Abstract:
A binding assembly is provided for an elongate ski. The binding assembly receives a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion. The assembly comprises a toe piece mountable to the ski for receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot. A heel piece is spaced from the toe piece with the heel piece for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot. A spring mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece. A cam member is rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with the heel portion of the boot with the cam member releasably retaining the boot within the heel piece wherein upon the heel portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring mechanism releasably secures the heel portion within the heel piece.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation and claims priority of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 30/371,203, filed on Apr. 9, 2002, entitled “Telemark Binding”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to a telemark binding assembly and, more particularly, it relates to a telemark binding assembly that combines the performance of a ski area binding with the functionality and lightweight of a backcountry binding.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Telemark skiing is an increasingly popular sport enjoyed by many persons. In telemark skiing, a skier wears ski boots which are attached to the telemark skis by ski bindings. Unlike downhill ski bindings, the telemark ski bindings do not hold the heels of the skier&#39;s boots fixed to the ski. Instead, telemark ski bindings actually permit the skier to lift his or her heel away from the ski while the toe remains attached to the ski.  
           [0006]    In many instances, telemark ski bindings are typically reinforced versions of cross-country ski bindings. In most such bindings, the toe of a ski boot is connected to a ski by mating three holes on the underside of the toe to three corresponding pins on the binding. Such bindings are called “three-pin” bindings.  
           [0007]    Telemark skiing requires a skier to carve an edge of the ski into the snow in order to maintain control. An ideal telemark ski binding system must provide good lateral stability. That is, while the binding system permits the skier&#39;s heel to move away from the ski, the binding system should not permit the skier&#39;s heel to move from side to side relative to the longitudinal centerline of the ski. While three-pin bindings, are generally effective, they typically allow more lateral play between the boot heel and the ski than is desirable for top performance. This adversely impacts skier control. A telemark ski boot-binding system should also provide good torsional rigidity.  
           [0008]    Another problem with some telemark ski binding systems is that the ski heel is able to move undesirable freely toward and away from the ski. This is a problem because a ski is a long object which therefore possesses a large moment of inertia about a transverse axis. Thus a skier can have difficulty in controlling the position of the heel portion of the boot relative to the ski as is essential for maintaining control and effecting good telemark turns.  
           [0009]    In an effort to remedy the foregoing inadequacies of telemark binding systems, binding manufacturers have added cables to the telemark bindings. Each of these bindings has a toe piece portion which receives a toe portion of a skier&#39;s boot and a cable attached to the toe piece portion. The cable wraps around the heel of a skier&#39;s boot and is secured to the binding on both sides of the toe portion of the boot. The cable typically includes one or more extension springs. The springs maintain the cable under tension so that the cable pulls the boot heel forward toward the toe piece ensuring that the toe portion remains snugly secured within the clamp(s).  
           [0010]    In general, the cable has two main functions. First, it forces the toe of the boot firmly into the toe piece portion of the binding reducing lateral play between the boot and the ski. The forward force is greatest when the boot is in a “heel low” position, i.e., a substantially flat position on the ski. Second, when the skier&#39;s boot is in a “heel high” position, i.e., the boot heel is lifted substantially away from the ski, the cable applies a force to the heel which has a component that tends to pull the heel back toward the ski maintaining the heel and ski in a desired relationship during telemark turns.  
           [0011]    Unfortunately, conventional telemark cable binding systems have several shortcomings. For example, it is typically impractical to make the cable tight enough to hold a ski boot firmly enough into a binding to eliminate lateral play. When the cable is made very tight it can exert enough force on the heel of the ski boot to overcome the stiffness of the toe of the boot and cause the toe portion of the boot to collapse onto the skier&#39;s foot. This very painful phenomenon is known commonly to skiers as “toe crunch” and can cause severe injury.  
           [0012]    Another problem with conventional cable bindings is that the position along the ski at which the cable pivots as the heel is raised is spaced apart from the position where the sole of the boot bends. This relationship of pivot points can result in “tip dive”, which is a condition wherein the ski tip rotates precipitously downwardly into the snow. Tip dive generally unsettles the skier and is likely to cause the skier to fall.  
           [0013]    The springs used in the conventional cable bindings also tend to break prematurely during normal use. Replacing broken springs introduces undesirable costs and down time. The cables, and their associated springs, also tend to cut, mar and/or otherwise damage both the ski boot about which they are wrapped, and the boot attached to the adjacent ski. Such damage can occur as a result of the springs scraping back and forth against the outer surfaces of the boots.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, there remains a need for alternatives to conventional cross-country and telemark bindings.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0015]    The present invention is a binding assembly for an elongate ski. The binding assembly receives a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion. The assembly comprises a toe piece mountable to the ski for receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot. A heel piece is spaced from the toe piece with the heel piece for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot. A spring mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece. A cam member is rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with the heel portion of the boot with the cam member releasably retaining the boot within the heel piece wherein upon the heel portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring mechanism releasably secures the heel portion within the heel piece.  
           [0016]    The present invention further includes a method for mounting a boot within a binding system on a ski. The method comprises providing a toe piece, mounting the toe piece on the ski, providing a heel piece spaced from the toe piece, rotatably mounting a cam member to the heel piece, connecting the heel piece to the toe piece with spring means, inserting a toe portion of the boot into the toe piece, contacting the cam member with the heel portion of the boot, rotating the cam member with the heel portion of the boot until the heel portion of the boot is seated into the heel piece, and tensioning the spring means to releasably securely maintain the boot between the toe piece and the heel piece.  
           [0017]    In addition, the present invention includes a binding system for skiing activities. The binding system comprises a toe piece mountable to the ski and a free heel piece spaced from the toe piece. A cam mechanism is rotatably mounted to the heel piece for releasably maintaining a boot within the heel piece. A mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece and tensioning the heel piece in a general direction toward the toe piece. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the telemark binding assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a heel piece of the telemark binding assembly of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rotatable cam member of the telemark binding assembly of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a telemark binding assembly, indicated generally at  10 , on a ski (not shown) for receiving a boot (not shown) for use in telemark skiing and other skiing activities. In sum, the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention features a simple, straightforward, step-in binding system allowing a skier to step into the telemark binding assembly  10  quickly without the difficulty of trying to slip a cable around the back of a ski boot as provided in conventional bindings.  
         [0022]    The boot usable with the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention preferably has a flexible sole with a toe portion and a heel portion. The toe portion is generally near the front end of the boot and has lateral edges. The heel portion is generally near the rear end of the boot. It should be noted that the boot does not form a part of the present invention and any type of boot can be used with the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention.  
         [0023]    As used herein, the “ski” includes, but is not limited to, any of a variety of telemark, cross-country or alpine skis. As used herein, the term “boot” or “ski boot” includes, but is not limited to, any of a variety of telemark, cross-country or alpine ski boots. Furthermore, as described above, the boots may be made of any suitable materials as are known to those skilled in the boot making arts.  
         [0024]    The telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention includes a secured toe piece  12 , a free heel piece  14 , a first spring member  16  and a second spring member  18  with the first spring member  16  and the second spring member  18  connecting the toe piece  12  to the heel piece  14 . The toe piece  12  of the telemark binding assembly  10  is preferably securely mounted to the ski by screws set through the toe piece into the ski. Other means for connecting the toe piece  12  to the ski, including, but not limited to, adhesive, nuts and bolts, welding, etc., are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]    The toe piece  12  of the telemark binding assembly  10  receives the toe portion of the boot. The toe piece  12  preferably provides a socket  20  which receives the toe portion of the boot and permits the toe portion to be withdrawn from the toe piece  12  in a generally rearward direction. When the toe portion of the boot is engaged in the toe piece  12 , the toe piece  12  substantially inhibits the toe portion from moving transversely relative to the ski. The toe portion and the toe piece  12  mate, for example, in a manner similar to the mating of a toe portion of an alpine ski boot and the toe piece of an alpine ski binding, both of which are well known in the art.  
         [0026]    The telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention further includes the first spring member  16  having a first end  22  and a second end  24  and the second spring member  18  having a first end  26  and a second end  28 . The first and second spring members  16 ,  18  extend in a generally rearward direction from the toe piece  12  with the first end  22  of the first spring member  16  and the first end  26  of the second spring member  18  pivotally secured to the toe piece  12 . The second end  24  of the first spring member  16  and the second end  28  of the second spring member  18  are secured to the heel piece  14 . The heel piece  14  is free from connection to the ski such that the heel piece  14  can move in a direction generally away from and toward the ski. In addition, the heel piece  14  is preferably sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot, as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heel piece of the telemark binding assembly  10  includes a heel aperture  30  for receiving a pin  32 . The use of the heel aperture  30  and the pin  32  will be described in further detail below.  
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, the first spring member  16  and the second spring member  18  include a first rod  34  secured to the toe piece  12  and a second rod  36  secured to the heel piece  14 . An encased spring (not shown) secures the first rod  34  to the second rod  36 . Encasing the spring, as described, provides protection of the encased spring from the elements and adverse environmental conditions.  
         [0029]    It should be noted that while in the preferred embodiment of the telemark binding assembly  10 , the first spring member  16  and the second spring member  18  are aligned substantially along the outside of the boot, it is within the scope of the present invention to align the first spring member  16  and the second spring member  18  under the sole of the boot. In addition, other spring means are within the scope of the present invention to connect the toe piece  12  to the heel piece  14  of the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention.  
         [0030]    Preferably, the toe piece  12  and/or the heel piece  14  are constructed from metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum. It is within the scope of the present invention, however, to construct the toe piece  12  and/or the heel piece  14  from other materials including, but not limited to, high impact plastic with or without metal inserts, ceramic, fiberglass, wood, etc. The material of the toe piece  12  and/or the heel piece  14  can be cast or injection molded depending on the desires of the manufacturer.  
         [0031]    In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention includes a rotatable cam member  38  mounted to the heel piece  14 . The cam member  38  is preferably constructed from a high impact plastic with or without metal inserts in high stress areas, although constructing the cam member  38  from other materials are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0032]    The cam member  38  is preferably an elongated member having a cam aperture  40  for corresponding alignment with the heel aperture  30 . The pin  32  is insertable and securable within the heel aperture  30  and the cam aperture  40  to allow rotation of the cam member  38  about the pin  32  relative to the heel piece  14 .  
         [0033]    The cam member  38  additional includes a heel receiving slot  42  formed therein. The heel receiving slot  42  is sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot when the skier inserts his or her boot into the telemark binding assembly  10 . Actual use of the telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention will be described in further detail below.  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the cam member  38  has a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring or the like for biasing the cam member  38  in an unloaded, first position. After the skier has inserted the toe portion of the boot into the toe piece  12  of the telemark binding assembly  10 , the heel portion of the boot moves in a generally downward direction into the heel receiving slot  42  of the rotatable cam  38 . As the rotatable cam  38  rotates, the heel piece  14  of the telemark binding assembly  10  slides in a generally backward direction with the first spring member  16  and the second spring member  18  applying tension between the toe piece  12  and the heel piece  14 . As the skier continues to move the boot downward, the rotatable cam  38  rotates until the boot&#39;s heel portion is received within the heel piece  14  and the rotatable cam  38  is releasably secured within a loaded, second position. With the action of the spring members  16 ,  18  and the cam member  38 , the skier is then “locked” into the telemark binding assembly  10  and ready to ski. The skier can be released from the telemark binding assembly  10  by simply urging the cam member  38  in an opposite direction toward the unloaded, first position such as with a ski pole or the like.  
         [0035]    The telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention allows two points where force can be applied to the skier&#39; boot. Since conventional bindings only secure the boot to the ski at the toe portion, there is only one point where force can be applied to the ski. Through an interaction between the heel piece  14  and a shim mounted to the ski under the heel piece  14 , the telemark binding assembly  10  allows two points where force can be applied allowing the skier to make more precise turns.  
         [0036]    The telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention is both unique and innovative. The telemark binding assembly  10  combines the performance of a ski area binding with the lightweight and functionality required for the backcountry. The telemark binding assembly  10  of the present invention is much more convenient to use than traditional bindings with its one-of-a-kind step-in system. It also outperforms traditional bindings by providing an additional point to apply a force to the ski.  
         [0037]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.