US3649039A - Longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a ski-binding - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional release plate of a safety ski-binding is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse bores. A flexible heel locking member forming a loop around the heel of the ski-boot has its two ends at either side of said release plate provided with a locking bolt bent at right angles. The ends of the two locking bolts can be introduced from both sides into one or the other of said transverse bores in the release plate and are releasingly secured therein by means of bayonet union means.

Description

United States Patent Gertsch et a].

[ Mar. 14, 1972 [54] LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE HEEL LOCKING DEVICE ON A SKI- BINDING [72) Inventors: Ernst Gertsch, Wengen; Ulrich Gertsch,

lnterlaken, both of Switzerland Gertsch, A.G., Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland [22] Filed: Jan. 23,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 5,185

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 2, 1969 Switzerland ..6724/69 [52] U.S. Cl ..280/l 1.35 P [51] [58] Field ofSearch ..280/11.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,284,092 11/1966 Rumaner ..280/11.35 CA 3,410,568 11/1968 Wiley ..280/l1.35 CA 3,489,424 1/1970 Gertsch et al. ..280/] 1.35 CA FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 515,242 2/1955 Italy ..280/l 1.35 HA 84,635 10/1935 Sweden ..280/l 1.35 B 810,088 12/1936 France ..280/l1.35 B 378,752 7/1964 Switzerland ..280/l 1.35 H

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT A conventional release plate of a safety ski-binding is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse bores. A flexible heel locking member forming a loop around the heel of the ski-boot has its two ends at either side of said release plate provided with a locking bolt bent at right angles. The ends of the two locking bolts can be introduced from both sides into one or the other of said transverse bores in the release plate and are releasingly secured therein by means of bayonet union means.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972 $649,039

5 g 6 603 cm 048/6 G'EKT OI/ INVENTOR.

BYMQZ/T LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE HEEL LOCKING DEVICE ON A SKI-BINDING The present invention relates to a longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a ski-binding, wherein at both sides of the ski-binding an adjusting bolt is selectively insertable into one of a plurality of transverse bores provided in a release plate. The selective insertion of the adjusting bolt in one of the transverse bores permits a rough longitudinal adjustment of the heel locking device, whilst the fine adjustment may be effected by a threaded sleeve screwed to the adjusting bolt. In prior known heel locking devices of this type, the adjusting bolts have been screwed into the transverse bores which are either threaded or contain a threaded nut, the heel locking device being adaptable to the width of the boot by the bolts being screwed more or less into the transverse bores, and a lateral adjustment of the boot heel on the ski is also made possible. If a rough longitudinal adjustment is to be made in such a binding, the two lateral adjusting bolts must be screwed completely out of the transverse bore and re-inserted in another transverse bore. This adjustment is therefore comparatively complicated and time-consuming. Since, however, such a rough adjustment of length normally need only be carried out once when fitting the ski-boot to the ski-binding, this is not usually a serious drawback. However, it is a different matter where skis for rent are concerned, since a rough adj ustment in length of the heel locking member is frequently made for adaptation to different boot sizes of the people who rent the skis, and should be carried out as quickly as possible. On the other hand, a side adjustment is less important in rented skis, so that this may be disregarded.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a longitudinally adjustable heel locking device for ski-bindings permitting a rapid and easy rough adjustment of the heel locking device to adapt the latter to different boot sizes. According to' the invention, this heel locking device comprises a release plate provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinally adjustable heel locking member, said heel locking member including two adjusting bolts each disposed at one side of said release plate for engagement into one of said transverse bores, and bayonet union means on said adjusting bolts and transverse bores for releasingly securing said adjusting bolts in the transverse bores.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompany-' ing drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heel locking device of a ski-binding according to the invention,

F K]. 2 is a perspective view of an adjusting bolt in another position, and

F IG. 3 is a perspective view of a U-shaped additional plate.

Referring now to the drawings, a plate 2 is secured to the ski l in the region of the boot heel. This plate is provided in its bottom face with a conical recess, not visible in the drawing, into which recess engages a conical extension (not shown) of the rear end of a release plate 3 constituting a component of a safety ski-binding known per se and forming no part of the invention. The release plate 3 is provided in its rear portion with four continuous, smooth transverse bores 4. On both sides of the release plate 3, an are 5' of a rectangularly bent adjusting bolt 5 may be inserted into any of these bores 4. The other arm 5 of the adjusting bolt 5 has screwed thereon a threaded sleeve 6 to which is fixed a heel locking member 7 known per se. By turning the threaded sleeves 6 in one or the other direction, a fine adjustment in length of the heel locking member 7 is possible. A locking pin 8 of a bayonet joint is located on the arm 5 of the adjusting bolt 5. The notch 9 of this bayonet joint is formed on a side flange 10 of a U-shaped additional plate 10, whose middle portion is resting on the release plate 3. A spacing member 11 is formed on each side of the additional plate 10, so that when the additional plate 10 is placed on the release plate 3, a gap 12 exists between the side parts 10: and the side face of the release plate 3. in which gap the locking pin 8 IS pivotally movable together with the bolt 5.

For a rough adjustment of length of the heel locking member 7, this latter is pivoted about the axis of the transverse bore 4, until the adjusting bolt 5 assumes the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the arm 5' can be removed from the transverse bore 4, since in this position the locking pin 8 can pass through the notch 9. The additional plate 10 is now moved along the release plate 3 until the notch 9 of the plate [0 arrives in alignment with another transverse bore 4, so that the adjusting bolt 5 of the heel locking member 7 can be inserted into this other transverse bore 4. After the locking member has been pivoted into position shown in FIG. 1, the arms 5 can no longer be removed from the transverse bore 4, since the locking pin 8 prevents such removal.

The additional plate 10 could also be constructed so that its center portion can be inserted beneath the release plate 3 and the side portions 10 are directed upwardly. Furthermore, the additional plate 10 may be so constructed that its side portions extend over all four transverse bores 4 and are provided with four bores having notches 9. Furthermore, instead of the side portions 10 provided with notches 9 located on a separate additional plate 10, the notched side portion 10 could be formed integral with the release plate.

We claim:

1. A longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a skibinding, comprising a release plate provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinally adjustable heel locking member, said heel locking member including two adjusting bolts each disposed at one side of said release plate for engagement into one of said transverse bores, and bayonet union means onsaid adjusting bolts and transverse bores for releasingly securing said adjusting bolts in the transverse bores, said bayonet union means including a notch provided in -a side flange disposed in laterally spaced relation from the sidewall of said release plate, and a locking pin provided on said adjusting bolt of the heel locking member, said locking pin, in locking position of the heel locking member, being situated in the space between said side flange and the sidewall of said release plate.

2. A heel locking device according to claim 1, in which said side flanges provided with a notch for the passage of said locking pin of the bayonet union means are formed on a U- shaped plate extending across said release plate.

3. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shaped plate is supported by said release plate to be longitudinally movable therealong, for bringing said notches on the side flanges of the U-shaped member into alignment with said transverse bores in the release plate.

4. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shaped plate is provided with spacing members to determine the width of said space between the side flanges of said -U-shaped plate and the associated wall of the release plate.

Claims (4)

1. A longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a skibinding, comprising a release plate provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinally adjustable heel locking member, said heel locking member including two adjusting bolts each disposed at one side of said release plate for engagement into one of said transverse bores, and bayonet union means on said adjusting bolts and transverse bores for releasingly securing said adjusting bolts in the transverse bores, said bayonet union means including a notch provided in a side flange disposed in laterally spaced relation from the sidewall of said release plate, and a locking pin provided on said adjusting bolt of the heel locking member, said locking pin, in locking position of the heel locking member, being situated in the space between said side flange and the sidewall of said release plate.

2. A heel locking device according to claim 1, in which said side flanges provided with a notch for the passage of said locking pin of the bayonet union means are formed on a U-shaped plate extending across said release plate.

3. A hEel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shaped plate is supported by said release plate to be longitudinally movable therealong, for bringing said notches on the side flanges of the U-shaped member into alignment with said transverse bores in the release plate.

4. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shaped plate is provided with spacing members to determine the width of said space between the side flanges of said U-shaped plate and the associated wall of the release plate.

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