Abstract:
A selectively closable and releasable connecting device for connecting a sports shoe and an item of sports equipment, has a baseplate for fixedly mounting to the item of sports equipment and on which the shoe sole can be supported and locked. The shoe being provided with lateral grooves for receiving a pair of locking elements of the connecting device, which lie rigidly and fixedly diametrically opposite each other on the baseplate with respect to a central pivot for the shoe. The device has a second pair of locking elements which likewise lie diametrically opposite one another and are rotatably connected to the baseplate via a gear mechanism having a driving element with a driver which protrudes, with respect to the supporting surface of the baseplate, for activation by the shoe, in the baseplate. The baseplate is further provided with a gear mechanism locking element which locks the gear mechanism in the closed position. The second pair of locking elements selectively rotate, along with the gear mechanism between a shoe-engaging locked position to an unlocked entry/exit position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a selectively closable and releasable connecting device for connecting a sports shoe and an item of sports equipment, preferably a snowboard, having a baseplate which can be mounted fixedly on said item of sports equipment and on which the shoe sole can be supported and locked, the latter being provided, for this purpose, with lateral grooves for receiving locking elements of the device, two of which are provided rigidly on the baseplate lying diametrically opposite each other, with respect to a central pivot for the shoe. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A multiplicity of connecting devices for snowboards and snowboard shoes are known either from practice or from the prior art on paper. For example, reference may be made to DE 94 13 356 U1. 
     The connecting devices proposed here have at least two holding elements for the shoe, which elements engage on the longitudinal sides of the shoe sole, and at least one fastening means which can be actuated counter to spring force and has an actuating part on which the shoe, when introduced into the device, acts counter to the spring force and in so doing brings the fastening means from an open position into a holding position. 
     In comparison with other known connecting devices for connecting a snowboard shoe and a snowboard, the abovementioned connecting devices have to be able to be of short design, with respect to their longitudinal extent, so that sharply truncated swings can be executed without any problem even with extremely narrow snowboards. Furthermore, manual closing of the connecting device after the shoe has been introduced is avoided. 
     In addition to various designs of connecting devices having a “step in” option, i.e. the transfer of the corresponding fastening means from its opening into its holding position by pressing the rear end of the shoe down onto the baseplate, a connecting device design is also shown in which the shoe is positioned on the baseplate obliquely with respect to the position of use and can be brought into its holding position by subsequent pivoting about a vertical axis. 
     As the shoe sole is lowered, it presses an actuating part, which protrudes with respect to the baseplate, down counter to the spring force and releases it at the end of the pivoting movement. The actuating part is pushed up again by the spring force and is then used as a fastening means. Two fixed cheeks, which lie diametrically opposite each other, with respect to the pivoting axis, are provided on the baseplate as further fastening means. 
     Like other known constructions having only two lateral locking elements which secure the shoe against lifting off from and being displaced on the baseplate, this construction has the disadvantage of an inadequate connection between the board and shoe, which does not permit the board to be precisely guided, in particular in extreme situations and on steep terrain, which makes the user uncertain and also puts him at risk. 
     In comparison with the “twist in” principle, the “step in” principle for closing the connecting device has the substantial disadvantage of the device having largely to be free of snow and ice before a shoe is introduced so that the necessary locking can take place. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Starting from the known, abovedescribed twist-in binding, the invention aims to provide a connecting device which optimally secures the shoe, in the position of use, on the item of sports equipment, with the result that the latter can readily be controlled and precisely steered by the user in all situations. 
     Starting from a connecting device of the generic type, this aim is achieved according to the invention in that the device has a further locking element for each side of the shoe sole, in that these further locking elements likewise lie diametrically opposite one another and are connected to the baseplate via a gear mechanism, in that as driving element of the gear mechanism there is provided at least one driver which protrudes with respect to the supporting surface of the baseplate, can be actuated by the shoe and is guided in an elongated hole, which is curved about the central pivot, in the baseplate, and in that the baseplate has, for the gear mechanism, a locking element which blocks the gear mechanism in the closed position. This construction thus provides a twist-in binding which in each case has two locking elements for both longitudinal sides of the shoe sole. 
     In order to design the connecting device such that it is as compact and lightweight as possible, the baseplate is expediently designed as a housing for the gear mechanism. 
     In a design refinement of the invention, the gear mechanism can have a toothed ring which can be pivoted about the central pivot and bears the two movable locking elements. As driver use can then be made of the spindle of a toothed wheel whose teeth mesh, on the one hand, with those of the toothed ring and, on the other hand, with an internal toothing fixed on the baseplate. 
     The spindle of the toothed wheel expediently tapers at its free end. In this case, it is then provided for direct engagement into a hole in the shoe sole. At its semicircle which is directed towards the ski tip, this hole can merge into a widening clearance in the shoe sole thereby enabling easy positioning of the shoe when it is placed onto the baseplate. 
     It is possible to avoid clearances in the tread of the shoe sole if the spindle of the toothed wheel bears a U-shaped step-on hoop, the spacing of the limbs of which corresponds to the width of the sole. 
     In place of a toothed ring in the gear mechanism, other constructions of the connecting device according to the invention provide a disc which can be rotated about the central pivot and on which the driver is provided. In a first design, the driver is in operative connection with one arm of a two-armed lever which is mounted pivotably about a vertical spindle in the baseplate. In this case, a ram is in each case coupled to the free ends of the two lever arms, and slideways for the rams are provided in the baseplate. The free ends of the rams form or bear the further locking elements according to the invention. 
     Another design envisages that the further locking elements are designed as rotary locks, are mounted on vertical spindles in the baseplate and are loaded in the opening direction by a spring, that on the outside the rotary locks bear a control curve which is acted upon by a roller, and that these rollers are mounted on spindles which are arranged parallel to the driver on the rotatable disc. 
     In this case, the rotary lock can be provided with an opening lug in place of the spring, or else additionally thereto, the control curve then extending to the end of the lug. 
     In all of the constructions mentioned two drivers are expediently provided, to be precise, such that the two lie in the vertical longitudinal central plane of the device, in the closed position of the device. This not only removes the risk of an element of the gear mechanism possibly jamming, but also gives a better actuating option by the shoe which, in the case of pins being directly used as drivers, then also has a second hole in the shoe sole. 
     A further construction of the connecting device according to the invention having two drivers envisages that each driver is in operative connection with a slide, that the slides are of identical design and are mounted in slideways of the baseplate, and that the free ends of the slides form or bear the further locking elements. 
     As locking element for blocking the gear mechanism in the closed position provision is made for a locking pin which can be displaced vertically in the baseplate, is loaded by a spring and can be latched, by its inner end, into a latching recess in the toothed ring or the disc of the gear mechanism. At its outer end, the locking pin is designed as an actuating handle or for the connection of such a handle. 
     It is likewise possible, as locking element for the gear mechanism, for use to be made of a spring-loaded locking pawl on the baseplate, for a locking tooth to be provided on the toothed ring or the disc of the gear mechanism, and for the locking pawl to have an actuating handle or the connection for such a handle. 
     A further construction envisages that, as locking element for the gear mechanism provision is made for a double lever, in the manner of a beer-bottle fastener, between the baseplate and the toothed ring or the disc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are described with reference to the attached drawings which show the following: 
     FIG.  1 : the plan view of the connecting device in the opened condition, 
     FIG.  2 : the plan view corresponding to FIG. 1, but in the closed condition of the connecting device, 
     FIG.  3 : a longitudinal section through the connecting device according to the line A—A in FIG. 2, 
     FIG.  4 : a cross section through the connecting device according to the line B—B in FIG. 2, 
     FIG.  5 : a subsection according to the line C—C in FIG. 1, 
     FIG.  6 : the plan view of a second design of the connecting device, again in the opened condition, 
     FIG.  7 : a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6, but in the closed condition of the connecting device, 
     FIG.  8 : a cross section through the connecting device according to the line D—D in FIG. 7, 
     FIG.  9 : the plan view of a third design of the connecting device in the opened condition, 
     FIG.  10 : a plan view corresponding to FIG. 9, but in the closed condition of the connecting device, 
     FIG.  11 : a longitudinal section through the connecting device according to the line E—E in FIG. 10, and 
     FIG.  12 : a side view of the connecting device in the arrow direction F in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The connecting devices which are shown are used for connecting a snowboard shoe to a snowboard. The snowboard shoe or its sole is indicated by dash-dotted lines in most of the figures, whereas an illustration of the snowboard has been left out. In all of the designs shown, the respective baseplate has, in its central region, four elongated holes  1  which are curved about the centre and serve in a known manner for receiving fastening screws. The snowboard shoes which are used have a fixed sole with clearances incorporated therein, as is already basically known. 
     The essential feature for the invention is that the connecting device has two locking elements for each side of the shoe sole, which elements lie in pairs diametrically opposite one another. 
     The design according to FIGS. 1 to  5  provides a baseplate  2  which in each case bears a wall  3  or  4  in the central region of its two longitudinal sides. The insides of the walls are designed and spaced apart from one another in such a manner that the shoe can be inserted, by means of its sole, between them and can be pivoted to a sufficient extent. An annular groove  5  of the baseplate is widened at the front and rear, at  6  and  7 , respectively, and in this region, on the inside, is provided with an internal toothing  8 . Two toothed wheels  9 , which are in the manner of planet wheels, are in engagement with these toothings and, on the other hand, are in engagement with teeth  10  which are provided on a toothed ring  11  which is mounted in the annular groove  5  of the baseplate. The toothed wheels  9  are mounted, via their spindles  12 , in elongated holes  13 , curved about the central pivot, of the baseplate  2 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 3, the spindles  12  of the toothed wheel extend upwards out of the baseplate  2  and taper at their free ends. With these free ends the spindles form the drivers which can engage into corresponding holes in the shoe sole and are used as driving element of the gear mechanism, for closing or releasing the connecting device. In the closed position of the connecting device the two drivers lie in the vertical longitudinal central plane (cf. FIG.  2 ). 
     To secure the closing position of the connecting device there is provided a locking element which is formed by the lower end  14  of a pin  15  which is provided in a vertical recess  16  in the wall  4  of the baseplate  2  and by means of its upper end protrudes out of the wall. The pin is loaded downwards by means of a spring  17 , with the result that in the locking position unintentional release of the connecting device is not possible. A hole  18  in the toothed ring  11 , which hole is used for the engagement of the lower end  14  of the pin, can be seen in FIG.  1 . 
     The toothed ring  11  bears two locking elements  19 ,  20 . These elements are of integral design with the toothed ring and reach through the end of a respective double bend  21  or  22 , respectively. These bends extend through slots  23 ,  24  in the baseplate  2 , which slots open into sufficiently large recesses  25 ,  26  in the walls  3  and  4  (cf. FIG. 4 in particular). Finally, each side wall  3  or  4  furthermore bears a locking element  27  or  28 , respectively. These locking elements, which are mounted immovably in the walls, lie diametrically opposite to one another, with respect to the central pivot for the shoe. 
     FIG. 1 shows the connecting device in the entry and exit position. In this position, the shoe can simply be raised from the baseplate. When entering into the connecting device, the shoe can be lowered into the position on the baseplate which is shown by dash-dotted lines. In this case, the free ends of the spindles  12 , which are used as drivers, enter into the correspondingly provided holes in the shoe sole. It is expedient if at least the front hole is widened towards the shoe tip so that when the shoe is introduced, its positioning results automatically with a movement forwards. As is known from other types of connecting devices, the shoe sole has two grooves on each side for receiving the locking elements. 
     When the shoe is pivoted on the baseplate  2  from the position according to FIG. 1 into that according to FIG. 2, the toothed wheels  9  are driven via their spindles  12 . Owing to the meshing with the internal toothings  8  of the baseplate, a correspondingly larger pivoting angle for the toothed ring  11  results. With the pivoting of the shoe, the fixed locking elements  27 ,  28  enter into the provided grooves in the shoe sole. At the same time, a relative movement of the toothed ring  11  with respect to the shoe sole by means of the locking elements  19  and  20  takes place in such a manner that at the end of the movement, these locking elements likewise enter into the corresponding, lateral grooves of the shoe sole. Furthermore, directly at the end of the pivoting movement the lower end  14  of the pin  15  latches into the hole  18  in the toothed ring. The latter is thereby blocked in the baseplate and thus the shoe is also fastened on the baseplate. The locking element secures a shoe on the baseplate both against rotation and against lifting off. Additional securing against rotation is furthermore provided by the spindles  12 . 
     To release the shoe it is merely necessary to unlock the pin  15 , by overcoming the force of the spring  17 , and therefore to release the toothed ring  11 . The pin can expediently be pulled using a special handle, for example a catch strap. For connection of the latter, a hole  29  is provided at the free end of the pin. By pivoting the shoe from the position according to FIG. 2 into the position according to FIG. 1 the grooves in the shoe sole finally come free from the locking elements. The shoe can then simply be lifted from the baseplate  2 . 
     In the design according to FIGS. 6 to  8 , a baseplate  32  is again provided, which baseplate bears lateral walls  33  and  34 . There is likewise also an annular recess  35  which has a front widened portion  36  and a rear widened portion  37 . In this case, the recess has mounted in it an annular disc  38  which engages, by means of projections  39 ,  40 , into the widened portions. These projections each bear a pin  41  which extends upwards at right angles. As in the case of the first exemplary embodiment, the pins extend through elongated holes  42 , curved about a central pivot, in the baseplate  32 . As in the first design, a fixedly arranged locking element  43 ,  44  is provided in each wall  33 ,  34 . However, in the present case, a further locking element is in each case formed in each side wall as a rotary lock  45  or  46 , which rotary locks can be pivoted about a spindle  47  or  48  in their respective side wall. The outer end side of each rotary lock is designed as a control curve along which a respective roller  49  or  50  can roll. The disc  38  is provided with two further projections  51  which, as can be seen in FIG. 8, are bent in a Z-shape and in each case bear a roller  49  or  50  by means of a spindle  52 . In the present case, loading the rotary locks in the opening direction by means of springs is omitted. For this purpose, the rotary locks are designed as angle levers whose short lever arm forms an opening lug  53  or  54 . In this case, the control curve extends to the end of the lug. 
     The locking device for securing the disc  38  against rotation, and hence for fixing the gear mechanism in the closed position of the connecting device, corresponds to the device of the design described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  5  and to which reference is hereby made. 
     The functioning of this connecting device corresponds in principle to the connecting device according to FIGS. 1 to  5 . FIG. 6 shows the entry and exit positions. The shoe sole, which is shown by dash-dotted lines, shows that it is free of all locking position according to FIG. 6 into the position according to FIG. 7, the disc  38  is pivoted via the pins  41  and the rotary locks  45 ,  46  are likewise pivoted by the rollers  49 ,  50 , to be precise about their spindles  47 ,  48 . At the end of the movement all of the locking elements engage into the corresponding grooves of the shoe sole. Likewise, at the end of the pivoting movement the pin  15  also latches into the hole  18  in the disc  38 . 
     To release the shoe it is, in turn, only necessary to pull the pin  15  out of the hole  18  and to pivot the shoe again into the position according to FIG.  6 . 
     FIGS. 9 to  12  show a third exemplary embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention. The baseplate, which is denoted by  57 , again bears lateral walls  58 ,  59 . An annular groove  60  is provided in the baseplate, which groove has a front widened portion  61  and a rear widened portion  62 , as in the preceding designs. Likewise as in the previously described designs, the baseplate is again provided with elongated holes  63  which are curved about a central pivot and through which pins  64 , serving as drivers, extend. These drivers are situated on projections  65 ,  66  of an annular disc  67  which is mounted in the annular groove  60  of the baseplate. Above the disc two slideways  68 ,  69  are provided in the baseplate to receive in each case one of two identical slides  70 . These slides  70  are bent at their inner ends and in these bends have an elongated hole  71  whose width corresponds to the diameter of the pins  64  and through which in each case one of the pins passes (cf. FIG. 11, in particular). The outer end of the slide, formed from flat material, is bent and bent back again (cf. FIG. 12, in particular). By means of these bent-back parts, denoted by  72 , the two slides each form a locking element. To receive this end of the slides, the slideways  68 ,  69  in the baseplate open into in each case one appropriately sized recess  73  in the side walls  58 ,  59 . As in the case of the previously described designs, a locking element  74  is securely fixed in the wall  58  and a locking element  75  in the wall  59 . 
     In FIGS. 9 and 10 the wall  59  is partially cut open to better show a locking element which is designed as a locking pawl  76  and can be pivoted about a spindle  77 . The locking pawl is situated in the plane of the disc  67 . A recess on the circumference of the disc causes the formation of a locking tooth  78  which the locking pawl engages behind, in the closed position of the device (cf. FIG.  10 ). The locking pawl is of approximately T-shaped design. The arm in the extended portion of the pawl arm is loaded by a spring  79 , whereas the web serves as an actuating handle. 
     FIG. 9 in turn shows the connecting device in the entry and exit position. By pivoting the shoe, the device is transferred into the position according to FIG.  10 . When this position is reached, the locking pawl  76  secures the position of the disc  67  by engaging behind the locking tooth  78 , and thus also the blocking of the shoe by means of the locking elements. In this case, to release the shoe it is merely necessary to pivot the locking pawl  76  counter to the force of the spring  76 , with regard to the representation in the clockwise direction, until it comes out of engagement with the locking tooth  78 . The shoe can then be rotated again into the position according to FIG.  9 .