EP3845280B1

EP3845280B1 - A toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding

Info

Publication number: EP3845280B1
Application number: EP20217113.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Indulti
Original assignee: Atk Sports SRL
Current assignee: Atk Sports SRL
Priority date: 2019-12-30
Filing date: 2020-12-23
Publication date: 2022-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-23
Also published as: IT201900025687A1; EP3845280A1

Description

The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning ski mountaineering bindings, with particular reference to a toe-piece of the ski binding.
A toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding is known from EP2415504 , which comprises: a base which is fixable to a ski; a first jaw and a second jaw which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base; a first pin which is borne by the first jaw for inserting in a first lateral hole fashioned in a tip of a ski boot; a second pin which is borne by the second jaw for inserting in a second lateral hole opposite the first lateral hole fashioned in the tip of the ski boot; an activating lever which is rotatable with respect to the base; a joint borne by the activating lever, which is interposed between the first jaw and the second jaw, and which is coupled to the first jaw and to the second jaw; a blocking lever which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever, and which comprises a first abutment; first elastic means acting on the first jaw, on the second jaw, on the joint and on the activating lever.
Further, the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding comprises a brake for a ski which: is borne by the base; comprises a braking portion which is movable to assume a braking position, so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding is fixed to the ski the braking portion is lowered below the rest surface of the ski to drag on the layer of snow covering the terrain and thus brake the ski, and a non-active position, so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding is fixed to the ski the braking portion is raised above the rest surface of the ski so as not to interfere with the layer of snow covering the terrain; it comprises an activating portion for activating the braking portion from the braking position towards the first non-active position.
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding further comprises second elastic means acting on the braking portion, for exerting a force tending to bring the braking portion into the braking position.
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding further comprises a braking lever which is connected to the activating portion of the brake, which is manually activatable to bring the braking portion into the non-active position, and which interacts with the first abutment. In particular, the braking lever can move between a first endrun position, which corresponds to the braking position of the braking portion, and a second endrun position, which corresponds to the non-active position of the braking portion.
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding of known type is designed to assume following configurations:

a configuration ready to receive the ski boot, wherein the blocking lever is in an unblocked position and the braking lever is in the first endrun position in which the braking portion is in the braking position;
an intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot reachable starting from the configuration ready to receive the ski boot by hooking the ski boot in the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding, wherein: the blocking lever remains in the unblocked position, and the braking lever is in the first position;
a blocking ski boot configuration, reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot activating the braking lever from the first endrun position to the second endrun position, so as to bring the braking portion of the brake into the non-active position, the blocking lever is in a blocking position which prevents the automatic unhooking of the ski boot;
a ski descent configuration, reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot activating the braking lever from the first endrun position to the second endrun position, so as to bring the braking portion of the brake into the non-active position.

The above-described toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding is designed in such a way, starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot, when the braking lever is activated, as to bring the braking portion of the brake into the non-active position, then the first abutment encounters the activating portion of the brake, thus bringing the braking portion into the non-active position against the elastic action of the second elastic means.
The above-mentioned toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding is further designed in such a way that, starting from the ski descent configuration, when the ski boot unhooks from the toe-piece of the ski binding due to an overload during the ski descent or by acting on the activating lever, then the first abutment automatically disengages from the activating portion of the brake with the consequent movement of the braking portion into the braking position by the action of the second elastic means.
Alternatively, the ski descent configuration reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking by returning the blocking lever into the unblocked position. Likewise, the blocking ski boot configuration is reachable starting from the ski descent configuration by returning the blocking lever into the blocking position.
Therefore, to ski uphill or downhill it is necessary to activate the braking lever manually in order to bring the braking portion from the braking position towards the non-active position, and in the case of unhooking, intentional or accidental due to an overload, of the ski boot from the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding then the braking portion remains in the braking position.
An aim of the present invention consists in making the use of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding simpler.
The above-mentioned aim is attained by a toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding, according to claim 1.
The braking lever is advantageously no longer necessary to manually bring the braking portion of the brake into a non-active position: this aim is now automatically attained by the blocking lever, which when activated by the user, in turn activates the braking portion. Thus, to use the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding the user must act on a single lever, which is the blocking lever, which simplifies the use of a toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding.
Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in the following part of the present description, according to what is set down in the claims and with the aid of the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:

figures 1, 2 are respectively section and perspective views of a toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding object of the present invention in a configuration ready to receive a ski boot, according to a first embodiment of the invention;
figures 3, 4 are respectively the view of sections II-II and IV-IV of figure 1;
figures 5, 6 are respectively section and perspective views of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding of figures 1-2 in an inserted intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot;
figures 7, 8 are respectively the view of sections VII-VII and VIII-VIII of figure 5;
figures 9, 10 are respectively section and perspective views of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding of figures 1-2 in a blocking ski boot configuration;
figures 11, 12 are respectively the view of sections XI-XI and XII-XII of figure 9;
figures 13, 14 are respectively section and perspective views of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding of figures 1-2 in a ski descent configuration;
figures 15, 16 are respectively the view of sections XV-XV and XVI-XVI of figure 13;
figures 17, 18 are respectively section and perspective views of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding of figures 1-2 when a ski boot detaches from the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding starting from the ski descent configuration;
figures 19, 20 are respectively the view of sections XIX-XIX and XX-XXI of figure 17;
figures 13A, 14A are respectively section and perspective views of a toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding according to the present invention in a ski descent configuration, according to a second embodiment;
figures 15A, 16A are respectively the view of sections A-A and B-B of figure 13A.

With reference to the appended tables of drawings, reference numeral (1) denotes in its entirety a toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding according to the present invention, comprising:

a base (2) which is fixable to a ski (9) (schematically illustrated only in figure 3);
a first jaw (11) and a second jaw (12) which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base (2);
a first pin (21) which is borne by the first jaw (11) for inserting in a first lateral hole (not visible in the figures) made in a tip of a ski boot (3);
a second pin (22) which is borne by the second jaw (12) for inserting in a second lateral hole (not visible in the figures), opposite the first lateral hole, made in the tip of the ski boot (3);
an activating lever (4) which is rotatable with respect to the base (2);
a joint (5) borne by the activating lever (4), which is interposed between the first jaw (11) and the second jaw (12), and which is coupled to the first jaw (11) and to the second jaw (12);
a first abutment (31A);
a blocking lever (6) which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever (4), and which bears the first abutment (31A);
first elastic means (41) acting on the first jaw (11), on the second jaw (12), on the joint (5) and on the activating lever (4).

Further, the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) comprises a brake (7) for a ski (9) which: is borne by the base (2); comprises a braking portion (13A) which is movable to assume a braking position (PF), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is lowered below the rest surface (10) of the ski (9) to drag on the layer of snow covering the terrain and thus brake the ski (9), and a first non-active position (PD1), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is raised; it comprises an activating portion (14A) for activating the braking portion (13A) from the braking position (PF) towards the first non-active position (PD1).
Further, the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) comprises second elastic means (as will be clarified in the following, a reference numeral has not been attributed to the second elastic means as in the figures they are incorporated in the brake (7) and are therefore not visible) acting on the braking portion (13A), for exerting a force tending to bring the braking portion (13A) into the braking position (PF).
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is also designed to assume following configurations:

a configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), wherein: the blocking lever (6) is in an unblocked position (PS), and the braking portion (13A) is in the braking position (PF);
an intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) reachable starting from the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) by hooking the ski boot (3) in the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1), wherein: the blocking lever (6) remains in the unblocked position (PS), and the braking portion (13A) remains in the braking position (PF);
a configuration of ski boot blocking (C), reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), wherein: the first abutment (31A) abuts the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7), thus maintaining the braking portion (13A) of the brake (7) in the first non-active position (PD1);
a ski descent configuration (D) reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking (C) by returning the blocking lever (6) into the unblocked position (PS).

Further, the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) comprises a second abutment (32) which is borne by the activating lever (4).
The braking portion (13A) is movable to assume a second non-active position (PD2), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is raised.
The brake (7) for a ski (9) comprises an abutment portion (15A).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) further comprises: a third abutment (33A) for abutting the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7); a carriage (8) which is movable with respect to the base (2), which comprises a track (16) for sliding of the second abutment (32) and which bears the third abutment (33A); and third elastic means (43) acting on the carriage (8).
Further, the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is designed in such a way as:

to reach the configuration of ski boot blocking (C) starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) it is sufficient to bring the blocking lever (6) into a blocking position (PB) which prevents the automatic unhooking of the ski boot (3);
starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), when the blocking lever (6) is activated to reach the blocking position (PB) the first abutment (31A) encounters the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) thus bringing the braking portion (13A) into the first non-active position (PD1);
in the ski descent configuration (D): the first abutment (31A) is disengaged from the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7); the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) encounters the third abutment (33A); and the braking portion (13A) of the brake (7) is in the second non-active position (PD2);
starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking, when the blocking lever (6) is activated to reach the unblocked position (PS) the first abutment (31A) disengages from the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7), with the consequence that the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) abuts the third abutment (33A) thus bringing the braking portion (13A) into the second non-active position (PD2) by way of the elastic action of the second elastic means;
starting from the ski descent configuration (D), when the ski boot (3) unhooks from the toe-piece of the ski binding (9) due to an overload during the ski descent or by acting on the blocking lever (6), then the second abutment (32) moves along the track (16) of the carriage (8) thus determining a movement of the carriage (8) against the action of the third elastic means (43) up to provoking disengagement of the third abutment (33A) of the carriage (8) from the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) and the consequent movement of the braking portion (13A) into the braking position (PF) by the action of the second elastic means.

In the first non-active position (PD1) and in the second non-active position (PD2) the braking portion (13A) is preferably located above the rest surface (10) of the ski (9) so as not to interfere with the layer of snow covering the terrain.
In a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1-20 with the exception of 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) is designed in such a way that the ski descent configuration (D) is only reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking (C). This means that to ski uphill or downhill it is necessary always to first shift the blocking lever into the blocking position: in this way it is advantageously possible to systematically verify whether the first pin and the second pin insert correctly in the lateral holes of the ski boot, i.e. if the ski boot is well hooked to the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding. In the toe-pieces of ski mountaineering bindings of the prior art, such as for example the one described in EP2415504 , the user had to habitually acquire this good practice him or herself, by remembering that on each use of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding it was necessary to priorly shift the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding into the configuration of ski boot blocking. The user however frequently forgot, which caused a safety risk.
According to a second embodiment, that can be derived from a first embodiment of the invention and therefore illustrated only with reference to the ski descent configuration, see figures 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) is designed in such a way that the ski descent configuration (D) is also reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), by moving the blocking lever (6) towards the blocking position (PB) until the first abutment (31A) abuts the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) thus bringing, in turn, the braking portion (13A) into the second non-active position (PD2).
The first non-active position (PD1) and in the second non-active position (PD2) can coincide with one another (solution not shown in the figures).
The first jaw (11) and the second jaw (12) are preferably rotoidally coupled to the base (2) so as to rotate with respect to rotation axes that are parallel to the axis of the ski (9).
The activating lever (4) is preferably rotatably coupled to the base (2) so as to rotate with respect to the perpendicular axis to the axis of the ski (9).
The activating lever (4) preferably rotatably couples to the base (2) at a first intermediate portion (17) of the activating lever (4), so that a first arm (51) of activating lever (4) and a second arm (52) of activating lever (4) are defined; the first arm (51) of activating lever (4) couples with the joint (5) and the second arm (52) of activating lever (4) rotatably couples with the blocking lever (6); the blocking lever (6) rotatably couples to the activating lever (4) at a second intermediate portion (18) of the blocking lever (6), so that a first arm (61) of blocking lever (6) and a second arm (62) of blocking lever (6) are defined; the first arm (61) of blocking lever (6) bears the first abutment (31A) and the second arm (62) of blocking lever (6) forms a grip (19) for manual activation of the blocking lever (6).
The first arm (51) of activating lever (4) can couple with the joint (5) at the free end thereof, and the second arm (52) of activating lever (4) can rotatably couple with the blocking lever (6) at the free end thereof.
The first abutment (31A) can be arranged at the free end of the first arm (61) of blocking lever (6).
The blocking lever (6) is preferably rotatably coupled to the activating lever (4) so as to rotate with respect to the activating lever (4) with respect to a perpendicular axis to the ski (9).
The first abutment (31A) is preferably a first rolling element which is rotatably coupled to the blocking lever (6) and which laterally projects from the blocking lever (6). The first rolling element is preferably a roller.
The first abutment (31A) (variant not illustrated) can also be an integral part of the blocking lever (6), being for example in a single body with the blocking lever (6).
The first elastic means (41) can preferably comprise a first pair of springs (71) which is interposed between the first jaw (11) and the joint (5) and a second pair of springs (72) which is interposed between the second jaw (12) and the joint (5), as illustrated in the figures. Alternatively, the first elastic means can also comprise only one of the above-mentioned pairs of springs, as taught in EP2815794 , or comprise a single spring arranged between the joint and the activating lever, as taught in EP2659940 .
The brake (7) for the ski (9) is preferably in a single body, is coupled to the base (2) and is wire-shaped, in the sense that it extends along the relative axis; the relative section can be cylindrical. The activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) can be a straight portion orientated along the axis of the ski (9); the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) can be a straight portion arranged transversally with respect to the axis of the ski (9), for example arranged perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the ski (9). The abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) can be interposed between the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) and the braking portion (13A). An intermediate connecting portion (150A) can be interposed between the braking portion (13A) and the abutment portion (15A), as is visible in the figures.
The brake (7) for the ski (9) preferably has a shape such (see the figures) as to incorporate the second elastic means. Alternatively (in a variant that is not illustrated), the second elastic means comprise an external spring, for example a torsion spring, which is applied to the brake (7) for skis (9).
The third elastic means (43) are preferably interposed between the carriage (8) and the base (2) and are designed to return the carriage (8) towards the base (2).
The second abutment (32) preferably comprises an appendage (32A) which extends towards the carriage (8).
The second abutment (32) preferably comprises a second rolling element (32B) which is rotatably coupled to the free end of the appendage (32A) to slidably engage in the track (16) of the carriage (8). The second rolling element (32B) is preferably a roller.
The third abutment (33A) of the carriage (8) preferably comprises a third rolling element which is rotatably coupled to the carriage (8). The third rolling element is preferably a roller.
The carriage (8) preferably comprises a first housing (81); the first housing (81) constitutes an end of the track (16) of the carriage (8); the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is designed in such a way that the second abutment (32) is in the first housing (81) when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (3).
The carriage (8) preferably comprises a second housing (82A) for receiving the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) reaches the configuration of ski boot blocking starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B).
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) can comprise a fourth abutment (34) which is borne by the blocking lever (6); the base (2) can comprise a seat (20) for receiving the fourth abutment (34) when the blocking lever (6) assumes the blocking position (PB). The fourth abutment (34) can comprise a rolling element, for example a roller.
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) preferably has a plane of symmetry which is parallel to the axis of the ski (9), for which the following are comprised: a further braking portion (13B) of the brake (7), a further activating portion (14B) of the brake (7), a further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7), a further intermediate connecting portion (150B) of the brake (7), a further second housing (82B) (not clearly visible in the figures, see figures 2, 18), a further first abutment (31B), and a further third abutment (33B). The characteristics of each of these just-introduced elements are the same as those identically-named and already discussed in the foregoing: for example the characteristics of the further first abutment (31B) are the same as discussed above for the first abutment (31A), and so on. In this case too, the brake (7) is preferably in a single body, is coupled to the base (2) at several points. In the example illustrated in the drawings the brake (7) comprises a central portion (23) which is anchored in a niche (24) made in the base (2); further, the intermediate connecting portion (150A) of the brake (7) and the further intermediate connecting portion (150B) of the brake (7) both pass through respective lateral through-holes (25) made in the base (2). The third elastic means (43) preferably comprise two traction springs.
There follows a functional description of the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) according to a first embodiment with a plan of symmetry illustrated in figures 1-20 with the exception of figures 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A.
Figures 1-4 show the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A). The blocking lever (6) is in an unblocked position (PS), and the braking portion (13A) and the further braking portion (13B) are in the braking position (PF). The second abutment (32) is in the first housing (81) of the carriage (8) and the carriage (8) is moved away from the base (2) (figure 3), notwithstanding the action exerted by the third elastic means (43).
If the ski boot (3) is hooked in the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) then the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) moves into the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), as illustrated in figures 5-8. The consequent rotation of the activating lever (4) (compare for example figures 3 and 7) has caused the exit of the second abutment (32) from the first housing (81) of the carriage (8), which has in turn caused the nearing of the carriage (8) to the base (2) (compare figures 3 and 7 once more) by the action of the third elastic means (43). The blocking lever (6) has not been activated and thus remains in the unblocked position (PS). The braking portion (13A) and the further braking portion (13B) also remain in the braking position (PF).
By shifting the blocking lever (6) into the blocking position (PB), the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) reaches the blocking ski boot configuration (C), see figures 9-12. During the rotation of the blocking lever (6): the first abutment (31A) and the further first abutment (31B) respectively abut the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) and the further activating portion (14B) of the brake (7), bringing the braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) and the further braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) into the first non-active position (PD1); the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) encounters the third abutment (33A) and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) encounters the further third abutment (33B) (this temporary step has not been illustrated in the drawings but can be intuited by comparing figures 8 and 12 with one another), with a consequent momentaneous moving away of the carriage (8) against the action of the third elastic means (43) until the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) passes beyond the third abutment (33A), moving beneath the further third abutment (33A) (and thus reaching the second housing (82A)), and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) passes beyond the further third abutment (33B), moving beneath the further third abutment (33A) (and thus reaching the further second housing (82B)). Once the rotation of the blocking lever (6) has terminated, the blocking lever (6) having thus reached the blocking position (PB), the first abutment (31A) and the further first abutment (31B) continue to respectively abut the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) and the further activating portion (14B) of the brake (7), thus guaranteeing that the braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) and the further braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) remain in the first non-active position (PD1). The abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) is in the second housing (82A) (figure 12) and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) is located in the further second housing (82B).
If at this point the blocking lever (6) returns into the unblocked position (PS) the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) reaches the ski descent configuration (D), see figures 13-16. As can be seen in figure 16, the movement of the blocking lever (6) determines the unhooking of the first abutment (31A) and the further first abutment (31B) respectively from the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) and the further activating portion (14B) of the brake (7): as a consequence, the action exerted by the second elastic means is such that the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) abut respectively the third abutment (33A) and the further third abutment (33B), so that the braking portion (13A) and the further braking portion (13B) reach the second non-active position (PD2). In particular, the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) are located beneath, respectively, the third abutment (33A) and the further third abutment (33B).
Thereafter, an unhooking of the ski boot (3) from the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1), due to an overload during the ski descent, or by acting on the blocking lever (6), causes the following effects: the activating lever (4) rotates (in a clockwise direction if a comparison is made between figures 15 and 19); then the second abutment (32) enters into contact with the track (16) of the carriage (8) and slides along the track (16) of the carriage (8): consequently, the carriage (8) is thus moved away from the base (2) notwithstanding the opposite action exerted by the third elastic means (43); therefore, the third abutment (33A) and the further third abutment (33B) disengage respectively from the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) and from the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7); lastly, the braking portion (13A) of the brake (7) and the further braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) reach the braking position (PF) due to the action exerted by the second elastic means. The ski (9) is thus braked. Figures 17-20 illustrate an instant during the unhooking, with the activating lever (4) tending to rotate (as mentioned, in a clockwise direction if a comparison is made between figures 15 and 19) to bring the toe-piece of the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) towards the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A). After the unhooking of the first jaw (11) and the second jaw (12), the jaws can be moved away from one another with the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) having newly reached the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A). Alternatively, after the unhooking of the first jaw (11) and the second jaw (12), the jaws can be neared to one another in an "outrun" position, not illustrated: in that case, to bring the toe-piece of the ski binding (9) towards the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) the user simply has to activate the blocking lever (6).
The second embodiment is differentiated from the first embodiment only due to the fact that the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding is able to reach the ski descent configuration (D) also starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B). In this case it is sufficient to shift the blocking lever (6) towards the blocking position (PB) (but without reaching the blocking position (PB), see figure 15A in which the fourth abutment (34) has not reached the seat (20); so the blocking lever (6) is effectively still in the unblocked position (PS)) until the first abutment (31A) and the further first abutment (31B) respectively abut the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) and the further activating portion (14B) of the brake (7), bringing the braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) and the further braking portion (13B) of the brake (7) into the second non-active position (PD2), see figure 16A. During this partial rotation of the blocking lever (6) (compare figures 7, 15A and figures 8, 16A) the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) encounters the third abutment (33A) and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) encounters the further third abutment (33B), with a consequent momentaneous moving away of the carriage (8) (as mentioned, not illustrated) against the action of the third elastic means (43) until the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) passes beyond the third abutment (33A), moving beneath the further third abutment (33A) (but without thereafter reaching, by virtue of the partial rotation of the blocking lever (6), the second housing (82A)), and the further abutment portion (15B) of the brake (7) passes beyond the further third abutment (33B), moving beneath the further third abutment (33A) (but without thereafter reaching, by virtue of the partial rotation of the blocking lever (6), the further second housing (82B)).
It is understood that the above has been described by way of non-limiting example and that any constructional variants are considered to fall within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as claimed in the following.

Claims

A toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1), comprising:
a base (2) which is fixable to a ski (9);

a first jaw (11) and a second jaw (12) which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base (2);

a first pin (21) which is borne by the first jaw (11) for inserting in a first lateral hole made in a tip of a ski boot (3);

a second pin (22) which is borne by the second jaw (12) for inserting in a second lateral hole, opposite the first lateral hole, made in the tip of the ski boot (3);

an activating lever (4) which is rotatable with respect to the base (2);

a joint (5) borne by the activating lever (4), which is interposed between the first jaw (11) and the second jaw (12), and which is coupled to the first jaw (11) and to the second jaw (12);

a first abutment (31A);

a blocking lever (6) which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever (4), and which bears the first abutment (31A);

first elastic means (41) acting on the first jaw (11), on the second jaw (12), on the joint (5) and on the activating lever (4);

a brake (7) for a ski (9) which: is borne by the base (2); comprises a braking portion (13A) which is movable to assume a braking position (PF), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is lowered below the rest surface (10) of the ski (9) to drag on the layer of snow covering the terrain and thus brake the ski (9), and a first non-active position (PD1), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is raised; it comprises an activating portion (14A) for activating the braking portion (13A) from the braking position (PF) towards the first non-active position (PD1);

second elastic means acting on the braking portion (13A), for exerting a force tending to bring the braking portion (13A) into the braking position (PF);

the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) being designed to assume following configurations:
a configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), wherein: the blocking lever (6) is in an unblocked position (PS), and the braking portion (13A) is in the braking position (PF);

an intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) reachable starting from the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) by hooking the ski boot (3) in the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1), wherein: the blocking lever (6) remains in the unblocked position (PS), and the braking portion (13A) remains in the braking position (PF);

a configuration of ski boot blocking (C), reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), wherein: the first abutment (31A) abuts the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7), thus maintaining the braking portion (13A) of the brake (7) in the first non-active position (PD1);

a ski descent configuration (D) reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking (C) by returning the blocking lever (6) into the unblocked position (PS);

characterised in that:
it comprises a second abutment (32) which is borne by the activating lever (4);

the braking portion (13A) is movable to assume a second non-active position (PD2), so that when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is fixed to the ski (9) the braking portion (13A) is raised;

the brake (7) for a ski (9) comprises an abutment portion (15A);

it comprises a third abutment (33A) for abutting the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7);

it comprises a carriage (8) which is movable with respect to the base (2), which comprises a track (16) for sliding of the second abutment (32) and which bears the third abutment (33A);

it comprises third elastic means (43) acting on the carriage (8);

it is designed in such a way as to reach the configuration of ski boot blocking (C) starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) it is sufficient to bring the blocking lever (6) into a blocking position (PB) which prevents the automatic unhooking of the ski boot (3);

it is designed in such a way that, starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), when the blocking lever (6) is activated to reach the blocking position (PB) the first abutment (31A) encounters the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) thus bringing the braking portion (13A) into the first non-active position (PD1);

it is designed in such a way that in the ski descent configuration (D): the first abutment (31A) is disengaged from the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7); the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) encounters the third abutment (33A); and the braking portion (13A) of the brake (7) is in the second non-active position (PD2);

it is designed in such a way that, starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking, when the blocking lever (6) is activated to reach the unblocked position (PS) the first abutment (31A) disengages from the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7), with the consequence that the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) abuts the third abutment (33A) thus bringing the braking portion (13A) into the second non-active position (PD2) by way of the elastic action of the second elastic means;

it is designed in such a way that, starting from the ski descent configuration (D), when the ski boot (3) unhooks from the toe-piece of the ski binding (9) due to an overload during the ski descent or by acting on the blocking lever (6), then the second abutment (32) moves along the track (16) of the carriage (8) thus determining a movement of the carriage (8) against the action of the third elastic means (43) up to provoking disengagement of the third abutment (33A) of the carriage (8) from the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) and the consequent movement of the braking portion (13A) into the braking position (PF) by the action of the second elastic means.
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of claim 1, which is designed in such a way that the ski descent configuration (D) is only reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking (C).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of claim 1, which is designed in such a way that the ski descent configuration (D) is also reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B), by moving the blocking lever (6) towards the blocking position (PB) until the first abutment (31A) abuts the activating portion (14A) of the brake (7) thus bringing, in turn, the braking portion (13A) into the second non-active position (PD2).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the activating lever (4) rotatably couples to the base (2) at a first intermediate portion (17) of the activating lever (4), so that a first arm (51) of activating lever (4) and a second arm (52) of activating lever (4) are defined; the first arm (51) of activating lever (4) couples with the joint (5) and the second arm (52) of activating lever (4) rotatably couples with the blocking lever (6); the blocking lever (6) rotatably couples to the activating lever (4) at a second intermediate portion (18) of the blocking lever (6), so that a first arm (61) of blocking lever (6) and a second arm (62) of blocking lever (6) are defined; the first arm (61) of blocking lever (6) bears the first abutment (31A) and the second arm (62) of blocking lever (6) forms a grip (19) for manual activation of the blocking lever (6).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first abutment (31A) is a first rolling element which is rotatably coupled to the blocking lever (6) and which laterally projects from the blocking lever (6).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake (7) for the ski (9) is in a single body, is coupled to the base (2) and is wire-shaped.
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third elastic means (43) are interposed between the carriage (8) and the base (2) and are designed to return the carriage (8) towards the base (2).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second abutment (32) comprises an appendage (32A) which extends towards the carriage (8).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of the preceding claim, wherein the second abutment (32) comprises a second rolling element (32B) which is rotatably coupled to the free end of the appendage (32A) to slidably engage in the track (16) of the carriage (8).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third abutment (33A) of the carriage (8) comprises a third rolling element which is rotatably coupled to the carriage (8).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the carriage (8) comprises a first housing (81); the first housing (81) constitutes an end of the track (16) of the carriage (8); the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is designed in such a way that the second abutment (32) is in the first housing (81) when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (3).
The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriage (8) comprises a second housing (82A) for receiving the abutment portion (15A) of the brake (7) when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) reaches the configuration of ski boot blocking starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B).