Patent ID: 7264263

Claim:
A ski binding for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising: a front retaining element for engagement with the front end of the boot; a back retaining element for engagement with the heel of the boot; a tensioning device connecting said front and back retaining elements and locking said front and back retaining elements to the ski boot while allowing the heel of the boot to be raised from the ski; and a first release mechanism for releasing the lock between the ski binding and ski boot upon experiencing a laterally directed force and a second release mechanism releasing the lock when pressure is applied to an actuating element with first and second release mechanisms having a first locking element, connected to said tensioning device so that said first locking element cannot rotate with respect to said tensioning device, but can rotate about a first axis perpendicular to the ski surface, and a second locking element movable between a locked and unlocked state and which in the locked state is in form-fitting engagement with said first locking element and is nonrotatable about said first axis and is rotatable about a second axis oriented substantially parallel to the ski surface and perpendicular to the long axis of the ski, whereby rotation of said second locking element relative to the first locking element causes disengagement of said locking elements.