Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Patent
1981-06-08
1985-03-19
Mitchell, David M.
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
280624, 280636, N63C 908
Patent
active
045054932
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention generally relates to ski bindings, and more particularly the invention is directed to a type of slalom binding, so called release binding, which is formed with a toe fastening means and a heel fastening means which co-operate with the slalom boot in such a way, that the binding does not cause a release of the boot at normal skiing but oppositely causes a release of a boot from the binding at a relative force between the slalom boot and the binding exceding a predetermined force. It must be possible to obtain a release either when the boot is subjected to a strong rotating movement in relation to the slalom binding or when the boot is raised from the binding at the heel fastening means or possibly at the toe fastening means.
Ski bindings of this type are well known in the art and the ski binding which is at present most commonly used comprises two separate parts, viz. a toe connection means and a heel connection means. The heel connection means is formed so that it may, by a special actuation, be folded up whereas the toe connection means comprises a bracket which generally can be rotated about a vertical shaft but which by an adjustable spring is kept in a predetermined central position. The slalom boot is clamped into such a binding in that the boot is put down on the binding and the toe cup is moved into a position underneath the bracket at the toe connection means, whereupon the heel connection means is stepped on so as to clamp the heel portion of the boot to the ski or the binding.
It has been found that the friction between the boot and the ski at rotation under load often is too high, so that the binding does not release sufficiently early, and to eliminate the said disadvantage on anti-friction plate has been mounted just behind the toe bracket at a bottom plate which is connected to the toe connection means. In this case it is important that the toe cup bracket is adjusted so that the slalom boot is kept pressed on-to the friction plate and so that the said pressure is such that the binding really releases if the boot is rotated vigorously in relation to the ski. Pressing downwards too strongly or the boot may cause the binding to not release and a too light clamping may cause the binding to release at too low forces. Also the heel connection means must press the boot to the binding with such force that the binding releases when the boot is raised with an exactly predetermined force.
Ski binding of this type are disadvantageous in some respects. Both the toe connection means and the heel connection means must be adjusted very carefully depending on the weight of the skier, the skill of the skier, the condition of the ski path and many other factors. The adjustment must be made very exactly which is both a time consuming and an accuracy demanding job. It is also very important that the boot is completely clean at the bottom surface both when adjusting the binding and when skiing, since snow, ice, sand or any other material at the bottom surface of the boot cause changes of the release values. Further the friction plate for the toe cup of the boot is worn by time, and the binding frequently must be readjusted. Sinse the binding is formed with two parts there is also a need for great accuracy when mounting the binding on the ski, and both rough adjustment and fine adjustment of the release forces must be made after the binding is mounted on the ski.
In order to eliminate some of the above mentioned disadvantages another type of ski binding has entered the market which is a so called plate binding in which the toe connection means and the heel connection means are mounted in a plate which is releasable and which can in turn be clamped to the ski by means of two fastening means, one for the front part of the plate and one for the rear part of the plate.
Also in such plate ski bindings the release is made by rotating and lifting forces, and at release the entire unit of boot and plate is released whereas on the contrary the fastening means remain on the ski.
Also in this type of sk
REFERENCES:
patent: 3797844 (1974-03-01), Smolka et al.
patent: 3887205 (1975-06-01), Edmund
patent: 3905613 (1975-09-01), Romeo
patent: 3931980 (1976-01-01), Marker
patent: 3936064 (1976-02-01), D'Alessio
patent: 4278269 (1981-07-01), Beyl
WO80/00063 published Jan. 24, 1980, Gustavsson.
Aktiebolaget S K F
Mitchell David M.
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