EP0740946B1 - Touring ski binding - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to ski bindings hiking, allowing to selectively hold a shoe on a ski in allowing its pivoting around an anterior transverse axis.

We know such ski bindings for hiking comprising a rigid plate, articulated on the ski along an axis transverse anterior integral with the ski, and itself carrying a stop front safety and a rear safety heel to retain a shoe on the plate, with means for securing selectively the rear plate part on the ski or to release it.

These fasteners have the disadvantage of increasing the complexity and weight of the assembly for attaching a shoe to a ski, and oblige the user to ski permanently with all of the fixing including plate.

To avoid this drawback, systems have been proposed for adapt a removable hiking device on a ski fitted with bindings downhill. For example, document DE-A-27 14 853 describes a fixing ski for hiking with a rigid removable base shaped for be releasably retained on a ski by a front stop and a heel piece for lowering. In all embodiments described in this document, the base is provided with a transverse yoke anterior with two opposite vertical lateral branches whose lower ends connect to the base and whose ends upper have two corresponding respective holes. An axe removable is shaped to fit into the screed holes and to connect the two branches, and is provided with locking means such a pivoting end tab to selectively lock in axial translation of the axis in the yoke. The screed is shaped to carry the axis in a substantially elevated position relative to the wings side of the front stops of the lowering attachment. So a ski boot provided with a transverse hole passing through the part front of its sole can be pivotally retained by the inserted pin simultaneously in the screed holes and in the transverse hole through sole.

The fixing structure as described and shown in this document leads to significantly elevating the shoe relative to the ski, especially so that the shoe sole can pass over from the heel. Indeed, the shoe is offset to the rear at a relatively large distance, so that its sole extends substantially backwards above the heel. Such a fastening structure requires having a heel piece particularly low, and therefore cannot be used with heels models presenting an oblique actuation lever surmounting the heel piece at a significant height.

Furthermore, document CH-A-535,590 describes a fixing of ski for hiking with removable base retained releasably by the front toe and heel piece of a downhill binding. The base is provided a transverse yoke of low height, retaining an axis of rotation transverse which passes through a transverse hole in the sole of the shoe. A rear stop is provided on the base, to selectively retain the rear end of the shoe or to release it. In position of hiking, the back stop releases the shoe which can pivot around the anterior axis of rotation. In the lowering position, the rear stop retains the shoe sole resting against the base. Such device has the disadvantage of increasing complexity and weight of the shoe binding assembly, and forces the user to ski permanently with the fixing assembly comprising the base. Indeed, the front toe and the heel attachment necessarily be moved to increase their relative distance and thus adapt to the length of the base which is greater than that of the shoe sole. It is then impossible to retain the shoe alone between the front stop and the heel, unless difficult and tedious adjustment of the anteroposterior position of the heel piece.

Documents FR-A-2 506 170, FR-A-2 377 815 and FR-A-2 275 231 describe other structures with a removable base for raising excessively the shoe on the ski.

The present invention provides a new fixing structure which, when in the hiking position, allows pivoting satisfactory of the shoe, and allows a sufficient flattening of the shoe compared to the ski, without requiring an excessive elevation, in a device of the type with rigid removable base shaped to be releasably retained on a ski by the front stop and the heel piece descent fixing in their anteroposterior position adjustment allowing them to hold the shoe in the descent position.

The invention further aims to lighten the device, reducing its weight and size.

comprenant un socle amovible rigide conformé pour être retenu de manière libérable sur un ski par une butée avant et une talonnière de fixation de descente,

le socle étant muni d'une chape transversale antérieure avec deux branches latérales opposées dont les extrémités inférieures se raccordent au socle et dont les extrémités supérieures comportent deux trous respectifs correspondants,

avec un axe amovible, conformé pour s'insérer dans lesdits trous de la chape et relier les deux branches, et muni de moyens de verrouillage pour bloquer sélectivement en translation axiale l'axe dans la chape,

la chape étant conformée pour porter l'axe en une position surélevée par rapport aux ailes latérales des butées avant,

une chaussure de ski munie d'un trou transversal traversant la partie antérieure de sa semelle pouvant ainsi être retenue à pivotement par l'axe inséré simultanément dans les trous de la chape et dans le trou transversal traversant de semelle,

la chape étant conformée et positionnée de façon que l'axe qu'elle porte est tenu au-dessus de la zone d'extrémité antérieure du socle en une position avancée telle que l'extrémité antérieure de semelle de chaussure est seulement à faible distance en arrière du bord postérieur de partie centrale de mâchoire de butée avant,

l'extrémité supérieure des branches latérales de chape étant déportée vers l'avant par rapport à l'extrémité inférieure correspondante de branche latérale, de sorte que les ailes latérales de butée avant peuvent passer sous les extrémités supérieures de branches latérales de chape et sous les extrémités de l'axe.

To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a ski binding for hiking,

comprising a rigid removable base configured to be releasably retained on a ski by a front stop and a heel piece for fixing the descent,

the base being provided with a front transverse yoke with two opposite lateral branches, the lower ends of which are connected to the base and the upper ends of which have two corresponding respective holes,

with a removable pin, shaped to fit into said holes in the yoke and connect the two branches, and provided with locking means for selectively locking the axis in the yoke in axial translation,

the yoke being shaped to carry the axle in an elevated position relative to the lateral wings of the front stops,

a ski boot provided with a transverse hole passing through the front part of its sole which can thus be pivotally retained by the axis inserted simultaneously in the holes in the yoke and in the transverse hole passing through the sole,

the yoke being shaped and positioned so that the axis which it carries is held above the front end zone of the base in an advanced position such that the front end of the shoe sole is only at a short distance in rear of the rear edge of the central part of the front stop jaw,

the upper end of the side fork branches being offset forward relative to the corresponding lower end of the side branch, so that the front side stop wings can pass under the upper ends of side fork branches and under the ends of the axis.

We understand that such a fixing structure allows to articulate the shoe as close as possible to the stop before fixing lowering, thereby reducing its recoil from the bindings and reducing so the elevation necessary for the sole to pass above the heel piece. We can then position the axis of rotation in a position only slightly raised relative to the lateral wings of the stops before.

Preferably, the base includes an anterior stop limiting advancing the shoe sole beyond a position allowing the introduction of the axis into the clevis and sole holes of shoe. For example, the front stop can be formed of two wings obliques growing towards each other from the ends upper branches of the yoke.

According to one embodiment, the axis comprises a first end with head opposing its sliding in the yoke in a first direction, and a portion associated with a removable pin of locking which, when in position, selectively opposes the sliding of the axis in the yoke in the second direction.

According to another embodiment, the axis is a rod straight which is connected, by an end bend, to a secondary arm parallel to the axis and sliding to engage in a housing lower transverse of the base. The secondary arm and the housing lower transverse plinth are shaped to ensure selectively locking the axle and the secondary arm in the engagement position of the axis in the clevis holes, and to selectively prohibit complete extraction of the secondary arm beyond the open position in which the axis is cleared out of the interval between the branches of screed.

Preferably, the base comprises two lateral bosses, in the area below the axis, to extend the transverse housing lower base between locked and open positions.

Preferably, the base comprises a lower face generally flat with a portion from the yoke forward reduced thickness anterior adapted to engage under the jaws of the front stop for downhill fixing, and with, behind the screed, a posterior portion of greater thickness constituting the support of the ski boot sole, so that when pivoting the shoe, the anterior portion of shoe sole in front of the axis freely pivots downward above the anterior portion reduced base thickness.

• la figure 1 illustre schématiquement, en vue de côté, une fixation de ski de randonnée selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention, en position de chaussure abaissée sur le ski ;
• la figure 2 illustre la fixation de la figure 1 en position de chaussure pivotée pour soulever le talon ;
• la figure 3 illustre en vue de dessus la structure de la fixation de ski de randonnée des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de face avant de la fixation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle de côté, montrant l'adaptation de couteaux ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté d'une fixation selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus de la fixation de la figure 6 ; et
• la figure 8 est une coupe transversale selon le plan A-A de la figure 6.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

• Figure 1 schematically illustrates, in side view, a ski touring binding according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the boot down position on the ski;
• Figure 2 illustrates the attachment of Figure 1 in the pivoted shoe position to lift the heel;
• Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the structure of the ski touring binding of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is a front view of the fastener of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a partial side view showing the adaptation of knives;
• Figure 6 is a side view of a binding according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 7 is a top view of the fastener of Figure 6; and
• FIG. 8 is a cross section along the plane AA of FIG. 6.

As shown in the figures, a ski binding for the hiking according to the invention comprises a rigid removable base 1, shaped to be releasably retained on a ski 2 by a front stop 3 and a heel piece 4 for securing the descent. Thus, ski 2 is equipped a downhill binding with front stop 3 and heel piece 4 which can be any known type, positioned and adapted to hold a shoe 5 of which the sole 6 is standardized. The soles 6 of shoes are indeed standardized, in particular at their anterior end 7 and at their end posterior 8, to adapt to any usual type of anterior stop 3 and heel piece 4.

To secure the front 7 of the ski boot 5 on the base 1 by authorizing the pivoting of the shoe 5 around an axis of anterior transverse rotation 9 by lifting the heel, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the base 1 comprises a transverse yoke 10 formed in the front part of the upper face 11 of the base 1, with two opposite lateral branches 12 and 13 developing upwards and comprising two respective holes corresponding to two passages of an axis 9.

The pin 9 is removable, shaped to fit into the holes of the yoke 10 by connecting the two opposite lateral branches 12 and 13 of the yoke 10. A generally cylindrical metallic pin 9 can be used.

Locking means make it possible to selectively block in axial translation and detachably the axis 9 in the yoke 10. By example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, axis 9 comprises a first end with head 14 coming to bear against the external face of a branch 13 of clevis 10, opposing the sliding of the axis 9 in the yoke 10 in a first direction illustrated by the arrow 15, and a second end associated with a removable locking pin 16 which, when in position, comes to bear against the external face of the other branch 12 of yoke 10 and selectively opposes sliding from axis 9 in clevis 10 in the second direction illustrated by the arrow 17.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 6 to 8, axis 9 is a straight rod which is connected by an end bend 30, to a secondary arm 31 parallel to the axis 9 and engaging in sliding in a lower transverse housing 32 of the base 1. The lower transverse housing 32 and the secondary arm 31 are shaped both to selectively lock axis 9 and of the secondary arm 31 in the position of engagement of the axis 9 in the holes yoke 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and to prevent selectively the complete extraction of the secondary arm 31 beyond the open position in which axis 9 is cleared outside the interval between the branches of the yoke 10. For this, in the illustrated variant in the figures, in particular in Figures 6 to 8, the end 33 of the arm secondary 31 is bent downwards, one of the vertical walls internal of the housing 32 includes a boss 34 in the vicinity of the end closed housing 32, and opening housing 32 at the end opposite side is just sufficient for sliding the part straight of the secondary arm 31, with a lower wall 134 opposing at the outlet of the curved end 33 of the secondary arm 31.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the base 1 comprises two lateral bosses 35 and 36, making it possible to extend the housing lower transverse 32 of the base 1 and thus spread the positions respective locked and open axis 9.

The ski boot 5 is provided with a transverse through hole the front part 7 of its sole 6, the hole being sized for allow the passage of the axis 9. When the shoe 5 is in position on the binding, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the axis 9 crosses at both the respective holes of the branches 12 and 13 of the yoke 10 and the hole in the front part 7 of the sole 6. Thus, the shoe 5 is is secured to the base 1, while having freedom of pivoting around axis 9 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

According to the invention, the yoke 10 is shaped and positioned so that the axis 9 that it carries is held above the end zone front of the base 1, in an advanced position such that the end anterior sole of shoe is only at short distance in rear of the rear edge of the central part of the front stop jaw.

To allow the passage of the lateral front stop wings, in all downhill attachment configurations currently known, the upper end of the side branches 12 and 13 of the yoke 10 is offset forward relative to the lower end corresponding side branches 12 or 13. Preferably, the yoke 10 is shaped to carry the axis 9 in a position only weakly raised relative to the lateral wings of the front stops.

For example, the branches 12 and 13 of the yoke 10 can be tilted forward at an angle of approximately 45 °, as shown in the figures.

These conditions are fulfilled by placing the transverse axis 9 by example at a height H of about 40 to 45 mm above the face lower of the base 1, and at a distance L of approximately 23 to 28 mm behind from the front end of the base 1.

The positioning of the transverse axis 9 in the hole matching shoe sole can be facilitated by providing a anterior stop limiting the advance of the shoe sole beyond of a position authorizing the introduction of the axis 9 in the holes of yoke 10 and shoe sole.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the Figures 6 to 8, the front stop is formed of two oblique wings 45 and 46 developing towards each other from the upper ends respective branches 12 and 13 of the yoke 10. Such oblique wings 45 and 46 do not disturb the engagement of the base 1 in the stop before lowering attachment.

In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the base includes a generally flat lower face 18 with, from the yoke 10 forwards, an anterior portion 19 of reduced thickness suitable for engaging under the jaws of the front stop 3 for fixing downhill and with, behind the yoke 10, a rear portion 20 of greater thickness constituting the support of the sole 6 of the shoe ski 5. In line with the yoke 10, the front portion 19 of thickness can for example be connected to the rear portion 20 thicker by an inclined facet 119. Thus, when pivoting of the shoe 5, the front portion 7 of the sole of shoe 6 at the front of the axis 9 pivots freely downwards above the front portion 19 of reduced base thickness 1.

This front portion 19 of reduced thickness of base 1 has a minimum length just necessary for the front edge 21 of shoe sole 6 pivots in the immediate vicinity of the jaws of the stop before 3 fixing of descent. The recoil of shoe 5 is thus minimized, as well as the need for elevation above the heel piece 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the base 1 comprises one or more removable intermediate shims 22, shaped to raise the rear portion 8 of sole 6 of ski boot 5 and to prevent it from coming to bear on the heel piece 4 for lowering. The shim 22 is formed for example of two tubes 22 and 122 engaged in two blind holes with vertical axis laterally offset and open on the upper face 11 of the base 1. On can advantageously provide two other holes 222 and 322 offset towards front, to selectively receive tubes 22 and 122 in one position more advanced. One can also provide additional tubes 422 and 522, of length greater than that of tubes 22 and 122, and engaged in position waiting in respective holes with a horizontal axis leading to the front edge of rear part 24 of base. Tube series 22 and 122 or 422 and 522 are thus interchangeable, to constitute shims of different heights, allowing the attachment to be adapted to the inclination of the slope to climb.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 1 comprises an adjustable rear wedge 39, formed of a hoop transverse branch 40 connecting two lateral branches 41, pivotally mounted on the base 1 along a transverse axis 42 between a first position extreme, illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 6, in which the transverse branch 40 of the arch rests on an elevated part 43 of the upper surface of the base 1 and wedge shape on which can lean the shoe sole, and a second extreme position retracted, shown in dotted lines, in which the branch transverse 40 of the arch 39 is supported on a lowered part 44 of the upper surface of the base 1.

The base 1 advantageously comprises a front part 23 and a rear part 24 connected to each other by a spar 25, and lockable at a length chosen to suit the distance predetermined separating the front stop 3 and the heel 4 for fixing descent. The base 1 can thus be adapted to sizes different from shoes.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the spar 25 is a cylindrical rod whose anterior end is secured in axial translation in the front part 23 of the base by a fixing device 125 allowing its free rotation. The rear end of the spar 25 engages in a tunnel longitudinal of the rear part 24 of the base, in which it is retained by a vertical screw 225 passing through a hole in the spar 25. For allow the adaptation in length of the base 1, the spar 25 comprises a first series of regularly spaced holes 325, and a second series of holes 425 perpendicular and interposed between the holes of the first series of holes 325.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spar 25 is a threaded tube screwed into tapped bores respective 37 and 38 of the front part 23 and of the rear part 24 of base, so as to adjust the length of base 1 by axial rotation relative of the anterior 23 and posterior 24 parts one with respect to the other.

The attachment may further include adaptable knives 26, formed of two parallel side blades connected by a central plate perpendicular constituting a U-shaped structure, as illustrated on the Figure 5. Preferably, male-female engagement means 27 are provided on the external face of the central plate of the knives 26, and on the underside 18 of the base 1, so that the knives 26 can be held in position on ski 2 by engagement of the central plate between the base 1 and the upper face of the ski 2.

When the user wishes to use his ski 2 in the descent, he removes the base 1 and can for example put it in a bag. The shoe 5 is then retained on the ski 2 by the front stop 3 and the heel piece 4 which retains the front portion 7 and the portion rear 8 of its sole 6.

To switch to the hiking position, the user disengages the shoe 5 of the downhill binding, then adapts the base 1 between the anterior stop 3 and the heel piece 4. He then removes the axle 9, places the shoe 5 in its desired position, returns the axis 9 which crosses the holes branches 12 and 13 of yoke 10 and the hole in the sole 6 of the shoe. The locking means such as the pin 16 or the secondary arm 31 then secure the axis 9 on the base 1. The shoe 5 can thus pivot on the base itself retained on the ski 2.

To return to the descent position, the user removes axis 9, then remove the base 1 from the descent fixings, and replace the shoe between the front stop 3 and the heel 4 for fixing descent.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (9)

1. Ski binding for cross-country skiing

   consisting of a rigid detachable base (1) designed to be held on a ski (2) in a liberable manner by a front stop (3) and a downhill heal binding (4).

   The support is fitted with a front cross fork (10) with two opposing lateral branches (12,13) whose lower sides connect to the base (1) and whose upper sides each comprise of two corresponding holes, with a detachable axis (9), designed to be inserted into the aforementionned holes of the fork (10) and join together the two branches (12,13) and equipped with locking devices to selectively jam the axis (9) in the fork(10).

   The fork (10) is designed to hold the axis (9) in a lifted position in relation to the lateral wings of the front stop, so that a ski boot (5) fitted with a transversal hole crossing the front section (7) of its sole (6) can be held by the axis (9) in a swinging manner,the axis (9) being inserted in both the fork holes (10) and in the transversal hole crossing the sole (6),charactetised in a way that:

   the fork (10) is designed and positionned so that the axis (9) it is carrying is held above the front end of the base (1) in an advanced position so that the front end of the ski boot's sole is only slightly behind the back side of the middle section of the front stop's jaws.

   the upper end of the fork's (10) lateral branches (12,13) is deviated forwards in relation to the lower end of the corresponding lateral branch (12,13) in a way that the lateral wings of the front stop can pass under the upper end of the fork's (10) lateral branches (12,13) and under the ends of the axis.
2. Binding as in claim 1, characterised in a way that the base (1)consists of a front stop preventing the ski boot's sole from advancing past a position which allows the insertion of the axis (9) into the holes of both the fork(10)and the ski boots sole.
3. Binding as in claim 2, characterised in a way that the front stop is formed by two diagonal wings (45,46) developping towards each other starting from the upper ends of the fork's (10) branches (12,13).
4. Binding as in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in a way that the axis is a straight rod connecting by a an end elbow to a secondary arm (30) parallel to the axis (9) and sliding into a lower transversal housing (32) on the base (1), the secondary arm (31) and the lower tranversal housing (32) being designed to selectively ensure that the axis (9) and the secondary arm (31) can be locked once the axis (9) is inserted into the fork's (10) holes and to selectively avoid the secondary arm (31) completely coming out beyond the open position where the axis (9) is moved outside the space between the fork's (10) branches.
5. Binding as in claim 4, characterised in a way that the base (1)comprises two lateral humps (35,36) to lengthen the lower transversal housing (32) of the base (1) and spread the open and locked positions of the axis (9).
6. Binding as in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in a way that the base (1) is made up of a generally flat lower side (18) with a thinner front portion in front of the fork, adapted to fit under the jaws of the downhill binding's front stop (3) and with a thicker back portion (20) , behind the fork, to support the ski boot's sole (5) so that when the boot swings the front portion (7) of the boot's sole (6) in front of the axis (9) swings freely downwards over the thinner front portion (19) of the base (1).
7. Binding as in any of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in a way that it comprises an adjustable back wedge (39) formed by a fitted hoop pivoting on the base (1) on a tranversal axis (42) between a first extreme position where the transversal arm (40) of the hoop (39) pushes on a raised section (43) on the base's (1) upper surface and forms a wedge which the ski boot's sole can sit on, and a second extreme overturned position where the hoop's (39) tranversal branch (40) pushes on a lowered section (44) of the base's (1) upper surface.
8. Binding as in any of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in a way that the base (1) comprises a front section (23) holding the fork (10) and a back section (24) joined together by a ribbed tube (25) screwing into the respective tapped bores (37,38) of the front (23) and back (24) sections, so that the length of the base (1) can be adjusted by a relative axial rotation of the front (23) and back (24) sections, one relation to the other;
9. Binding as in any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in a way that it consists of two adptable knives (26) formed by two parallel lateral blades joined together by a perpendicular middle plate forming a U structure with male female insertion points (27) on the outer face of the knives' (26) middle plate and on the lower face of the base (1) so that the knives (26) can be held on position on the ski(2) by enterring the middle plate between the base (1) and the ski's upper face.

Images