Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-10-30
Mar, Michael (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
C280S620000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to ski bindings, and particularly to such bindings especially adapted for use in cross country skiing.
2. State of the Art
Ski bindings suitable for alpine skiing are not generally suitable for cross country skiing. Neither are cross country ski binding generally useful for Alpine skiing. Release mechanisms are well developed for alpine bindings, but not for cross country bindings. Many efforts have been made to design bindings adaptable to both types of skiing, but those efforts have been generally unsatisfactory. Zoor, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,603 discloses a releasable ski binding which can be adapted to use as a cross-country binding. However, bindings of this type, having a plate or rigid member disposed under the ski boot, require a hinged mechanism to pivot about, or in front of, the toe. Such a pivot location forces an unnatural tip-toe walking motion which makes walking any distance unduly tiring. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,036, Settembre discloses a spring loaded scissor-action mechanism using an opposed ball-in-socket mechanism to secure a toe piece to a ski. This device has pivoting linkage members of considerable length which may allow unacceptable motion of the binding relative the ski, particularly when used by an aggressive skier. Alternatively, more stout members may be prohibitively heavy. The releasable binding disclosed by Scheck et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,010 appears to require a rotation about a point undesirably forward of the skier's toe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,805 (Graillat) discloses a releasable binding which requires a specially built shoe. An improved releasable cross-country binding suitable for use with boots having an extended (typically 75 mm) toe portion is desired to provide a safer, yet rigorous, binding for this common boot configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a releasable cross country ski binding comprising: a cleat mounted to the underside of a ski binding toe piece, a cleat mounting plate for locating the cleat, and a release mechanism. The binding may be adapted to commercially available cross-country binding toe pieces. It is also within contemplation for a cleat to be incorporated into the sole of a ski boot. Flexing of a cross-country ski boot remains about the ball of a foot, allowing comfortable travel compared to plate bindings with a hinge point in front of (or below) the boot toe area. In a preferred embodiment, the release mechanism is a pivotal swing arm and is mounted at the rear of the cleat mounting plate. In the currently preferred embodiment, a spring loaded piston is located to the rear of the swing arm and provides variable loading pressure against the swing arm. Other spring and swing arm locations are operable. Pressure exerted on the swing arm by the piston is adjusted by rotating a screw carrying indicia and controlling spring compression. The binding may also have a heel piece connected to the toe piece by a cable. Cable length may be varied to accommodate ski boots of various dimensions by a cable adjustment mechanism incorporating a threaded bar and located within the heel piece, or by screw adjustment of retaining nuts at the toe piece attachment structure. Step-in assembly of the binding to a ski boot is provided by a cam shaped lobe, or cam-like rocker, component of the heel piece.
The components of a ski binding release mechanism of this invention are housed in a body capable of being attached to a ski and having recesses holding: a backing plate which structurally secures the cleat mounting plate, a cleat mounting plate, a swing arm, and a spring loaded piston. The body also houses the aforementioned spring pressure adjustment screw. Indicia carried by the screw, or revealed by screw travel, provides visual feedback for relative binding release force.
An exemplary release mechanism comprises a hook structure having a notch to interface with structure associated with a cleat. The preferred embodiment has a swing arm carrying the hook and notch. An alternate embodiment within contemplation uses a sliding mechanism to carry the hook and notch. In any event, retention force is provided by a spring element. An exemplary cleat mounting plate has directional assisting tabs which guide a cleat vertically out of a recess in the mechanism body during a release. Structure of the cleat mounting plate forms a retaining socket which locates pivot structure of a cleat. An exemplary cleat attaches to a ski binding toe piece and provides pivot structure to interface with the cleat mounting plate, and indexing structure to interface with the hook and notch of the release mechanism.
A heel lift plate, having a thickness similar to that of the body, provides a level support for a ski boot that is offset from the surface of the ski. Separation of the body and heel lift plate by a distance in the length direction of the ski allows a more uniform flexing of the ski in a turn, thereby preventing the stiffening effect associated with a solid plate binding. The thickness of the body and plate may be varied to increase elevation of the ski boot sole and binding toe piece above the surface of the snow. Workable elevations are thought to be between about 10 mm and approximately the width of the ski. The elevation of the ski boot sole by the body and plate thicknesses provides significant advantages to a skier. For example, the elevated toe piece allows a more aggressive turn, with increased angulation, without danger of grazing the snow by the edge of the toe piece. Moreover, the elevation provides a leverage to better hold an edge in a turn. A ski brake may be incorporated into either the body or plate. A temporary heel support, or “televator” may alternatively be incorporated into the heel lift plate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2172669 (1939-09-01), Taft
patent: 2764418 (1956-09-01), Shimizu
patent: 4134603 (1979-01-01), Zoor
patent: 4152009 (1979-05-01), Schmid
patent: 4348036 (1982-09-01), Settembre
patent: 4531309 (1985-07-01), Vandenberg et al.
patent: 4639010 (1987-01-01), Scheck et al.
patent: 4768805 (1988-09-01), Graillat
patent: 4915406 (1990-04-01), Graillat
patent: 5823563 (1998-10-01), Dubuque
patent: 5897127 (1999-04-01), Hauglin
patent: 5924719 (1999-07-01), Girard
patent: 6017050 (2000-01-01), Girard
patent: 6062586 (2000-05-01), Korman
Mar Michael
Trask Brian C.
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