Title:
Ski binding
United States Patent 3908971
Abstract:
The ski binding of this invention is adapted for downhill skiing, ski touring and ski mountaineering, where a walking mode is desired. The safety of a sole plate ski binding is combined with the hinged action of a ski touring binding by supporting the sole plate binding on a laterally stable hinged walking plate. The walking plate, when locked at the rear thereof, is laterally stable and permits the ski binding to perform safely and efficiently in the downhill mode. Once the rear of the walking plate is released, however, the ski binding functions in the walking mode, with great lateral stability and with minimal loss of energy.
US Patent References:
Ski binding
Dodd - March 1937 - 2072477
Ski harness
Hilding - August 1953 - 2649306
Release binding structure
Wick - December 1967 - 3359010
Ski binding
Hollenback - June 1968 - 3388918
SAFETY SKI BINDING
Gertsch - August 1973 - 3753571
Ski binding
Dodd - March 1937 - 2072477
Ski harness
Hilding - August 1953 - 2649306
Release binding structure
Wick - December 1967 - 3359010
Ski binding
Hollenback - June 1968 - 3388918
SAFETY SKI BINDING
Gertsch - August 1973 - 3753571
Application Number:
05/493869
Publication Date:
09/30/1975
Filing Date:
08/02/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
280/618
International Classes:
A63C9/08; A63C9/086; A63C9/08
Field of Search:
280/11.35T,11.35K,11.35Y
Primary Examiner:
Song, Robert R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Drucker, Morley I.
Claims:
I claim
1. A ski binding, adapted to be mounted on a ski blade and utilized for slope skiing, for ski touring and for ski mountaineering, with said ski blade, which comprises, in combination:
2. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said ski boot retaining means, affixed to said sole plate, has adjustment means thereon for different sized boots.
3. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent, adapted to be affixed to said ski blade, and a detentreceiving means affixed to said sole plate, said adjustable spring-biased detent being engageable with said detent-receiving means.
4. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle and a latch plate operatively engageable with said toggle to move from said first locking position to said second release position.
5. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent engageable with a detent-receiving means affixed to said sole plate, and said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is slightly forward of the area of engagement of said spring-biased detent with said detent-receiving means.
6. The ski binding of claim 5 wherein said walking plate is pivotally movably upwardly an angular distance in excess of 70° measured from the plane of the top surface of said ski blade upon movement of said latching means to said second release position.
7. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said pivotally movable toggle has affixed thereto leaf spring means exerting forwardly directed and downwardly directed forces onto said latch plate whereby said latching means exerts said force onto said walking plate.
8. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent engageable with a detent-receiving means affixed to said sole plate, and said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is placed along a plane of low resistance to the force exerted by said spring biased detent.
9. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said pivotally movable toggle is provided with cavity means, accommodating a ski pole tip, whereby said toggle is pivotally movable when said ski pole tip is forcibly inserted in said cavity means.
10. A ski binding, adapted to be mounted on a ski blade, and utilized for slope skiing, for ski touring and ski mountaineering, which comprises, in combination:
11. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle and a latch plate operatively engageable with said toggle to move from said first locking position to said second release position.
12. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is slightly forward of the point of engagement of said spring-biased detent with said detent-receiving means whereby to allow pivotal movement of said walking plate an angular distance of at least 70°.
13. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is placed along a plane of low resistance to the force exerted by said spring-biased detent.
14. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle, a latch plate and a leaf spring means affixed to said toggle and exerting forwardly and downwardly directed forces on said latch plate when said latch plate is in a first locking position.
15. The ski binding of claim 11 wherein said pivotally movable toggle is provided with cavity means, accommodating a ski pole tip, whereby said toggle is pivotally movable when said ski pole tip is forcibly inserted in said cavity means.
16. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein the underside of said walking plate is coated with a low-friction coating.
1. A ski binding, adapted to be mounted on a ski blade and utilized for slope skiing, for ski touring and for ski mountaineering, with said ski blade, which comprises, in combination:
2. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said ski boot retaining means, affixed to said sole plate, has adjustment means thereon for different sized boots.
3. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent, adapted to be affixed to said ski blade, and a detentreceiving means affixed to said sole plate, said adjustable spring-biased detent being engageable with said detent-receiving means.
4. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle and a latch plate operatively engageable with said toggle to move from said first locking position to said second release position.
5. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent engageable with a detent-receiving means affixed to said sole plate, and said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is slightly forward of the area of engagement of said spring-biased detent with said detent-receiving means.
6. The ski binding of claim 5 wherein said walking plate is pivotally movably upwardly an angular distance in excess of 70° measured from the plane of the top surface of said ski blade upon movement of said latching means to said second release position.
7. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said pivotally movable toggle has affixed thereto leaf spring means exerting forwardly directed and downwardly directed forces onto said latch plate whereby said latching means exerts said force onto said walking plate.
8. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said sole plate to said walking plate includes an adjustable spring-biased detent engageable with a detent-receiving means affixed to said sole plate, and said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is placed along a plane of low resistance to the force exerted by said spring biased detent.
9. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said pivotally movable toggle is provided with cavity means, accommodating a ski pole tip, whereby said toggle is pivotally movable when said ski pole tip is forcibly inserted in said cavity means.
10. A ski binding, adapted to be mounted on a ski blade, and utilized for slope skiing, for ski touring and ski mountaineering, which comprises, in combination:
11. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle and a latch plate operatively engageable with said toggle to move from said first locking position to said second release position.
12. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is slightly forward of the point of engagement of said spring-biased detent with said detent-receiving means whereby to allow pivotal movement of said walking plate an angular distance of at least 70°.
13. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said transverse axis of pivotal movement of said walking plate is placed along a plane of low resistance to the force exerted by said spring-biased detent.
14. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein said latching means includes a pivotally movable toggle, a latch plate and a leaf spring means affixed to said toggle and exerting forwardly and downwardly directed forces on said latch plate when said latch plate is in a first locking position.
15. The ski binding of claim 11 wherein said pivotally movable toggle is provided with cavity means, accommodating a ski pole tip, whereby said toggle is pivotally movable when said ski pole tip is forcibly inserted in said cavity means.
16. The ski binding of claim 10 wherein the underside of said walking plate is coated with a low-friction coating.
Description:
This invention relates to safety ski bindings and more specifically relates to a releasable ski binding adapted for both slope (or downhill) skiing and cross-country skiing (or ski touring), and ski mountaineering.
Ski bindings are known wherein the ski boot is first mounted to a sole plate having an adjustable heel and toe retaining means. The sole plate, itself, is releasably engaged at its toe end to a spring-biased detent member responsive to rearward or sideward forces to thereby release the toe end of the sole plate. At the heel end of the sole plate a releasable heel retainer for the sole plate is provided which is responsive to forward or sideward forces to release the heel end of the sole plate. In the event of any abnormal forces on the ski, the entire sole plate, together with the boot retained therein, is released from the ski.
Bindings of the foregoing described type are shown, by way of example, in the Besser Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,614, issued Jan. 27, 1970. Bindings of the type described are of advantage in that full safety release for both forward and backward falls, and sideways release at both toe and heel can be obtained. However, the binding of the type described cannot be adequately utilized for cross-country skiing (ski touring) or ski mountaineering. In these situations, a great deal of flat, or uphill terrain is encountered, and the binding of the type described restricts to a great extent, a normal free walking motion which is best utilized for ski touring, mountaineering, etc.
It is therefore a chief aim of this invention to provide a ski binding which combines the safety of a "releasable sole plate" downhill binding with the hinging action of touring and mountaineering bindings.
Additionally, it is a major object of the invention to virtually eliminate any friction or spring compression upon the foot of the user -- during the time that the binding is utilized for ski touring and mountaineering while, at the same time, insuring full safety release when the binding is operatively positioned for downhill skiing.
The closest art, with which I am familiar, shows a releasable ski binding combined with a hinging action for ski touring and the like and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. to R. R. Hollenback, entitled "SKI BINDING" and bearing U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,918. Hollenback discloses a conventional releasable cable binding directly engaging and looped around the heel of a boot. The boot is held under compression by the cable binding. The boot itself is also mounted to a hinged supporting plate and, for downslope skiing, the supporting plate is latched at the heel.
Hollenback has several drawbacks. Aside from the inherent disadvantages of a cable binding, the degree of freedom of walking motion in Hollenback is restricted to about a 30° angle. Secondly, the foot of the user, during walking motion, is under constant compression in the Hollenback structure, due to the presence of the cable binding which is always under tension.
It is a further object of the invention to quickly and easily convert the binding of this invention from the "downhill" mode to the "walking" mode simply by means of actuation with a ski pole tip.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the summary of the invention, and the detailed specification which follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ski binding of this invention comprises in combination, a downhill ski binding with a binding having an effective hinging action for walking motions. The ski binding in the downhill mode, has a sole plate, a toe and heel retaining means for a ski boot mounted to said sole plate, an adjustable spring-biased detent pin mounted to a ski blade and releasably engaging a detent-receiving means on the toe retaining means of said sole plate and a releasable heel-retaining means responsive to forward and sideward forces to release the heel retaining means. The ski binding so far described has a six-way safety release, a right and left release at the toe, under rearward or sideward forces, a right and left release at the heel under forward or sideward forces, and upward releases at the toe or heel under upward forces. In all forms of release, the entire sole plate and boot is released. The boot is not part of the binding mechanism and therefore mountaineering, hiking or skiing boots can be worn.
Underlying the sole plate there is provided a separate, preferably metal, supporting or walking plate. The walking plate is held to the ski blade at its rearward end during downhill skiing by means of a toggle-actuated latching mechanism.
The walking plate is pivotally mounted to the ski blade, at its forward end, by virtue of hinged mountings. The pivotal axis of the walking plate is transverse to the ski blade. The pivot axis is positioned slightly forward of the area of engaagement of the spring-biased detent with the detent receiving means on the sole plate, and along a line which provides minimal resistance to the spring-biased detent pin, during walking.
When the toggle actuated latching mechanism is actuated to release the latching mechanism, the walking plate is free to rotate about its pivotal axis -- and, at the same time, the spring-biased detent and detent receiving means stably hold the sole plate (and boot) from sideways movement during the walking motion -- with virtually no friction or spring compression during the walking motion. In excess of 70° of angular motion of the walking plate is possible with the structure of this invention, more angular motion than is usually required.
The toggle latching mechanism is engaged and disengaged simply by a ski pole. Bending down by the user is therefore not required.
The latch plate, which forms part of the toggle actuated mechanism, is beveled at its latching edge so that even if there is some snow under the walking plate, the beveled latch plate can engage and lock the top surface of the walking plate. Further, the latch plate is held under pressure, by the toggle mechanism, so that the latch plate prevents any play in the walking plate even if there be varying amounts of snow accumulation under the walking plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, of the ski binding of my invention, shown mounted on a fragmentary portion of a ski blade;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski binding of my invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view, taken partially in cross-section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the toggle actuated latching mechanism shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the ski binding 10 of this invention comprises, in combination, a sole plate 12, having a preferably integral, upstanding forward or toe end or flange 14 and a heel retaining clamp affixed near the rear end of said sole plate, and designated generally by the numeral 16.
A toe retaining means, in the form of a toe bracket 18 is mounted to the toe end 14 of the sole plate. The toe bracket is upwardly and downwardly adjustable to clamp the toe ends of various types of boots whether they be skiing, hiking, or mountaineering boots. This vertical adjustment with respect to a boot, e.g., boot 19 is accomplished by a single adjusting screw 20 passing through the toe bracket 18 and into upstanding toe end 14. A telescoping, locating pin 20a is also provided which pin 20a permanently attaches toe bracket 18 to flange 14.
The heel retaining clamp 16 is conventional in nature, and comprises an adjustable cable portion 22 pivotally mounted to a heel clamp 24. The lower ends of the cable 22 interfit within one of a series of pairs of apertures 26 formed in the edges of the sole plate 12 and are thereby held to the sole plate. Adjustment to the heel of the boot 19 can then be made by tightening the cable 22 by a conventional adjusting ring 22a mounted on the cable 22.
The boot 19 is thus snugly held to the sole plate 12 by both adjustable toe retaining means 14, 18 and 20 and by heel retaining means 16.
The sole plate 12 is releasably fastened to the ski blade 75, at its forward end, by a spring-biased detent means 30, which is engageable with the outer, somewhat concave, surface or socket 31 of the upstanding flange 14.
The spring-biased detent means 30 comprises a detent housing 32, a detent pin 34 movable within the bore 33 of housing 32 along an axis generally parallel to the ski blade 75 and a strong coil spring 36 mounted within a bore 35 of the detent pin 34 and biased so as to urge the detent pin 34 into engagement with the surface 31 of the upstanding flange 14 of sole plate 12. The pressure of spring 36 within the detent housing 32 can be increased or decreased by means of an externally threaded adjustment member 38 having an adjusting slot 38a formed therein. Adjustment member 38 has a bore 39 formed therein for the purpose of retaining the forward end of spring 36. The housing 32 is internally threaded at its forward end, and the adjustment member 38 is therefore adjustable, with respect to the housing 32, to compress or decompress the spring 36 as the adjustment member 38 is moved to the right of left respectively as viewed in the drawings. Thus, the releasing pressure exerted on the forward portions of the sole plate is adjustable.
The spring-biased detent means 30 is affixed to a mounting plate 44, by any suitable means, or may be made integral therewith. The mounting plate, in turn, is affixed to the ski blade 75, as by a series of screws 45.
The spring-biased detent means 30, when properly adjusted by means of adjusting member 38, urges the rear end of sole plate 12 against a rear sole plate retainer means 50. In this connection, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 5, in particular, the rear sole plate retainer means 50 is affixed by screws 51, or the like, to an underlying support or walking plate 80, which walking plate underlies both the sole plate 12 and the sole plate retainer means. The detailed purpose of the walking plate will be later described.
The rear retainer means 50 has a forward recess 52 formed therein within which interfits the rear edge 54 of the sole plate 12. The rear edge 54 is preferably beveled at its upper surface 55 for easy release from recess 52 if abnormally great forwardly directed forces are encountered by the skier.
To this point, a downhill safety ski binding has been described which is generally termed in the art as a 6-way release. Four of the six directions are shown by the arrows A, B, C, D in FIG. 2. The two releases not shown on the drawings are the upwardly directed releases at the toe end and the heel end respectively.
The safety of the downhill ski binding heretofore described, is combined with the hinged action of a ski touring binding, by releasably securing the sole plate 12 (and its associated boot retaining means) to the walking plate 80 which is hingedly mounted to the ski blade 75 just slightly forward of the area of engagement of the detent pin 34 with the detent-receiving socket 31.
The walking plate 80 is hingedly mounted to the ski blade 75 by any suitable means. It is presently preferred, however, to have the hinging means formed by upturned ears 82, 82a integrally formed with mounting plate 44 and walking plate 80, respectively, the ears 82 having internally threaded bores therein to accept externally threaded hinge pins 84, While the bores of ears 82a are formed with smooth internal walls.
The pivotal axis, or axis of rotation, of the hinged walking plate 80, lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of ski blade 75. The pivotal axis is chosen so that the socket 31 of the sole plate will be stably held, against sideways and upward movement, during walking, by the spring-biased detent pin 34, with virtually no friction or spring-compression during the walking motion.
In the construction shown in the drawings, the optimal pivotal axis is found to be along the line "X--X", the "X--X" line lying in the plane of juncture between the cylindrical portion of the detent pin 34a and the hemispherical portion thereof 34b. While the line X--X is the optimal pivotal axis, this axis can be varied somewhat e.g., 1/8 inch forwardly or rearwardly, without effecting the operation of the binding in its walking mode, in any material manner.
The degree of rotation of the walking plate 80, with respect to the top surface of the ski blade 75, is in excess of 70°; more than is normally required for proper walking motion. The amount of rotation is limited only by the abutment of the toe bracket 18 with the detent housing 30, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1.
The walking plate 80 is usually formed with an integral transversely extending bead 142, affixed to the underside of the walking plate, and at the rear end thereof. See FIG. 5. The walking plate 80 is normally flat. The bead 142 is normally necessary to accommodate the camber of the ski (i.e., the longitudinal curvature of the ski) and to prevent any play of the walking plate 80 in the locked position.
It is also preferred to coat the underside of the walking plate 80 with a low-friction, non-stick coating, e.g., Teflon (manufactured by E. I. duPont de Nemours) to prevent snow from sticking to the underside during use of the binding of this invention in the walking mode.
A toggle-actuated latching means 100 is mounted onto the ski blade 75 just to the rear of the rear end of the walking plate 80. The latching means 100 includes a toggle block 102 having a pair of arcuate leaf springs 104, 106 depending therefrom. The toggle block 102 is mounted for pivotal movement by means of a hinge or pivot pin 108 passing through bore 109 in the toggle block 102. The pivot pin 108 is held at its ends in mounting ears 110. The mounting ears 110 are preferably integrally formed with a mounting plate 112 which is affixed to the ski blade 75 by suitable means such as screws 114.
The latching means 100 includes also a latching plate 116, preferably formed of metal and riding upon the mounting plate 112 and guided thereby in a direction that is coaxial with that of the ski blade 75.
The pivotally mounted toggle block 102 and integral, depending, arcuate leaf spring portions 104, 106 are preferably formed of a plastic material.
The free end 107 of spring portion 106 is slightly enlarged and the enlarged free end fits within a slot 117 formed in latching plate 116. The depending spring portion 104 has a forward bias and contacts spring portion 106, thus exerting both a forward and downward pressure on free end 107 of spring portin 106. The lower surface of spring portion 106 contacts the upper surface of latching plate 116. In this way, the spring portion 106, together with spring portion 104 exerts a constant downward and forwardly directed pressure on latching plate 116, and the free end 107 of spring portion 106 is stably held within slot 117.
The latching plate 116 has a latching tongue portion 118, which in locking position shown in FIG. 5, abuts the upper surface of the rear end of walking plate 80, as best shown in FIG. 5. The latching tongue has a bevelled forward end 120, so that it can readily ride over the bevelled rear end 80a of walking plate 80, if there is any snow on the ski blade.
In the locking position of the latching plate 116, the latch tongue 118 is placed within a rear recess 122 formed in rear sole plate retainer means 50.
The latching tongue 118 is disengaged, from the locking position of FIG. 5, by inserting a ski pole end 140 in a conforming cavity 124 formed in the toggle block 102, and exerting a downward force. The force causes toggle block 102 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of pivot pin 108 which, in turn, causes rearward movement of latching plate 118 and disengagement of latching tongue 118 from the walking plate 80 and from recess 122.
Upon disengagement of the latching plate 116, the walking plate is freed for the aforedescribed hinging action about pivot axis X--X.
When the walking plate 80 is to be locked, the ski pole end 40 is placed in a second conforming ski pole cavity 126, formed in toggle block 102. The toggle block 102 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, causing free end 107 of spring portion 106 to move forwardly, which in turn, causes the latch plate to slide forwardly to engage the walking plate 80.
The latch plate 116, in the locking position shown in FIG. 5, is thus placed under both a downward and forwardly biased pressure by means of the spring portions 104, 106. The walking plate is thus stably held to the ski blade 75 when the latch plate 116 is in the lock position. Further, the constant pressure exerted upon walking plate 80 by the spring portions 104, quickly melts any snow accumulation under the walking plate.
Modifications of this invention can be made by those skilled in the art. For example, other latching mechanisms for the walking plate may be devised and other front and rear releasable fastening means for the sole plate may be devised. Therefore, I wish to be bound only by the claims which follow.
Ski bindings are known wherein the ski boot is first mounted to a sole plate having an adjustable heel and toe retaining means. The sole plate, itself, is releasably engaged at its toe end to a spring-biased detent member responsive to rearward or sideward forces to thereby release the toe end of the sole plate. At the heel end of the sole plate a releasable heel retainer for the sole plate is provided which is responsive to forward or sideward forces to release the heel end of the sole plate. In the event of any abnormal forces on the ski, the entire sole plate, together with the boot retained therein, is released from the ski.
Bindings of the foregoing described type are shown, by way of example, in the Besser Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,614, issued Jan. 27, 1970. Bindings of the type described are of advantage in that full safety release for both forward and backward falls, and sideways release at both toe and heel can be obtained. However, the binding of the type described cannot be adequately utilized for cross-country skiing (ski touring) or ski mountaineering. In these situations, a great deal of flat, or uphill terrain is encountered, and the binding of the type described restricts to a great extent, a normal free walking motion which is best utilized for ski touring, mountaineering, etc.
It is therefore a chief aim of this invention to provide a ski binding which combines the safety of a "releasable sole plate" downhill binding with the hinging action of touring and mountaineering bindings.
Additionally, it is a major object of the invention to virtually eliminate any friction or spring compression upon the foot of the user -- during the time that the binding is utilized for ski touring and mountaineering while, at the same time, insuring full safety release when the binding is operatively positioned for downhill skiing.
The closest art, with which I am familiar, shows a releasable ski binding combined with a hinging action for ski touring and the like and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. to R. R. Hollenback, entitled "SKI BINDING" and bearing U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,918. Hollenback discloses a conventional releasable cable binding directly engaging and looped around the heel of a boot. The boot is held under compression by the cable binding. The boot itself is also mounted to a hinged supporting plate and, for downslope skiing, the supporting plate is latched at the heel.
Hollenback has several drawbacks. Aside from the inherent disadvantages of a cable binding, the degree of freedom of walking motion in Hollenback is restricted to about a 30° angle. Secondly, the foot of the user, during walking motion, is under constant compression in the Hollenback structure, due to the presence of the cable binding which is always under tension.
It is a further object of the invention to quickly and easily convert the binding of this invention from the "downhill" mode to the "walking" mode simply by means of actuation with a ski pole tip.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the summary of the invention, and the detailed specification which follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ski binding of this invention comprises in combination, a downhill ski binding with a binding having an effective hinging action for walking motions. The ski binding in the downhill mode, has a sole plate, a toe and heel retaining means for a ski boot mounted to said sole plate, an adjustable spring-biased detent pin mounted to a ski blade and releasably engaging a detent-receiving means on the toe retaining means of said sole plate and a releasable heel-retaining means responsive to forward and sideward forces to release the heel retaining means. The ski binding so far described has a six-way safety release, a right and left release at the toe, under rearward or sideward forces, a right and left release at the heel under forward or sideward forces, and upward releases at the toe or heel under upward forces. In all forms of release, the entire sole plate and boot is released. The boot is not part of the binding mechanism and therefore mountaineering, hiking or skiing boots can be worn.
Underlying the sole plate there is provided a separate, preferably metal, supporting or walking plate. The walking plate is held to the ski blade at its rearward end during downhill skiing by means of a toggle-actuated latching mechanism.
The walking plate is pivotally mounted to the ski blade, at its forward end, by virtue of hinged mountings. The pivotal axis of the walking plate is transverse to the ski blade. The pivot axis is positioned slightly forward of the area of engaagement of the spring-biased detent with the detent receiving means on the sole plate, and along a line which provides minimal resistance to the spring-biased detent pin, during walking.
When the toggle actuated latching mechanism is actuated to release the latching mechanism, the walking plate is free to rotate about its pivotal axis -- and, at the same time, the spring-biased detent and detent receiving means stably hold the sole plate (and boot) from sideways movement during the walking motion -- with virtually no friction or spring compression during the walking motion. In excess of 70° of angular motion of the walking plate is possible with the structure of this invention, more angular motion than is usually required.
The toggle latching mechanism is engaged and disengaged simply by a ski pole. Bending down by the user is therefore not required.
The latch plate, which forms part of the toggle actuated mechanism, is beveled at its latching edge so that even if there is some snow under the walking plate, the beveled latch plate can engage and lock the top surface of the walking plate. Further, the latch plate is held under pressure, by the toggle mechanism, so that the latch plate prevents any play in the walking plate even if there be varying amounts of snow accumulation under the walking plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, of the ski binding of my invention, shown mounted on a fragmentary portion of a ski blade;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski binding of my invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view, taken partially in cross-section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the toggle actuated latching mechanism shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the ski binding 10 of this invention comprises, in combination, a sole plate 12, having a preferably integral, upstanding forward or toe end or flange 14 and a heel retaining clamp affixed near the rear end of said sole plate, and designated generally by the numeral 16.
A toe retaining means, in the form of a toe bracket 18 is mounted to the toe end 14 of the sole plate. The toe bracket is upwardly and downwardly adjustable to clamp the toe ends of various types of boots whether they be skiing, hiking, or mountaineering boots. This vertical adjustment with respect to a boot, e.g., boot 19 is accomplished by a single adjusting screw 20 passing through the toe bracket 18 and into upstanding toe end 14. A telescoping, locating pin 20a is also provided which pin 20a permanently attaches toe bracket 18 to flange 14.
The heel retaining clamp 16 is conventional in nature, and comprises an adjustable cable portion 22 pivotally mounted to a heel clamp 24. The lower ends of the cable 22 interfit within one of a series of pairs of apertures 26 formed in the edges of the sole plate 12 and are thereby held to the sole plate. Adjustment to the heel of the boot 19 can then be made by tightening the cable 22 by a conventional adjusting ring 22a mounted on the cable 22.
The boot 19 is thus snugly held to the sole plate 12 by both adjustable toe retaining means 14, 18 and 20 and by heel retaining means 16.
The sole plate 12 is releasably fastened to the ski blade 75, at its forward end, by a spring-biased detent means 30, which is engageable with the outer, somewhat concave, surface or socket 31 of the upstanding flange 14.
The spring-biased detent means 30 comprises a detent housing 32, a detent pin 34 movable within the bore 33 of housing 32 along an axis generally parallel to the ski blade 75 and a strong coil spring 36 mounted within a bore 35 of the detent pin 34 and biased so as to urge the detent pin 34 into engagement with the surface 31 of the upstanding flange 14 of sole plate 12. The pressure of spring 36 within the detent housing 32 can be increased or decreased by means of an externally threaded adjustment member 38 having an adjusting slot 38a formed therein. Adjustment member 38 has a bore 39 formed therein for the purpose of retaining the forward end of spring 36. The housing 32 is internally threaded at its forward end, and the adjustment member 38 is therefore adjustable, with respect to the housing 32, to compress or decompress the spring 36 as the adjustment member 38 is moved to the right of left respectively as viewed in the drawings. Thus, the releasing pressure exerted on the forward portions of the sole plate is adjustable.
The spring-biased detent means 30 is affixed to a mounting plate 44, by any suitable means, or may be made integral therewith. The mounting plate, in turn, is affixed to the ski blade 75, as by a series of screws 45.
The spring-biased detent means 30, when properly adjusted by means of adjusting member 38, urges the rear end of sole plate 12 against a rear sole plate retainer means 50. In this connection, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 5, in particular, the rear sole plate retainer means 50 is affixed by screws 51, or the like, to an underlying support or walking plate 80, which walking plate underlies both the sole plate 12 and the sole plate retainer means. The detailed purpose of the walking plate will be later described.
The rear retainer means 50 has a forward recess 52 formed therein within which interfits the rear edge 54 of the sole plate 12. The rear edge 54 is preferably beveled at its upper surface 55 for easy release from recess 52 if abnormally great forwardly directed forces are encountered by the skier.
To this point, a downhill safety ski binding has been described which is generally termed in the art as a 6-way release. Four of the six directions are shown by the arrows A, B, C, D in FIG. 2. The two releases not shown on the drawings are the upwardly directed releases at the toe end and the heel end respectively.
The safety of the downhill ski binding heretofore described, is combined with the hinged action of a ski touring binding, by releasably securing the sole plate 12 (and its associated boot retaining means) to the walking plate 80 which is hingedly mounted to the ski blade 75 just slightly forward of the area of engagement of the detent pin 34 with the detent-receiving socket 31.
The walking plate 80 is hingedly mounted to the ski blade 75 by any suitable means. It is presently preferred, however, to have the hinging means formed by upturned ears 82, 82a integrally formed with mounting plate 44 and walking plate 80, respectively, the ears 82 having internally threaded bores therein to accept externally threaded hinge pins 84, While the bores of ears 82a are formed with smooth internal walls.
The pivotal axis, or axis of rotation, of the hinged walking plate 80, lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of ski blade 75. The pivotal axis is chosen so that the socket 31 of the sole plate will be stably held, against sideways and upward movement, during walking, by the spring-biased detent pin 34, with virtually no friction or spring-compression during the walking motion.
In the construction shown in the drawings, the optimal pivotal axis is found to be along the line "X--X", the "X--X" line lying in the plane of juncture between the cylindrical portion of the detent pin 34a and the hemispherical portion thereof 34b. While the line X--X is the optimal pivotal axis, this axis can be varied somewhat e.g., 1/8 inch forwardly or rearwardly, without effecting the operation of the binding in its walking mode, in any material manner.
The degree of rotation of the walking plate 80, with respect to the top surface of the ski blade 75, is in excess of 70°; more than is normally required for proper walking motion. The amount of rotation is limited only by the abutment of the toe bracket 18 with the detent housing 30, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1.
The walking plate 80 is usually formed with an integral transversely extending bead 142, affixed to the underside of the walking plate, and at the rear end thereof. See FIG. 5. The walking plate 80 is normally flat. The bead 142 is normally necessary to accommodate the camber of the ski (i.e., the longitudinal curvature of the ski) and to prevent any play of the walking plate 80 in the locked position.
It is also preferred to coat the underside of the walking plate 80 with a low-friction, non-stick coating, e.g., Teflon (manufactured by E. I. duPont de Nemours) to prevent snow from sticking to the underside during use of the binding of this invention in the walking mode.
A toggle-actuated latching means 100 is mounted onto the ski blade 75 just to the rear of the rear end of the walking plate 80. The latching means 100 includes a toggle block 102 having a pair of arcuate leaf springs 104, 106 depending therefrom. The toggle block 102 is mounted for pivotal movement by means of a hinge or pivot pin 108 passing through bore 109 in the toggle block 102. The pivot pin 108 is held at its ends in mounting ears 110. The mounting ears 110 are preferably integrally formed with a mounting plate 112 which is affixed to the ski blade 75 by suitable means such as screws 114.
The latching means 100 includes also a latching plate 116, preferably formed of metal and riding upon the mounting plate 112 and guided thereby in a direction that is coaxial with that of the ski blade 75.
The pivotally mounted toggle block 102 and integral, depending, arcuate leaf spring portions 104, 106 are preferably formed of a plastic material.
The free end 107 of spring portion 106 is slightly enlarged and the enlarged free end fits within a slot 117 formed in latching plate 116. The depending spring portion 104 has a forward bias and contacts spring portion 106, thus exerting both a forward and downward pressure on free end 107 of spring portin 106. The lower surface of spring portion 106 contacts the upper surface of latching plate 116. In this way, the spring portion 106, together with spring portion 104 exerts a constant downward and forwardly directed pressure on latching plate 116, and the free end 107 of spring portion 106 is stably held within slot 117.
The latching plate 116 has a latching tongue portion 118, which in locking position shown in FIG. 5, abuts the upper surface of the rear end of walking plate 80, as best shown in FIG. 5. The latching tongue has a bevelled forward end 120, so that it can readily ride over the bevelled rear end 80a of walking plate 80, if there is any snow on the ski blade.
In the locking position of the latching plate 116, the latch tongue 118 is placed within a rear recess 122 formed in rear sole plate retainer means 50.
The latching tongue 118 is disengaged, from the locking position of FIG. 5, by inserting a ski pole end 140 in a conforming cavity 124 formed in the toggle block 102, and exerting a downward force. The force causes toggle block 102 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of pivot pin 108 which, in turn, causes rearward movement of latching plate 118 and disengagement of latching tongue 118 from the walking plate 80 and from recess 122.
Upon disengagement of the latching plate 116, the walking plate is freed for the aforedescribed hinging action about pivot axis X--X.
When the walking plate 80 is to be locked, the ski pole end 40 is placed in a second conforming ski pole cavity 126, formed in toggle block 102. The toggle block 102 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, causing free end 107 of spring portion 106 to move forwardly, which in turn, causes the latch plate to slide forwardly to engage the walking plate 80.
The latch plate 116, in the locking position shown in FIG. 5, is thus placed under both a downward and forwardly biased pressure by means of the spring portions 104, 106. The walking plate is thus stably held to the ski blade 75 when the latch plate 116 is in the lock position. Further, the constant pressure exerted upon walking plate 80 by the spring portions 104, quickly melts any snow accumulation under the walking plate.
Modifications of this invention can be made by those skilled in the art. For example, other latching mechanisms for the walking plate may be devised and other front and rear releasable fastening means for the sole plate may be devised. Therefore, I wish to be bound only by the claims which follow.