Sole-Support Device for Ski Binding

The invention relates to a sole-support device for use with a ski binding arrangement and beneath the sole of a ski boot.

Such a device has already been described in connection with FIG. 5 of Austrian Patent No. 302,129. This device has the disadvantage that the band, Which is thicker than the height of the lateral borders, in which bearing axles are supported, when the skier steps with the ski boot into the binding, is pressed forwardly beyond the front edge by the ski boot and is thus deformed.

A similar disadvantage exists in the design according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,965 in which the band is guided only in lateral grooves of a plate-shaped support member. Therefore, lateral borders are missing in this design (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

This is also the case in the device according to Austrian Patent No. 311,231 in which the position of the band is defined in longitudinal direction of the ski only by the bend in the support member.

Finally U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,990 illustrates in FIG. 5 a closed flat cushion in which a lubricant is stored and which is fastened to the upper side of the ski by means of an adhesive. The cushion is in the ball area of the ski boot. The release of the ski boot is supposed to be helped with this cushion during a twisting fall of the skier.

A sole-support device for ski bindings which has a support member adapted to be fastened to a ski, the support member including a support section on which the weight of a skier is supported. The support section includes structure defining a groove in and extending laterally of the support section. The groove has a pair of spaced upstanding walls. An endless band is guided transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the ski on the support section, one reach of the endless band being received in the groove between the upstanding walls. The groove is arranged on an upper side of the support member. The reach consists of a front edge facing a tip of the ski and a rear edge facing a tail of the ski. An upper side of the front edge is higher than the horizontal plane of an upper boundary edge of a front one of the upstanding walls of the groove. An upper side of the rear edge is either aligned with a further upper boundary edge of a rear one of the upstanding walls of the groove or lies in a horizontal plane oriented lower than the further boundary edge.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an associated top view of the first embodiment, partly cut along the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, are a central longitudinal cross-sectional view and a top view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the band;

FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of a third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the fourth embodiment partly cut along the line X--X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI--XI of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment similar to the one of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c show, respectively, the bimetallic strip prior to its installation, in its installed state and in its relaxed state;

FIG. 14 is a central cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment with the ski boot not inserted;

FIG. 14a is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view after a frontal fall of the skier;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV--XV of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16 and 17 also are central longitudinal cross-sectional views of a seventh embodiment during a frontal fall of the skier and during nonuse of the ski;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII--XVIII of FIG. 19 of an eighth embodiment in the rest position;

FIG. 19 is a top view of FIG. 18, the band being cut away to facilitate an unobstructed view of the toggle joint;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view corresponding with FIG. 18 of the sole-support device in the skiing position;

FIG. 21 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the same;

FIG. 23 shows the plate and the holder in a pulled-apart state;

FIG. 24 shows the holder in direction of the arrow XXIV in FIG. 25;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXV--XXV of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a top view of a tenth embodiment of a blank of a piece consisting of foil and strip, prior to the ends of the strip having been welded together;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the same piece, however, after the two ends of the strip have been welded together;

FIG. 28 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of the piece in the state in which it is installed into the sole-support device; and

FIG. 29 is also a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of a detail of an eleventh embodiment of the device of the invention.

The sole-support device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is identified in its entirety by the reference numeral 100. It has a support member 102 fastenable to the upper side 101a of a ski 101. A continuous or endless band 104 is supported in a groove 102b in a central support section 102a of the support member 102, hereinafter also referred to as section.

The band 104 (see FIG. 5) consists of a support band 104a, not manually expandable and, if necessary, is corrugated on its upper side, and of a rubber band 104c fixedly connected to the support band 104a and provided with ribs 104b. The ribs 104b are, on an edge facing the tail end of the ski, inclined at an angle .alpha. between 2.degree. and 15.degree.. Whereas, on an opposite edge, namely, the edge facing the tip of the ski, a bevel is formed at an angle .beta. lying between 10.degree. and 45.degree.. The bases of the grooves extend thereby between the individual ribs 104b in the mounted state of the sole-support device 100 at the front edge of the band 104 in alignment with the upper boundary edge of the associated wall of the groove 102b. The upper boundary edge of the associated wall of the groove 102b projects slightly, at the rear edge of the band 104, beyond the bases of the grooves between the individual ribs 104b or is aligned with the ribs (see FIG. 8). In other words, an endless band is guided transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the ski on the support section, one reach of the endless band being received in the groove between the upstanding walls. The groove is arranged on an upper side of the support member. The reach consists of a front edge facing a tip of the ski and a rear edge facing a tail of the ski. An upper side of the front edge is higher than the horizontal plane of an upper boundary edge of a front one of the upstanding walls of the groove. An upper side of the rear edge is either aligned with a further upper boundary edge of a rear one of the upstanding walls of the groove or lies in a horizontal plane oriented lower than the further boundary edge. This prevents the band 104 from being pulled out of the groove 102b when the skier steps in with his/her ski boot or during a forward twisting fall.

Two rods 106 of rubber or plastic extending in longitudinal direction of the ski are inserted into bores 105 of the support member 102 in the area of the 180.degree. turning points of the band 104.

The support member 102 is in the area of the support section 102a provided with a flat bearing surface 102c and is secured by means of screws 107, which are only schematically indicated in FIG. 1, to the upper side 101a of the ski 101. The support member 102 has projections 102d in the area behind the support section 102a. The projections 102d are inserted into a slotted hole 108a of an end part 108 also provided with a flat bearing surface 108b. The end part 108 has also shoulders 108c, with which it grips over the free ends of the rods 106. The rods 106 thus can no longer be torn out of the bores 105 of the support member 102 when the end part 108 is mounted.

A groove 102e, downwardly and rearwardly open and extending in transverse direction of the device 100, is provided below and in the support section 102a of the support member 102. The upper leg 109a of an insert member 109 of a hydrophobic and elastic material, for example of silicone rubber or polyethylene, which insert member is U-shaped in cross section, is inserted into the groove 102e. However, it is also possible to use this groove 102e to fasten a steel band on which the heel holder of the ski binding is anchored and with respect to the front jaw 110 illustrated only by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 1. If the metal band is inserted, the end part 108 is replaced through a suitable cover having an opening therethrough for the metal band. This development is not part of the subject matter of the present invention.

Below the lower strand or reach of the band 104 there is arranged the lower leg 109b of the insert member 109 on the upper side 101a of the ski between the support member 102 and the end part 108. The upper side 109c of the leg 109b is formed by a conical surface or by two adjacent surfaces of a pyramid. If ice crystals form between the lower strand of the band 104 and the insert member 109 during transport or during travel, then these are broken during a twisting fall of the skier through the ribs 104b on the lower strand of the band 104 and are at the same time removed over the narrow sides of the ski 101.

The embodiment of a sole-support device 200 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is very similar to the first-described one. It differs from it, first, only in the band 204 not being held under tension by two rubber rods, but by the legs 215a of a U-shaped torsion spring 215. Pressure elements 216, which are preferably U-shaped in cross section, are mounted on the legs 215a of the spring 215. The pressure elements 216 are manufactured of a low friction material and assure an even pressure distribution. The leg 215b of the torsion spring 215 has a loop 215c and is housed in a recess 202f in the support member 202, which recess 202f is open toward the upper side 201a of the ski. Thus, the leg 215b of the torsion spring 215 is held nonmovably with respect to the ski 201.

A further difference between the device 200 and the one described first is that the insert member 209 of plastic, which insert member 209 is approximately U-shaped under the support section 202a of the support member 202, rests with its one leg 209b on the upper side 201a of the ski to form a cavity 209d, and other leg 209a is received the space between the support section 202a and the lower strand of the band 204. This insert member 209 has the task of breaking the ice crystals possibly forming in the space between the lower strand of the band 204 and the leg 209b and to move these out of the device through a transverse movement of the band 204 with the help of the ribs 204b.

The band 204 rests according to FIG. 3 directly on the support section 202a of the support member 202. However, there exists the possibility of interpositioning a strip 218 between the support section 202a and the band 204, which strip 218 is manufactured of a low friction material, for example of a polytetrafluoroethylene (see FIG. 7).

The sole-support device 300 illustrated in FIG. 6 is distinguished by the band 304 being guided not only with its upper strand, but also with its lower strand in grooves 302b.sub.1 and 302b.sub.2 of the support member 302. The lower groove 302b.sub.2 is thereby defined by two borders 302g projecting downwardly from the support section 302a.

A rectangular frame 319 is provided below the support section 302a on the upper side 301a of the ski, the upper side of which frame is covered with a metal foil 320. A foam-material insert 321 is provided inside of the frame 319. The metal foil 320 is secured on one side of the frame 319 by a joint 319a and rests loosely on the oppositely lying side of the frame.

The two borders 302g rest in the skiing position on the metal foil 320. Since the bearing pressure of the borders 302g changes constantly due to the changing load of the skier, a vibrating movement of the metal foil 320 occurs, which breaks the possibly existing ice crystals. Therefore, the ice crystals forming below the lower strand of the band 304 are also in this embodiment broken during skiing and are removed from the space during a lateral release.

Devices can be used for tensioning the band 304 as they have already been described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3 or rather 3 and 4 or rather 7.

The sole-support device illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 is identified in its entirety by the reference numeral 400. It has a support member 402, which can be fastened to the upper side 401a of a ski 401 by means of screws 407. A continuous cylindrical band 404 is supported in a groove 402b in the center support section 402a of the support member 402. The rear end 402d of the support member 402 is bent downwardly and is received in a slotted-holelike recess 408a of an end part 408. The end part 408 is approximately U-shaped in the top view with the outer surfaces of the two legs 408c forming the turning points for the band 404. The legs 408c are designed with relatively thin walls and can thus be bent outwardly by small forces.

The support member 402 has near its rear end 402d a recess 402g enlarged in its central area and extending in a transverse direction. The leg 425a of a barlike, U-shaped bimetallic strip 425 acting as a spring is supported with clearance in the recess 402g (see FIG. 10). The two legs 425b and 425c of the bimetallic strip 425 are provided in grooves 408d, 408e recessed on the insides of the legs 408c of the end part 408. Also the legs 425b, 425c of the bimetallic strip 425 have clearance relative to the two grooves 408d, 408e of the end part 408.

The band 404 is tensioned with respect to the support section 402a in the skiing position so that the edges of the band 404 seal with respect to the support section 402a and an undesired penetration of water or dirt into the space between the band 404 and the support section 402a is prevented.

However, if the ski 401 is moved into a warm room, for example a storage room, the bimetallic strip 425 is deformed due to the increase in temperature such that the two legs 425b, 425c pivot toward the support section 402a and at the same time lift off from the legs 408c of the end part 408. However, this relaxes the band 404.

The fifth embodiment of a sole-support device illustrated in FIG. 12, which sole-support device is identified in its entirety by the reference numeral 500, is very similar to the one aforedescribed. It differs from same in that the band 504 is not cylindrical but conical. The device 500 also has a U-shaped bimetallic strip 525 constructed as a leaf spring with legs 525b, 525c pointing outwardly after installation (see FIG. 13a). The preferably forwardly bent leg 525a of this bimetallic strip 525 is housed in a recess 502h of a support member 502, which recess 502h extends in transverse direction, is open downwardly and is covered by an end part 508. The legs 525b, 525c of the bimetallic strip 525 extend after installation into the device 500, in their position of use, namely, in the tensioned position of the band 504, parallel with respect to the longitudinal direction of the device 500 and rest on two wedge-shaped intermediate members 506a, 506b. The intermediate members 506a, 506b are, therefore, pushed upon by the two legs 525 b, 525c of the bimetallic strip 525 to tension the band 504 in the skiing position of the device 500. The outer surfaces of the wedge-shaped intermediate members 506a, 506b form thereby the turning points for the band 504.

Thus all parts assume in the skiing position the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 12 (see also FIG. 13b).

However, if the ski is moved into a warm room, then the two legs 525b, 525c of the bimetallic strip 525 bend downwardly as shown in FIG. 13c, and the band 504 is relieved of the tension applied up to then.

The sixth embodiment of a sole-support device illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 is identified by the reference numeral 600 in its entirety. It has a support member 602 which can be fastened on the upper side 601a of a ski 601, for example, by screws 607. A continuous conical band 604 is supported in a groove 602b in the central support section 602a of the support member 602. The rear end 602d of the support member 602 has two downwardly projecting shoulders 602d.sub.1 and 602d.sub.2, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter. The rear end 602d of the support member 602 is covered by an end part 608, which is supported only with its rear end 608f on the upper side 601a of the ski 601. The support section 602a of the support member 602 and the end part 608 are manufactured of an elastic material, for example, a plastic. Thus, a pivoting of the support section 602a and of the end part 608 toward of the upper side 601a of the ski 601 is possible under the influence of the weight of the skier during a frontal fall of the skier.

The support section 602a of the support member 602 has a groove 602i on three sides, in which groove is supported with clearance a wire or leaf spring 630 which is U-shaped in the top view. The leg 630a of the spring 630 is slightly bent in direction of the two legs 630b, 630c. Wedgelike intermediate members 606a, 606b are supported on the two legs 630b, 630c, which intermediate members form the turning points for the continuous conical band 604. The intermediate members 606a, 606b can be pivoted at least in a given area about the two legs 630b, 630c of the spring 630.

An axle 631 exists between the two shoulders 602d.sub.1 and 602d.sub.2 of the support member 602. A toggle lever 632 is supported on the axle 631. The lower arm 632a of the toggle lever 632 rests on the upper side 601a of the ski 601 and the other, upper arm 632b on the leg 630a of the U-shaped spring 630.

All parts assume the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 14 or 15 in the skiing position of the sole-support device 600. The band 604 is thereby tensioned.

However, if a frontal fall of the skier occurs during skiing, then the support section 602a of the support member 602 and the end part 608 is bent toward the upper side 601a of the ski 601. The upper arm 632b of the toggle lever 632 presses thereby the forwardly bent leg 630a of the spring 630 into the elongated position. The two legs 630b and 630c of the spring 630 are in this manner pivoted inwardly as illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 15. The two intermediate members 606a and 606b can thus lift off from the band 604 and can move toward the vertical longitudinal center plane of the device 600. The band 604 is thus relaxed.

The seventh embodiment 700 of a sole-support device illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 differs from the earlier ones in that the toggle lever 732 has a third arm 732c which extends in relationship to the axle 731 approximately diametrically with respect to the lever arm 732a and is provided in a recess 708h of the end part 708. A tapped hole 708i extending vertically onto the upper side 701a of the ski is provided in the end part 708. A screw 740 is screwed into the tapped hole 708i. The axle of the screw 740 intersects the longitudinal axis of the lever arm 732c.

If the ski 701 is supposed to be used by the skier after being stored, the screw 740 is screwed upwardly in the tapped hole 708i, so that the lever arm 732c can pivot upwardly within the recess 708h of the end part 708. In the case of a frontal fall of the skier, the lever 732 thus urges the bar 730a of the spring 730 back causing the two legs 730b and 730c of the spring 730 to pivot inwardly thus relaxing the band 704, as this has already been discussed in connection with the earlier described exemplary embodiment (see FIG. 14a).

However, if the screw 740 is tightened or moved downwardly in the tapped hole, the lever arm 732c is pressed downwardly (see FIG. 17), and the toggle lever 732 is pivoted. However, this has the result that the lever arm 732b of the toggle lever 732 presses the leg 730a of the spring 730 back so that also the band 704 can relax.

The eighth embodiment of a device 800 illustrated in FIGS. 18-20 is distinguished by the support section 802a of the support member 802 not being rigidly connected to the support member, but is formed by two levers 845a, 845b independent from the support member 802, which levers are connected like a toggle joint by means of an axle 846. A strong tensioning of the band 804 in the skiing position can be achieved with relatively small forces due to the toggle-lever action. Each of the two levers 845a, 845b has at its free end a roller 848a or rather 848b supported on an axle 847a or rather 847b, which rollers guide the band 804. Two torsion springs 849 are supported on the axle 846 connecting the two levers 845a and 845b. The torsion springs 849 pivotally urge the two levers 845a and 845b toward one another.

The axles 847a and 847b of the two rollers 848a and 848b are extended beyond their bearing points in the two levers 845a and 845b and are supported in slotted holes 802k, 802m in the support member 802 or rather in slotted holes 808j, 808k of the end part 808. The slotted holes 802k, 802m or rather 808j, 808k parallel with respect to the upper side 801a of the ski. The two levers 845a, 845b are stored in an upwardly open trough-shaped recess 802n of the support member 802, which is closed off rearwardly by the end part 808.

The individual elements of the sole-support device 800 assume in the rest position the position illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, in which position the axles 847a and 847b of the two rollers 848a and 848b, under the influence of the two torsion springs 849, rest on the inner ends of the associated slotted holes 802k, 802m and 808j, 808k.

When the skier steps with his ski boot into the front jaw 850, which is only indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIGS. 18 and 20, the ski boot presses the two levers 845a, 845b into their elongated position (see FIG. 20). The band 804 is tensioned in this position such that during the skiing its two edges rest closely on the upper side of the two levers 845a, 845b. The axles 847a, 847b of the two rollers 848a, 848b, which due to the pressure of the ski boot were moved outwardly, are in the end area of the slotted holes 802k, 802m, 808j, 808k without, however, striking the outer ends.

As soon as the ski boot has again left the front jaw 850, the two levers 845a, 845b are again pivoted inwardly under the influence of the two torsion springs 849 until they have reached the position illustrated in FIG. 18.

The sole-support device illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 is identified in its entirety by the reference numeral 900. It has a support member 902, which can be secured on the upper side 901a of a ski 901 and in the central support section 902a of which there is supported a continuous cylindrical band 904 in a groove 902b.

The band 904 has ribs 904b inclined at an angle .alpha. between 2.degree. and 15.degree. on the edge facing the tail end of the ski. Whereas on the opposite edge facing the tip of the ski, a bevel is formed at an angle .beta. lying between 10.degree. and 45.degree.. A strip 918 of polytetrafluoroethylene exists between the band 904 and the support section 902a. The front jaw, identified here by dash-dotted lines, has the reference numeral 950.

The support member 902 is provided with a flat bearing surface 902c in the area in front of the support section 902a and is fastened by means of screws 907, which are only schematically indicated in FIG. 21, on the upper side 901a of the ski 901. The support member 902 has projections 902d in the area behind the support section 902a. The projections 902d are inserted in a slotted hole 908a of an end part 908, which also has a flat bearing surface 908b. The end part 908 has furthermore shoulders 908c laterally gripping around the support section 902a.

A recess 902o, opening upwardly and to both sides, is provided below the support section 902a of the support member 902 and in the support section. The bottom portion of the recess 902o is closed off by a plate 960 covered with a foil 961 of polytetrafluoroethylene. The plate 960 consists in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of an elastic material having a hardness of up to a maximum of 30 shore A. It has recesses 962 increasing the flexibility of the plate 960. However, there exists also the possibility of limiting the hardness of the plate to 15 shore A at a maximum. The flexibility of the plate 960 is in this case so great that recesses do not need to be provided.

The plate 960 and the foil 961 have holes 960c.sub.1, 960c.sub.2, 961c.sub.1, 961c.sub.2 adjacent their two edges, with which holes they can be mounted onto the pegs 902p of the support member 902 and onto the pegs 908m of the end part 908, and on which the plate 960 and the foil 961 are held by friction. The plate 960 and the foil 961 are held at one end by means of tabs 960h, 961h, which have holes 960c.sub.1, 961c.sub.1, in slots 963f of a holder 963 rectangular in cross section. The horizontal leg of the holder 963 has also a number of holes 963d. The two slots 963f are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the device 900.

The foil 961 and the plate 960 easily make it possible to remove those ice crystals which form during skiing between the lower strand of the band 904 and the foil 961, during a fall of the skier from the device.

The tenth embodiment 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 28, of which only one detail is illustrated, is distinguished by the strip 1018 of polytetrafluoroethylene arranged between the band 1004 and the support section 1002a of the support member 1002 being manufactured in one piece together with the foil 1061. The piece has as a blank which is approximately "T" shaped in the top view. The two ends of the strip 1018 are first welded together in this piece. Then the stem of the "T", which has a number of holes 1061c.sub.2 at its end, is bent at 180.degree., so that the end of the stem extends parallel to those sections of the strip 1018 forming the bearing areas for the two strands or reaches of the band 1004.

The piece consisting of the foil 1061 and of the strip 1018 is thereafter sprayed all around with an elastic material, for example, foam rubber, natural rubber or the like, forming a member 1070. The member 1070 has--viewed in cross section--approximately a H shape. The member 1070 is thereafter moved with its two front legs onto a shoulder 1002q of the support member 1002.

The eleventh embodiment 1100 illustrated in FIG. 29 is distinguished by the piece consisting of the foil 1161 and of the strip 1118 forming one single structural part with the member 1170. The member 1170 is thereby also foamed of an elastic material, for example of polytetrafluoroethylene. The assembly of the device is simplified by this one-piece construction of the parts 1161, 1118, and 1170.

The invention is not to be limited to the illustrated and above-described embodiments. Rather many different modifications of these are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is also possible to utilize other clamping devices like wedges or the like to tension the band. Furthermore it would be conceivable in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 9-11 to support the cylindrical band at its turning points through intermediate members which are independent from the end part and therefore can pivot about the legs of the bimetallic strip. Furthermore, it would be possible in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 14, 14a and 15 to construct the support section of the support member rigidly, however, the transverse axle for the toggle lever would be manufactured of a spring-steel wire. The end part of an elastic material would in this case have to be provided with at least one shoulder, which during a frontal fall of the skier bends the transverse axle for the toggle lever downwardly. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 18 to 20 it would be possible to extend in place of the roller axles the axle in the toggle joint forwardly and to guide this extension in a vertical guide groove of the support member. The two levers would through this measure also be centered in the pressed-down state. It would be conceivable in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 28 and 29 to fasten the shoulder for fastening the member consisting of the strip and of the foil and being H-shaped in cross section instead of on a shoulder of the support member on a shoulder of the end part. Finally, it would be possible in the embodiment according to FIGS. 21 and 28 to glue the foil to the plate, or it would be possible to apply a layer onto the plate during a separate manufacturing operation.