Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Patent
1993-05-17
1995-01-03
Hill, Mitchell J.
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
280632, A63C 908
Patent
active
053780094
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an alpine safety binding, designed to hold a boot in position on a sliding instrument, in particular a ski, and to release this boot when it exerts an excessive stress on the binding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bindings of this kind are known, and they normally incorporate a base mounted on the sliding instrument and a boot position-retention device, which is mobile in relation to this base between a boot-retention and a boot-release position. This position-retention device is elastically returned to its position-retention position, normally by a compression spring which generates a return force that intensifies as the position-retention device moves away from its retention position, i.e., a force incorporating the intensity of the stress to which the boot subjects the boot-retention device.
When the stress exerted by the boot exceeds the maximum return force which the spring can transmit to the retention device, the boot is released. This maximum return force is ordinarily termed the "release threshold."
More specifically, the invention concerns safety bindings whose release threshold varies as a function of the speed and length of the stress. Thus, the release threshold is higher for a violent stress than for a mild one. It is known, in fact, that a skier's leg can withstand without damage a strong, brief stress. On the other hand, a stress of low intensity, but of long duration, may prove dangerous.
A device of this type is described, for example, in French Patent No. 2 610 841. This patent describes a damping device which functions in parallel on the spring, so as to generate an additional return force in the event of a violent stress.
The special feature of this patent lies in the fact that the additional return force is limited to a specified value in the event of a very violent stress, e.g., a shock.
The device described in this patent yields good results, but its construction is somewhat complex and bulky. In fact, it requires a hydraulic damping device, a jointed rocker which connects the damping device and one end of the spring, and a rocker-retention stop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the purposes of the present invention is to propose a binding in which the return force of the position-retention device varies dynamically as a function of the speed of the stress, and which embodies, moreover, a simpler and less bulky construction.
Another purpose of the invention is to propose a binding for which the release threshold cannot exceed a specified value, even in the event of a very violent stress.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, which is given, however, only for informational purposes.
The safety binding according to the invention comprises a base mounted on the ski, a position-retention device which is mobile in relation to the base between a position-retention position, in which it holds the boot in place on the ski, and a release position, in which it releases the boot, energy-generating means designed to engender an elastic return force which draws the retention device back to its retention position and which is variable as a function of the distance separating the retention device from its position-retention position, linkage means connecting the retention device and the energy-generating means, which exert stress on the energy-generating means according to the movements and the position of the position-retention device and which transmit back to the retention device the elastic return force generated by the energy-generating means.
The safety binding according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the linkage means comprise a mobile pressure element which the energy-generating means draw back elastically against a support mobile in relation to the pressure element and in conjunction with the movements of the position-retention device; by the fact that the pressure element has a head equipped with two pressure tips; that the support for the pres
REFERENCES:
patent: 3810644 (1974-05-01), Beyl
patent: 4625991 (1986-12-01), Friedrich
patent: 4792157 (1988-12-01), Stritzl
patent: 5005854 (1991-04-01), Szafranski
Hill Mitchell J.
Mar Michael
Salomon S.A.
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