Abstract:
A device for binding a boot to a gilding board including a front retaining element, a rear retaining element, an element for connecting the front retaining element to the rear retaining element, and a return spring exerting a force urging the front retaining element toward the rear retaining element, the connecting element and the return element being aligned, and the connecting element including an articulation with respect to the front retaining element and/or the rear retaining element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/624,983, filed on Jan. 19, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120. 
     
    
       [0002]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 06.00525, filed on Jan. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The invention relates to a device for binding a boot to a gliding board. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Background and Relevant Information 
         [0006]    In the field of snow gliding sports, a boot is conventionally retained by two retaining elements, a front retaining element and a rear retaining element, which are fastened to the ski. 
         [0007]    When the ski is subjected to flexion during use, the two retaining elements, which tend to move closer to one another, exert significant pressure on the boot. In reaction, and due to the rigidity of the boot, forces are transmitted to the ski, which can affect the behavior of the ski. 
         [0008]    To prevent such forces from being transmitted to the ski, the patent document CH 687 589 proposes positioning a rod to connect the front and rear retaining elements. The rod allows forces to be transmitted between the retaining elements, although a device of this type does not function optimally inasmuch as the connecting rod affects the free flexion of the ski. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, in the binding devices known in the prior art, the forces are transferred to an element positioned under the front and rear retaining elements, which generates force moments in the area of the retaining elements, which tends to tilt the front retaining element forward and the rear retaining element rearward. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention provides a device for binding a boot to a gliding board, which allows the drawbacks of the known devices of the prior art to be overcome. In particular, the invention provides a device for binding a boot to a gliding board, which does not prevent the gliding board from bending/flexing freely. 
         [0011]    Moreover, the invention provides a gilding apparatus, which includes a gliding board equipped with a device for binding a boot to the gliding board, such device not preventing the gliding board from bending/flexing freely. 
         [0012]    Still further, the invention provides a gliding apparatus equipped with a ski brake, a front retaining element, a rear retaining element, and an element that connects the front retaining element to the rear retaining element, to allow the forces to be recovered between them, and in which the force moments that are generated in the area of the retaining elements, which tend to tilt the front retaining element forward and the rear retaining element rearward, have reduced effects. 
         [0013]    The invention provides for a binding device and a gliding apparatus according to the claims below. In particular, the invention provides a device for binding a boot to a gliding board, such device including a front retaining element, a rear retaining element, an element for connecting the front retaining element to the rear retaining element, as well as a return spring exerting a force forcing the front retaining element and the rear retaining element toward one another. The connecting element and the return spring are aligned, and the connecting element includes an articulation with respect to the front retaining element and/or the rear retaining element. 
         [0014]    The invention also provides for a gliding apparatus including a gliding board equipped with a binding device, a first ski brake positioned on a first side of the gliding board, and a second ski brake positioned on the other side or the gliding board. 
         [0015]    Further, the invention provides a gliding apparatus including a gliding board equipped with a ski brake and a device for binding a boot to a gliding board that includes a front retaining element, a rear retaining element, an element for connecting the front retaining element to the rear retaining element, and a return spring exerting a force directed to cause the front retaining element and the rear retaining element to be moved toward one another. The connecting element and the return spring are aligned, and the ski brake includes a first ski half-brake positioned on a first side of the gliding board and a second ski half-brake on the other side of the gliding board, so that a central channel is arranged between the first and the second half-brakes, within which the connecting element extends. 
         [0016]    Advantageously, the connecting element is longitudinally affixed with respect to the front retaining element. It is also longitudinally affixed to the rear support element via the return spring. Consequently, the longitudinal component of the pressures that the boot exerts on the retaining elements is transmitted in the connecting element and does not pass through the gliding board. 
         [0017]    Advantageously, the connecting element is rigid in tension and in compression, which results in successively ensuring a pulling effect when the ski flexes, and a pushing effect when the ski recovers its natural curvature. 
         [0018]    Advantageously, the return spring is aligned with the connecting element. Consequently, during the flexing phases of the ski, the forces which are transmitted from the connecting element toward the rear retaining element do not cause the rear retaining element to tilt toward the rear, but instead, make it move in translation along the gliding element. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, the front and rear articulations ensure a free rotation in the vertical plane of the connecting element with the front and rear retaining elements. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, the support zones of the boot sole, namely the heel piece and the two half-pedals of the brake, are arranged so that a central channel is provided in which the connecting element passes and is not vertically retained. This enables the connecting element to oscillate freely at the front as well as at the rear.  
         [0021]    Advantageously, when the boot is in place, the connecting element is as close as possible to the boot sole. 
         [0022]    Advantageously, the distance between the connecting element and the boot sole remains constant while the gliding board flexes, and this distance is optimized so as to be minimal. Because one knows that the distance between the connecting element and the boot is instrumental to the efficiency of the mechanism for recovering the tension forces, and that the greater this distance is, the greater pivoting phenomena of the retaining elements diminishes this efficiency, one understands the advantage of keeping the connecting element as close as possible to the boot, at all times, including while the gliding board flexes. 
         [0023]    All the advantages of the invention are directed toward considerably improving the mechanism for recovering the forces of the binding during the “flexion-counterflexion” phases of the gliding board, during the bending of the ends of the ski downward and the bending of the ends of the ski upward. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, and in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gliding apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal side view of the gilding apparatus, in partial cross section; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the first articulation; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of the second articulation; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of the brakes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a gliding apparatus  1  according to the invention. The gliding apparatus  1  includes a gliding board  2  to which an interface  3  has been affixed. The interface  3  includes a front portion and a rear portion. A front retaining element  4 , or toe piece, is assembled to the front portion of the interface. A rear retaining element  5 , or heel piece, is assembled to the rear portion of the interface. Having an interface is non-limiting, as the invention can be implemented with an interface, or without an interface. 
         [0031]    The ski brake  28  is arranged between the front retaining element  4  and the rear retaining element  5  and is composed of two half-brakes that function independently with respect to one another. 
         [0032]    The connecting element  6  links the front retaining element  4  to the rear retaining element  5  and extends between the two half-brakes without hindering their functioning. The connecting element  6  is rigid in tension and in compression. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal cross section of the gliding apparatus. The front retaining element  4  includes a support plate  7  and a base  8  topped by a pivot  9 . The body of the front retaining element  4  is pivotally mounted on the pivot  9 . The construction of the front retaining element  4  is not described in greater detail here, inasmuch as the mechanism is already known and can be provided in an any number of forms known to those skilled in the art. That is, the front retaining element could be replaced, such as that illustrated, by any other front retaining element. 
         [0034]    The rear retaining element  5  is also not described in detail here, inasmuch as it is a retaining element of the known heel construction type. In addition to the release spring (not shown in the drawings), the rear retaining element  5  includes a return spring  23 , which presses the rear retaining element against the rear of the boot and, as a consequence, the front of the boot against the front retaining element  4 . 
         [0035]    The connecting element  6  includes a front rod  10 , fastened to a first articulation, and a rear rod  11 . The front rod  10  and the rear rod  11  are coaxially connected to one another via a threaded bushing  12 , or sleeve. The threaded bushing allows the connecting element  6  to be adjusted in length. This entire connection has the particularity of being rigid in tension as well as in compression to prevent it from buckling during the bending of the gliding apparatus. 
         [0036]    The rear rod  11  is retained in the heel spacer  13  of the rear retaining element  5 , and it can oscillate along a transverse axis. 
         [0037]    The heel spacer  13  is positioned inside the sheet metal body  14  of the rear retaining element  5 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  shows in detail the parts that comprise the second articulation  16 , which is arranged between the connecting element  6  and the rear retaining element  5 . For better understanding, the various pieces are shown in exploded perspective. 
         [0039]    The rear rod  11  is inserted in an eyelet  20  located at the base of the spacer  13 . Behind the eyelet  20 , a piece, which is the nose-spring support  21 , is slipped onto the rear rod  11 . The nose-spring support  21  is directly in contact with the heel spacer  13 . 
         [0040]    The nose-spring  22  and a return spring  23  are also slipped onto the rear rod  11 . The nose-spring support  21  includes a groove  24  that passes through the center of the circular opening, which extends through it, and in which the rod is inserted. The nose-spring  22  has an enlargement  25 , which complements the groove  24 . The enlargement  25  and the groove  24  have common cylindrical surfaces that are capable of sliding with respect to one another, thus enabling the rear rod  11  to pivot with respect to the heel spacer  13 , that is, with respect to the rear retaining element  5 . 
         [0041]    Maintaining the rear rod  11  in position in the eyelet  20  of the heel spacer  13  and adjusting and positioning one with respect to the other is carried out via a first support coupling  17  screwed onto the rear rod  11  in front of the eyelet  20 , a support washer  18  being intercalated between the first coupling  17  and the eyelet  20 , and via a second support coupling  19  screwed at the end of the rear rod so as to retain the return spring. 
         [0042]    The second articulation comprises the eyelet  20  arranged in the heel spacer  14 , as well as the nose-spring support  21  and the nose-spring  22 , allow the rear rod  11  of the connecting element  6  to pivot with respect to the rear retaining element  5 . 
         [0043]    The device is not limited to the particular illustrated example of a connection made by means of an eyelet arranged in the heel spacer, and can also be implemented with a pivot connection. This pivot connection can be achieved with an axle extending through the spacer and the end of the rear rod. 
         [0044]    Because the return spring  23  is slipped onto the connecting element  6 , the pressures that the boot exerts on the rear retaining element  5 , for example when the gilding board is flexed, are transmitted directly to the connecting element. No overhanging occurs, unlike when the return spring is positioned higher than the connecting element. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  shows, in detail, the parts that comprise the first articulation. They include a ball-and-socket joint that includes a ball part  26  having an outer spherical shape and positioned in a socket part  27 , having an inner cavity, the shape of which complements the ball part  26 . 
         [0046]    The socket part  27  is threaded onto the end of the front rod  10  of the connecting element  6 . 
         [0047]    The ball part  26  of the ball-and-socket joint includes a vertical bore through which a screw extends so that it can be connected to the front retaining element  4 . 
         [0048]    The support plate  7  includes an upwardly open housing  29  for receiving the socket part  27  of the ball-and-socket joint, as well as a portion of the front rod  10 , which results in the front rod  10  being guided in an oscillating movement that remains in the longitudinal vertical plane of the gliding board. 
         [0049]    The invention is not limited to including the particular illustrated embodiment of a ball-and-socket joint connection; such connection can also be implemented as a pivot connection. A pivot connection can be made with an pin or axle extending through the support plate  7  and/or through the baseplate  8  and the end of the front rod  10 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  shows the brake  28  in perspective, isolated from the remainder of the device. The brake includes a plate  30  provided to rest on the interface  3 , and a heel support  31 , the upper surface of which is the boot sole is supported. The heel support  31  includes, in its upper zone, two separate portions that constitute the two sides of a longitudinally oriented channel  32 . This channel  32  is adapted to receive the rear rod  11  of the connecting element  6  and it has a height necessary to accommodate the dual flexion of the ski. 
         [0051]    The brake  28  is characterized by a double mechanism of two half-brakes that are independent from one another. Each of these half-brakes includes an arm  33 , at the end of which an end piece  34  is fastened. The arm  33  is a metallic rod bent in two places at an angle of about 90° so as to define between these two bends a portion that is perpendicular to the rest of the rod. This perpendicular portion is kept in place between the heel piece  31  and the plate  30 . The two ends of the arm can thus be moved in rotation about the perpendicular portion. 
         [0052]    The lower portion of the arm  33 , i.e., the portion provided with an end piece  34 , penetrates the snow during the rotational movement of the arm. The upper portion of the arm  33  is fixed within a half-pedal  35 . The arm  33  is fixed within the half-pedal  35  by means of an additional bend of the upper end of the arm  33  along a direction that is parallel to the direction of the perpendicular portion. Thus, the half-pedal  35  and the arm can move in rotation with respect to one another. Furthermore, a link  36  connects the plate  30  to the half-pedal  35 . The link  36  is rotatably mounted with respect to the plate  30  and to the half-pedal  35  so that at any time while the arm  33  moves, the link  36 , the half-pedal  35 , the arm  33 , and the plate  30  form a parallelogram. 
         [0053]    The rotation of the link  36  with respect to the plate  30  is carried out between a lower position in which the link is substantially parallel to the plate  30 , and an upper position in which the link  36  forms a non-zero angle with the plate. The link  36  is maintained in the upper position by the force of a brake spring  37 . 
         [0054]    The second half-pedal is constructed the same as the first half-pedal  35  hereinabove described, but is symmetrical with respect to the vertical longitudinal plane of the gilding board. 
         [0055]    When the boot is in place, the boot sole rests on the two half-pedals  35 , and the weight of the boot sole thereon is sufficient to counteract the force of the spring, consequently bringing the links  36  and the half-pedals  35  to the lower position. 
         [0056]    When the skier falls, causing the boot to be removed, the brake spring  37  immediately lifts the half-pedals  35  and frees the arms  33  as soon as the boot is released. 
         [0057]    Advantageously, due to the positioning of two half-pedals  35 , which function independently, the passage for the connecting element  6  can be provided between the half-pedals. Consequently, the connecting element  6  can be positioned as close as possible to the boot sole, which improves the efficiency of the device for transmitting the forces between the front retaining element  4  and the rear retaining element  5 . 
         [0058]    The invention is not limited to the only embodiment hereinabove described, and can include any equivalent embodiment. 
       LIST OF ELEMENTS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 . gliding apparatus 
           2 . gliding board 
           3 . interface 
           4 . front retaining element 
           5 . rear retaining element 
           6 . connecting element 
           7 . support plate 
           8 . base 
           9 . pivot 
           10 . front rod 
           11 . rear rod 
           12 . threaded bushing 
           13 . heel spacer 
           14 . sheet metal body 
           15 . first articulation 
           16 . second articulation 
           17 . first support coupling 
           18 . support washer 
           19 . second support coupling 
           20 . eyelet 
           21 . nose-spring support 
           22 . nose-spring 
           23 . return spring 
           24 . groove 
           25 . bulge 
           26 . ball part of ball-and-socket joint 
           27 . socket part of ball-and-socket joint 
           28 . ski brake 
           29 . housing 
           30 . plate 
           31 . heel support 
           32 . channel 
           33 . arm 
           34 . end piece 
           35 . half-pedal 
           36 . link 
           37 . brake spring