Abstract:
An adjusting mechanism for facilitating an adjustment of the relative position between a ski binding part and a sole support. The ski binding part and the sole support are mounted on separate guide structures. The sole support is movable laterally of the longitudinal axis of the support structure therefor to facilitate a desired positioning thereof relative to the ski binding part.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an adjusting mechanism for ski bindings having a carriage which supports the ski binding part and a base plate which is secured to the ski and forms a guideway for the carriage, wherein a rack or the like can engage a toothed locator or the like, which together form a locking device for the carriage, which carriage can be locked in longitudinal direction of the ski selectively in different positions, and wherein a laterally shiftable sole support is provided for the ski boot. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Adjusting mechanisms of this kind are known in many different constructions. The invention has the purpose of providing an adjusting mechanism in particular for ski bindings which are used on rental skis. A problem exists in such ski bindings because together with the ski binding part a sole support or the like must also be adjusted. From this result long guide parts, which can be particularly disadvantageous when the ski flexes. In order to help in this instance, the base plate for the ski binding part and a holding plate for the sole support can be worked out as separate structural parts. From this in turn results the problem, that two connected structural parts are guided on two different holding parts, whereby for the longitudinal adjustment the rack requires additionally an exact guide therefor. To meet simultaneously several adjustments puts high requirements on the production tolerances and on the installation, which can be met only by large expenditures of time and money. 
     The purpose of the invention is now to provide a solution to the problem and to make possible an adjustment between the two connected structural parts, which are guided on at least two holding parts. 
     The set purpose is attained by the sole support being secured on the rack which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski by means of a bolt which extends substantially vertically to the upper side of the ski, and by the sole support being swingably supported through a limited range with respect to the rack about said bolt. 
     Through the inventive connection or support of the sole support on the rack it is possible for both guided parts to adjust to the associated holding parts, so that in each case only the adjustment of two structural parts is needed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Further advantages and details of the invention result from the following description, which is discussed with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the adjusting mechanism; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view; and 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III--III in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As will be recognized from FIGS. 1 to 3, a base plate 1 is secured in a conventional manner on the upper surface of a ski 10, for example by screws (not shown). An anchoring plate 8 extends under the base plate 1. The anchoring plate 8 is, as will particularly be recognized from FIG. 3, bent along the lateral edges thereof upwardly and inwardly to extend over the lateral edges of a stepping plate 14. A sole support 15 is mounted on the stepping plate 14. A bent extension of a toothed rack 3 will be recognized in this area in FIG. 1, on which rack the support plate 14 and the sole support 15 are connected by means of a bolt 16. However, the sole support 15 is supported for a limited pivotal movement about the axis of the bolt 16 with respect to the rack 3. For this purpose the bolt 16 is riveted with the interpositioning of a spring washer 17. 
     As will particularly be recognized from FIGS. 1 and 2, a ski binding part is mounted on the rack 3, which ski binding part is identified as a whole by the reference numeral 2. For the ski binding part 2 to hold a not illustrated ski boot in the position of use, the thrust springs 5 are utilized. An indicator 12, which extends into a recess of a not illustrated guide plate of the ski binding part 2, shows the magnitude of the thrust force. 
     With reference to the sole support 15, a ski brake 18 will be recognized in the present exemplary embodiment, which ski brake is actually known and does not form the subject matter of the present invention. As a result, it will be shown that only the sole support 15 can be advantageously used also in connection with a ski brake 18 or in other words: through the inventive measure it is possible to accomplish also the advantages support and guiding of a ski brake. 
     The thrust springs 5 are supported at the one end in the thrust indicator 13 which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and at the other end (right end in FIG. 2) on a support surface of the ski binding part 2, which support surface is not separately illustrated. In this manner the resilient support of the ski binding part 2 is achieved. 
     The ski binding part 2 has a carriage 20 movable longitudinally of the ski guided by rails 21 defined by the outwardly bent flanges on the base plate 1. The carriage 20 has the toothed rack 9 fixed thereto and movable therewith. The position of the ski binding part 2 on the ski is controlled by a not illustrated locking device transversely slidably mounted on the base plate 1. The locking device is described and shown in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,493 and reference is to be made thereto. The locking device has a toothed locator (not illustrated) which engages selected teeth on the rack 9. A sliding of the locking device transversely of the longitudinal axis of the ski will cause a release of the engagement between the toothed locator and the teeth on the rack 9 so that the ski binding part and the sole support 15 can move longitudinally of the ski. A return spring (not illustrated) effects a return of the toothed locator into engagement with new teeth on the rack 9 to lock the ski binding part and sole support 15 in the desired new position. 
     Particularly from FIG. 2 it will be recognized that the bolt 16 is arranged in a laterally elongated hole 19 in the toothed rack 3, which slotted hole extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and which slotted hole permits a free lateral adjustment of the sole support 15 and stepping plate 14 to compensate for a possibly existing difference between the longitudinal axes of the base plate 1 and the anchoring plate 8. 
     A further thought of the invention consists in providing a stop 11 for limiting the lateral movement of the stepping plate 14 on the rack 3. 
     The invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiment. Deviations can take place without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the arrangement of the base plate and support plate in vertical direction can be exchanged with one another and also the engagement of the holding parts and the guided structural parts can be different from what is shown both in direction of the angle and also in the type of the engagement. 
     Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.