WO1988005325A1

WO1988005325A1 - Ski binding device

Info

Publication number: WO1988005325A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnold L. Flick
Original assignee: Flick Arnold L
Priority date: 1987-01-27
Filing date: 1988-01-26
Publication date: 1988-07-28

Abstract

A ski binding mechanism for retaining a ski boot in fixed position on a ski and providing for release of the binding at any angle and for precisely controlling the required forces at various release angles. A plurality of retaining points each consisting of a spring plunger mechanism with a spherical tip (15) which is fitted to a contoured retaining socket (30) or groove in the boot sole plate (11), and the socket or groove is milled away at its periphery at varying angles. A toe piece (101) and heel piece (110) are attached to the ski boot. Toe and heel pieces have centering depressions (113) and (105) for plunger tip. In addition, grooved surfaces (110) and (111) provide for precisely controlling the required release forces at various release angles.

Description

Specification Ski Binding Device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of skiing, and more specifically, deals with a new and improved construction of safety ski binding for enabling predetermined release of the ski boot from the ski during those situations where the skier's leg is subjected to undesired loads where a variable binding release action is desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problems of maximizing snow skier safety in compromise with the requirements of keeping the skier attached to his skis in varying conditions have received a great deal of engineering and commercial attention in the past thirty years but the optimum solution has yet to be reached.

Failure of the skier to release during falls may result in bone fractures, particularly to the legs, while unexpected release during controlled skiing can be equally injurious. A system to safely release the skier must not only reliably release at specified forces and directions, but must also, to be commercially practical, be adjustable to account for skier ability, equipment variations and environment. Further, the system must be durable and reliably operable over a wide range of temperature and moisture conditions.

Existing products have tended toward greater complexity in order particularly to address the issues of release angles and adjustability. As the engineering ability to address this wider range of conditions has increased so has the complexity and number of moving parts, which can decrease reliability and provide opportunities for intrusion of water into the mechanism which can freeze and change the operating characteristics or prevent operation entirely. Further, in order to permit step-in access to the binding, the heel attachment of commercial bindings has tended to be less adaptable to required range of release angles and more attention has been given to the range of release angles of the toepiece. The result is that such bindings may not release in response to a rotational force emanating from heel toward the toe. Similarly some bindings have not released in straight forward falls and angled upward twisting falls because the release directions of the binding have not been continuous but are oriented in specific directions by the constraints of the moving parts of the system. For instance, almost all bindings are designed to easily release laterally (in a horizontal plane 90 degrees from the vertical) by such mechanisms as horizontally swivelling toepieces, but those bindings will not as easily or reliably release at a release force angle of say 75 degrees unless a separate rotational mechanism is incorporated in the toepiece to move through that angle. In other words, few bindings have yet been made that can operate over the entire continuous 180 degree range of release angles both from toe and heel restraining points, and none that enable continuous or periodic adjustment of the release forces throughout the range.

Thus it is an object of the within invention to provide a ski binding system that can be configured to release at any predetermined unidirectional force or release angle over a continuous range of forces and angles.

A further objective of the within invention is to provide a ski binding system that will release in response to rotational forces that do not trigger a release within existing systems.

Another objective of the within invention is to accommodate to the continuous range of release specifications but reliably retain the skier in the binding in all conditions except during falls.

Further objective of the within invention is to provide a greatly simplified ski binding system with a minimum of moving parts in order that reliability and watertight integrity can be maximized.

Another objective of the within invention is to provide a ski binding system that can be easily adjusted or modified to accommodate the specific release requirements of individual skiers of all abilities.

Finally, it is an objective of the within invention to provide a system that will not be limited to discrete or separated operating angles of release, but provide continuous release capability over the entire range of angles and forces which a ski binding system addresses.

The within invention claims particularly a plunger and socket or receiving groove attachment mechanism with a precisely machined socket or groove contoured to enable release of the plunger mechanism at specified forces and angles. The closest reference in the art known to applicant is Gertsch U.S. Letters Patent 3,781,028 Safety Ski Binding. Gertsch is -limited however, in several ways that the within device is not, specifically Gertsch uses a hemispherical socket thus providing for equal release forces at all angles of incidence between retaining pin and boot. Further this device specifies a separate metal plate to hold the socket which plate then must be externally attached to the boot, and a four-point locking pin system is specified or two points on either end of the boot. By contrast the within invention uses either a socket or groove selectively shaped and contoured in a non-uniform fashion so as to provide unequal release forces at different angles of incidence of pin to boot, and provides that the socket or groove may be integral with the boot sole, a preferred configuration as it decreases by 1 degree the freedom of motion between the skier and the ski. Also the within invention can be configured to operate with any number of retaining pins that might be desired to tailor the response to release forces although a 3 point fixation system is considered to be the preferred embodiment because fewer may permit unstable roll moments while more may inhibit free boot movement out of the binding during forward twisting falls. Other similarly limited systems in the art include Ramillon U.S. Letters Patent 3,936,065 and Salomon U.S. Letters Patent 4,003,587, both of which require more moving parts and are limited in responsiveness and adjustability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The within invention accomplishes all of its objectives by providing a simple mechanism consisting of a spring-loaded plunger with a spherical tip at both the toe and heel retaining points in the ski binding each of which engages a socket or groove in the boot sole or in an external boot sole plate, and the sockets or groove are variably contoured to enable release in specific directions but more forceable restraint in other directions. There is only one moving part, the plunger itself which moves only in one direction and over a small range and is easily sealed to provide watertight integrity with a simple O-ring or can be machined to quite close tolerances that will in itself prevent entry of moisture. Since the contouring of the socket or groove perimeter can be of any continuous or discrete shape or angle, the variability of the release contours are completely continuous and not limited to any discrete steps. Since there is only one adjustment for the plunger positioning and tensioning, complex fitting and positioning procedures of typical commercial bindings are not necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of the ski binding mechanism showing a ski boot sole plate in representational form retained on a ski;

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the toe binding plunger mechanism along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a retaining socket in the boot plate;

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the socket along line 4-4 of Figure 3 in illustrating a thirty degree release angle;

Figure 5 is a cross-section of the socket along line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing a forty degree release angle;

Figure 6 is a cross-section along line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing a fifty degree release angle;

Figure-7 is a side view of another embodiment of a retaining socket with a cut-away view of the socket in cross-section;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the socket of Figure 7 from viewpont 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-section of the socket of Figure 7 along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a typical ski boot toe portion with a contoured receiving groove plate attached to the sole of the boot ; and

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of a typical ski boot heel with a contoured groove plate for receiving two retaining pins mounted to the sole of the boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 illustrates the basic elements of applicant's ski binding system in plan view of a portion of the ski 10 and the boot sole plate 11 in position on the ski and retained by the ski binding mechanism. The boot sole plate is depicted in the drawing in representational form and can either be an integral part of the boot itself or an attachable sole plate for specific use with this system, the integrated embodiment being the preferred form. The toe and heel retaining mechanisms depicted are essentially identical and each consists of the a mounting plate 12, a generally cylindrical housing 13 containing a plunger mechanism 14 with a spherical tip 15. At the end of the housing opposite the tip is an adjusting screw mechanism 16. The boot sole plate is simply retained in the binding by the longitudinal engagement of the plunger tips at the sole and heel points, the forward portion of the tip being shown in a dashed line engaged within the socket cups provided in the sole plate and described in more detail below. Contact is shown as one point at the toe and two points at the heel. Other combinations might, of course, be possible such as a two or four point retaining system depending upon the anticipated needs of a particular class of skier or on the use of a plunger and socket retaining system at the toe point in a different retaining system at the heel or vice versa. Although the representational form of Figure 1 does not depict a typical release mechanism for voluntary exit and entry to the ski binding, it is to be understood that almost any existing method of voluntary release incorporated in commercial bindings, could easily be incorporated into this system, including a wedge or lever device to release the retaining spring plunger tension. For instance, the plunger adjustment knob 16 on Figure 1 could be fitted with a number of depressions around it perimeter for receiving the tip of a typical skier's pole, and when the skier pushes on the pole engaged with the plunger knob the biasing tension on the boot would be released and the skiers can step out.

Figure 2 depicts in more detail the operation of the plunger mechanism in cross-section. The engaged edge of the boot sole plate 20 is shown in phantom line and the spherical plunger tip 15 can be clearly seen here to consist of a ball-bearing seated in the forward portion of the plunger cylinder 21 in the incorporated bearing retainer and seated against a thrust shoulder 70 within the bearing retainer. The plunger cylinder 21 and ball-bearing 15 assembly could be equivalently replaced with a solid plunger provided the plunger tip is generally hemi-spherical.

The plunger cylinder is biased to the extended position by load-spring 22 and the spring is in turn positioned and retained by spring-keeper 23 in the shape of a spring seat and thrust plate. Threaded tension screw 24 can be adjustably positioned within the cylindrical housing to move the spring-keeper plate fore or aft to adjust the load-spring tension and thus the retaining force exerted by the plunger. Index lines 25 at the tension screw portion extending past the exit end of the cylindrical housing provide a means of measuring and indicating the applied spring tension and the tension screw is terminated by a knurled head 26. Also illustrated in the view is a short length of safety thread 27 which would prevent the tension screw from falling out of the housing entirely even if it were to back out of the adjusting threads, and would require two more turns before the screw were removed as for maintenance. This view illustrates that there is an absolute minimum of moving parts or opportunities for moisture to enter the system.

Figure 3 illustrates a configuration of the mating socket on the boot sole plate which receives the plunger. A concave hemisphere 30 forms a retaining socket cavity of the same radius as the ball-bearing plunger tip and the rim of the socket thus formed is milled away at angles relative to the axis of the plunger and cavity corresponding to desired release force and direction from the binding assembly. For instance at the lateral directions along line 4-4 a large indentation 31 has been milled away which would enable the ball¬ bearing plunger tip to move more easily in either of those directions. Similarly a smaller depression 32 has been milled 45 degrees to the right along line 5-5 which would enable the ball- bearing to move more freely in that direction than the opposite direction in which it is fully restrained by the rim of the socket, but since less material has been removed the restraining force would be more than required along the larger depression at the horizontal. Similarly depression 33 is milled at the lower vertical point along line 6-6 which would enable the plunger tip to move down but not up along that line.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the socket 30 is placed in the boot sole plate and when subject to a sufficient releasing force the socket and the sole plate would be released while the plunger remains stationary on the ski. Therefore, the arrangement of the depressions 31, 32 and 33 will provide for varying releasing forces in left and right horizontal directions left and right 45 degrees upward movement and in 90 degree upward movement of the sole plate and socket. The arrangement could be reversed however, and still maintain the same principle, that is the plunger tip could be either flexibly mounted or rigidly mounted on the boot sole plate and the socket could be either rigidly or flexibly mounted on the ski binding. Operationally, the device would be the same but the orientation of the socket would be reversed, that is the variable releasing depression would be milled at the top of the socket to enable vertical release rather than the bottom as shown.

Similarly, although a hemispherical socket is depicted, other surfaces could easily be made suitable as for instance, a conical depression, so long as it would provide a mating surface for the plunger tip, or a suitably contoured groove along the entire toe of the sole plate as discussed below.

Figure 4 illustrates the movement of the ball- bearing plunger tip 15 when it is subject to a releasing force in either direction along 4-4 of Figure 3. The ball shown in solid lines when seated at the bottom of hemispherical socket 30 and when subjected to a force vector component along line 4-4 would move into the milled cavity 31 out of the socket and laterally up the incline of the releasing depression 31. The force required to move it along upward of the incline would be proportional to the sine of the angle of inclination of the milled depression 31 shown here to be 30 degrees relative to the facing plane containing the socket. Again it can be either the socket that moves or the plunger tip that moves, but the principal and the calculated release forces would be the same.

In similar fashion Figure 5 illustrates that a force along line 5-5 of Figure 3 would move the ball-bearing relative to the socket in the direction of milled depression 32 which is at a higher angle shown here as 40 degrees and therefore the release force must be higher in that direction.

Figure 6 illustrates the same- hing as the release force is vertical and moves the ball through depression 33 inclined at 50 degrees. As illustrated the mechanism is calculated to release most easily in a horizontal direction less easily at a 45 degree direction and least easily in the vertical.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the socket configuration which can be shaped to extend from the boot sole plate and provide a more prominent shoulder 70 around the socket to retain the plunger tip or be milled away in a variable configuration to enable release in various directions as previously discussed. With the larger shoulder 70 a wider variation of release forces would be enabled.

Figure 8 illustrates that the milling of the perimeter of the socket need not be in discrete and separated directions as illustrated in Figure 3 but can be smoothly blended to finally tune the release forces over the entire 180 degree range from left horizontal through vertical to right horizontal, and as the extended perimeter 80 is milled away dramatically as shown along line 9-9 of Figure 8 it will release quite easily in that direction as illustrated in Figure 9 even though strongly retained in other directions.

Figure 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the female retaining element of the binding mechanism replacing the contoured socket with a more extensive multiple arc contoured surface consisting of a grooved surface 100 machined in a toe piece 101. Although this piece might be formed as an integral part of the sole, it is here shown as a demountable element attached to the normal boot sole 102 in the toe region by mounting screw 103. It can easily be seen that the plunger assembly discussed in the previous figures would mate with the groove surface 100 when mounted longitudinally on the upper ski surface 104 and would not only release in selected directions that would be milled away according to desired release forces and angles but would also absorb lateral shock forces up to a predetermined limit and recenter the device if the shock forces were not of sufficient amplitude or duration to cause lateral release. The recentering could also be made more positive by a centering hemispherical or third sphericdal arc depression 105. Thus it can be seen that the system can be made flexibly responsive not only to very specific customized release profiles, but further provides a more stable system that can absorb and damp out transient shock forces.

Similarly Figure 11 illustrates a demountable heel piece 110 including a right contoured retaining groove 111 and a left contoured retaining groove on 112 mounted on typical ski boot heel portion of the sole plate. The heel retaining groove will selectively release the mating plunger pins and provide shock absorbing motion in the same manner as discussed in the previous figure, and both left and right grooves may contain centering depressions 113.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. In combination with a snow ski, snow ski binding assembly and mating ski boot having a sole, a multidirectionally selective release mechanism which comprises: a plunger having a pressure-resilient bias along a line generally parallel to the ski; said plunger having a generally hemi¬ spherical, exposed tip; a contoured structure having a cavity engageable by said plunger tip; said cavity comprising a first cavity segment shaped and dimensioned to depress said plunger against said bias up to a first incremental distance when said boot is generally rotated an incremental angle around an axis perpendicular to said ski and in relation to said ski in a first direction, a second cavity segment shaped and dimensioned to depress said plunger against said bias up to a second incremental distance not equal to said first incremental distance when said boot 23 is generally rotated in relation to said ski

24 up to said incremental angle but in a second

25 direction which does not lie in the plane of

26 said first direction, and a third cavity

27 segment shaped and dimensioned to depress said

28 plunger against said pressure-bias up to a 2.9 third incremental distance which is greater

30 than said first and second distances, when

31 said boot while being displaced up to said

32 incremental angle in either of said two

33 directions is further generally rotated in

34 relation to said ski up to said incremental

35 angle in a third direction which does not lie 6 in the plane of either said first or second 7 direction.

1 2. The combination of Claim 1, wherein the plunger

2 comprises a ball-bearing keeper slidably contained

3 within a bore in said assembly; and a ball-bearing

4 rigidly contained within the ball-bearing keeper.

1 3. The combination of Claim 1 which further

² comprises means for adjusting the pressure applied to the plunger over a continuous range.

4. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said contoured structure is integral with the sole of the boot itself,' said plunger is part of said binding assembly and said binding assembly is secured to the ski.

5. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said contoured structure comprises a sole plate attached to said boot.

6. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said contoured structure comprises a demountable sole extension affixed to said boot and containing said cavity.

7. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said cavity is a substantially hemispherical depression and wherein segments of said cavity which intersect the remaining surface of said contoured structure form a rim around the hemispherical depression.

8. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said cavity consists of a groove cut in a surface area of the sole generally parallel to said axis, said groove extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said axis.

9. The device of Claim 8, wherein said groove further includes a curved center portion and a centering depression for receiving and retaining the plunger tip.

10. The combination of Claim 2, which further comprises means for adjusting the pressure applied to the plunger including a tension screw adjustably positioned within said bore and a coil spring between said tension screw and said ball-bearing keeper compressively biasing said ball bearing toward said cavity.

11. The combination of Claim 10, wherein said tension screw comprises a head having a depression, said screw protruding from the end of said bore opposite said ball-bearing keeper; and 5 an index scale associated with said tension

6 screw to indicate the amount of tension applied to

7 said plunger.

1 12. In combination with a snow ski, and ski boot,

2 a binding assembly comprising:

3 a boot, a plurality of spring-loaded plunger

4 assemblies longitudinally mounted on the ski in

5 opposing arrangement at the fore and aft ends of

6 the boot, each plunger assembly containing a

⁷ protruding plunger resiliently moveable into said

8 assembly along an axis parallel to the ski and

9 having a tip spaced to releasably engage a

10 corresponding shaped cavity in each end of the

11 boot, each said shaped cavity having its sides

12 selectively shaped in varying arcs at varying

I³ angular positions around said perimeter sides said

14 arcs being calculated to establish a variety of

15 release forces applied to the ski boot in relation

16 to the ski at multiple angles around the axis of

17 said plunger.

13. The combination of Claim 12, wherein each said shaped cavity forms a horizontal groove.

14. The combination of Claim 12, wherein each of said shaped cavity has a concavity profile which is a composite of three intersecting sets of arcs.

15. The combination of Claim 14, wherein said three intersecting set of arcs comprise: a first horizontal arc relative to said - ski having a fixed center point on said axis of said plunger; a second vertical arc relative said ski, having a traversing centerpoint on a line parallel to said first arc, said second arc , having a radius shorter than said first arc; 0 and 1 a third arc having a radius smaller than ² said horizontal and vertical arcs and having a 3 fixed centerpoint located proximate the 4 intersection of said vertical arc with the ⁵ axis of said plunger.

16. The combination of Claim 15, wherein the radius of at least one of said arcs is variable.

17. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said plunger is associated with the sole of the boot, said contoured structure is part of said binding assembly and said binding assembly is secured to the ski.

18. The combination of Claim 1, wherein said cavity comprises a plurality of segments forming a continuum of changing shapes of varying arcs in various radial directions from the center of the cavity, and of varying dimensions, said arcs and dimensions being selected to determine a variety of desired release forces to be applied between the ski and the ski boot, in order to dislodge the plunger from the cavity over a continuum of angles relative to the axis of the ski.