin 34 before and after axial rearward displacement. The spring structure 39 and associated components of the foot-removal mechanism are returned to the full-line position illustrated in FIG. 6 before the skier intends to use the skis and returns his foot into gripping engagement with the binder. it will be appreciated that the spring 57 automatically causes the latch 62 to return to the locking position thereof in engaging with the pins 66 and 67 upon axial forward displacement of the spring structure 39 to return the same to the position of use thereof illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
  Once the boot-equipped foot 15 is in position within the binding 10, as shown in H6. 2, the ski is used and manipulated in a completely conventional manner. During ordinary use of the binding, the ski is firmly clamped to the foot. and there is substantially no tendency for the binding to release unnecessarily because it is adjusted too loosely or to grip the foot too tightly and fail to release upon application thereto of a stress exceeding some predetermined magnitude. However, should a distortional stress be applied to the binding, it releases quickly and cleanly so as to prevent injury to the skier.  
  in this respect. it should be observed that the binding may release at the toe of the foot 15 via the front footengaging component 11, it may release at the heel of the foot via the rear foot-engaging component 12, or it may release by substantially concurrent action of both the front and rear foot-engaging components 11 and 12. Thus. the binding is exceedingly versatile and releases the foot 15 upon development of any localized stress exceeding a predetermined magnitude irrespective of whether the stress appears at the toe or heel of the foot or substantially concurrently at both locations. Further, the binding is able to accommodate stress developments of substantially any orientation and complexity and still release the foot 15 sufficiently quickly to obviate injury to the skier. For example, the binding enables the toe or heel (or both) of the foot to move upwardly from the ski 14 along directions substantially normal to the plane thereof, it also accommodates rolling-type movements in which the foot 15 tends to rotate about a longitudinal axis through the binding in either angular direction. and it as readily accommodates a more complex stress in which either the heel or toe tends to rotate about such longitudinal axis while the other remains essentially in fixed position.  
  Further. the binding 10 tends to provide a gradual or progressive release of the foot 15 therefrom rather than a somewhat instantaneous release or to release all at once the latter of which imparts significant strain to the skier since he must withstand the entire magnitude of the stress until the magnitude is reached at which the binding would then release. With gradual release, the strain imparted to the skier is attenuated to the extent that the magnitude of the developing stress is progressively relieved by the continuous progressive release of the binding The binding 10 also adapts readily to vari= ous boot configurations since the successive coils of the particular helical spring structures 22 and 39 are individually displaceable independently, to a great extent, of each other. The binding also permits relatively free flexing of the ski along the camber or midsection thereof which permits of greater control of the ski by one using the same in contradistinction to the case in which a binding rigidly reinforces such ski midsection and constrains the same against flexing.  
  The spring structures 22 and 39 directly engage the booted foot 15, and they may take variant forms. The spring structures in the helical configurations illustrated could be filled with soft or sponge-like materials, such as natural or synthetic elastomers, to prevent snow accumulations within the spring interiors about the pins 20 and 34 thereof. in certain instances, the spring structures might also be solid rollers formed of an elastomeric material such as firm rubber advantageously of a type which does not tend to crack or chip when subjected to low temperatures. The particular spring structures shown can be formed of materials that resist corrosion as, for example, stainless steel. The binding 10 can be loaded with the booted foot 15 either from the heel or toe thereof by pressing downwardly thereat following insertion of the other into the associated spring structure, and the spring structures can be used to clean snow from the bottom of the boot before inserting the same into binding. The spring structures can also be made in various diameters to accommodate the same to particular skiers, and the size of the wire from which the spring structures are wound may also be varied to suit the needs of any particular skier. in this respect. an excellent skier who executes dramatic turns at high velocities (sometimes referred to as a hot-dog skier) may require the spring structures 22 and 39 to exert forces of greater magnitude against the booted foot 15 in which case the wire from which the spring structures are wound may be of greater diameter although the diameter of the spring structure itself may remain the same. in any case, the spring structures shown tend to conform to the boot irrespective to the size and shape thereof. The binding 10 may be&#39;provided with a slot or&#39; opening in the legs 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 2, or it may-be provided with other fastening means to enable an *Arlberg&#34; strap to be sccured thereto which is used to tether the ski to the boot or foot of the skier to prevent loss of the ski whenever the binding releases the foot therefrom in actual downhill use of the ski.  
  The foot-size adjustment mechanism is quickly, easily, and conveniently manipulated by direct manual manipulation in contradistinction to arrangements requiring the use of wrenches, screwdrivers, and similar tools. in the present mechanism, it is only necessary to grasp the finger grip 49 directly with the fingers and lift the grip component. thereby enabling the mechanism to be moved to the correct position of adjustment. The grip component 49 is then released to constrain the mechanism in its position of adjustment.  
  While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A safety binding for snow skis and the like comprising:  
 a. front and rear foot-engaging components adapted to be mounted upon such ski in axially spaced relation therealong. at least one of said components including stress responsive release structure having a coil spring supported in a generally horizontal transverse orientation about a substantially fixed center, the turns of said spring being axially displaceable relative to such fixed center upon engagement by such foot to bind the same to a ski. said coil spring being responsive to development of a stress in excess of a predetermined magnitude to release a foot from said binding and such ski.  
  2. The binding of claim 1 and further comprising foot-removal mechanism connected with one of said components to enable the same to be displaced axially relative to the other for ease of intentional foot removal from said binding when desired.  
  3. The binding of claim 1 and further comprising foot-size adjustment mechanism connected with one of said components and accommodating selective axial positioning thereof relative to the other to enable said binding to be adjusted to fit various foot sizes.  
  4. The binding of claim 3 and further comprising foot-removal mechanism connected with the aforesaid one component to enable the same to be displaced axially relative to the other independently of said foot-size adjustment mechanism and without changing the adjustment thereof for ease of intentional foot removal from said binding when desired.  
  5. The binding of claim 4 in which the aforesaid one component is the rear component adapted to engage the heel of such foot.  
  6. The binding of claim 1 in which each of said front and rear foot-engaging components operates independently of each other to release the respectively associated toe and heel of such foot from said binding and such ski upon development of a stress in excess of a predetermined magnitude.  
  7. The binding of claim 6 in which each footengaging component comprises a coil spring supported in a generally horizontal transverse orientation about a substantially fixed center, the turns of said spring being axially displaceable relative to such fixed center upon engagement by such foot to releasably bind the same to a ski.  
  8. The safety binding of claim 7 in which the turns of said springs are transversely displaceable relative to such fixed center upon engagement by such foot to releasably bind the same to a ski.  
  9. The safety binding of claim 8 in which said turns of said coil springs are axially and transversely displaceable relative to such fixed center.  
  10. The binding of claim 6 and further comprising foot-removal mechanism connected with one of said components to enable the same to be displaced axially relative to the other for ease of intentional foot removal from said binding when desired.  
  11. The binding of claim 10 in which said footremoval mechanism includes a bracket provided by the associated one component and axially displaceable with respect thereto between inner foot-engaging and outer foot-removal positions, and releasable fastener structure selectively securing said bracket in the inner foot-engaging position thereof, said spring structure being carried by said bracket for axial displacements therewith between the inner and outer positions thereof.  
  12. The binding of claim 6 and further comprising foot-size adjustment mechanism connected with one of said components and accommodating selective axial positioning thereof relative to the other to enable said binding to be adjusted to fit various foot sizes.  
  13. The binding of claim 12 in which said foot-size adjustment mechanism includes a bracket provided by the aforesaid associated one component and axially displaceable with respect to other such component to accommodate adjustment of said binding to fit various foot sizes, and latch structure for selectively confining said bracket in various positions of adjustments thereof.  
  14. The binding of claim 12 and further comprising foot-removal mechanism connected with one of said components to enable the same to displaced displayed axially relative to the other for ease of intentional foot removal from said binding when desired.  
  15. The safety binding of claim 1 in which said front and rear foot-engaging components are transversely spaced allowing normal flexing of the ski.  
  16. The saftey binding of claim 1 in which, the turns of said spring are transversely displaceable relative to such fixed center upon engagement by such foot to releasably bind the same to a ski.  
  17. The safety binding of claim 16 in which said turns of said coil spring are axially and transversely displaceable relative to such fixed center.