The object of the invention is a shoe, a method of attaching it, and a ski binding.

Heretofore, different kinds of ski bindings have been known, among others, one that comprises a strap and its attaching equipment with which the shoe sole can be pressed against the ski. Also, a binding has been brought forth with two toe-irons and a turning, roughly V-shaped strong wire bail attached to these with an iron peg on either side, so that the shoe sole can be pressed against small iron spikes fitted in the horizontal part of the toe-iron. The Finnish patent 12780 has a similar construction with a binding in which the sides of the wire bail between the pegs and the curved end reaching in front of the toe- irons are bent slightly downwards against the ski, so that they press flexibly against the upper edge of the sole on both sides of the shoe when tightened with a clamp at the front end.

Prior art also knows shoes, which are fastened to the ski binding from the tip of the toe. One of these is the so called 75 mm or SNS-binding. The 75 mm touring boot has been fitted with a projecting ledge on level with the sole of the boot, by way of which ledge the shoe can be fastened to the binding. The touring boot with the front binding has been further developed. The FI patent application 852180 shows a touring boot with a longitudinal groove in the middle of its outsole, the said groove corresponding to a guiding rail on the upper surface of the ski. The front end of the boot is fitted with a cross-pin, by way of which the boot is latched to the binding. Also, in the published patent application 90496, a side guiding device is shown, where the heel end of the boot can be freely moved at least vertically, and where the side guiding device consists of a longitudinal guiding rail with several height levels to co-operate with the boot. The attaching pin is located across the longitudinal groove of the

sole as far towards the front as possible and almost on level with the ground so that it is unprotected against damage when the boot is used for walking.

After the boot has been unfastened from the binding, walking will damage the boot because the cross-pin (iron) is fitted in the front/lower end of the groove. Both the front of the boot and the pin will be susceptible to considerable wear and tear. The boot is extremely unprotected against exertion especially when used for walking on the streets etc.

The purpose of the invention is to find a new way to fasten the shoe to the binding advantageously so that the vertical inclination angle of the shoe can be varied while skiing to suit different skiing styles. The invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterization parts of the claims for this patent.

The invention provides several attaching points to fasten the shoe to the binding. The new arrangement of the cross-pins gives more strength and durability. The shoe and the pins can be protected by a guard piece, which is attached to the pins to prevent wear and tear. Also, wheels for roller skating or blades for ice-skating can be attached to the same shoe. A ski binding purported by this invention makes it possible to change the attaching point very fast. The new placing of the pins in the longitudinal bottom groove of the shoe sole makes it possible to fit a guard piece (with spikes to prevent slipping, if necessary) the shape and size of the groove in the groove to prevent wear and tear of the pins and protect them against damage during walking. The fast locking in place of a skate blade or roller wheels is also made possible. Supporting the ankle during skating is made advantageously possible by a removable stiffening device.

The apparatus of the invention is described in more detail below, with reference to the appended drawings, where

FIG 1 shows the ski binding in parts and assembled on the ski, the method of fastening the shoe to the binding, and different positions of the shoe.

FIG 2 shows the shoe, the cross-pins and the guard piece to be attached to them, and the slotted backstay piece for the ankle stiffening device.

FIGs 3 A, B, and C illustrate, respectively, the free style nordic skiing position, the classic style nordic skiing position, and the ski-jumping position, in which a safety cord/strap is attached to the back pin of the shoe.

FIG 4 shows a skate blade attached to the shoe, and an ankle stiffening device attached to both the shoe and the skate blade.

FIG 1 shows the ski binding in parts and assembled on the ski. The shoe 16 is fastened to the ski binding. The shoe grips the binding 5, 6 and 7 by way of one or more of the pins 2 positioned transversely across the longitudinal groove 1 in the outsole of the shoe. By turning the clamp 6 towards the movable part 7 in front of the shoe tip the movable part is pressed tightly between the shoe and the clamp and the shoe is locked to at least one gripping bit 5. When the shoe is locked to the binding the clamp 6 directs the force of the pressure against the movable part 7, which is flexible and in its turn directs the force against the shoe 16.

As is shown in FIG 3, where A, B, and C describe the free style nordic skiing, traditional style nordic skiing, and ski jumping positions respectively (with a safety cord/strap attached to the back pin of the shoe in the ski jumping position) , there are two alternative positions for securing the movable part 7 against the clamp 6 and the shoe 16, with the first position pressing the clamp against the upper part of the movable part 7, and the second position pressing the

clamp against the lower part of the movable part 7. With this, the shoe bends in two different angles of vertical inclination in relation to the ski.

The gripping bit 5 and the clamp 6 are fixedly positioned, and the movable part 7 moves between them to enable the shoe to be attached to the ski binding.

The clamp 6, the gripping bit 5 and the movable part 7 can be fastened either to the ski itself or to a rail 9 (in FIG 1) which has on its underside a longitudinal groove 10 for attaching the ensemble to the ski. The rail 9 is a long, hollow, curved and flexible object, which is attached to the ski by sliding a gripping part 11 in the longitudinal groove 10, said gripping part being T-shaped in cross-section. The base of the rail 9 is essentially as wide as the ski, and the rail may be fitted with cross-grooves transverse to its longitudinal axis for the pins in the shoe, in which case the top of the rail is essentially as wide as the longitudinal groove in the outsole of the shoe. Different kinds of previously known clamping methods can be used to prevent unwanted disconnection of the skate blade and the rollers.

Four pins 2 have been positioned in the groove 1 between the toe and the heel of the outsole within fixed distances from each other. These pins can be used to fasten a removable guard piece 3 the size and shape of the groove by special gripping grooves 4 fitted into the guard piece 3, as shown in FIG 2.

The shoe 16 can also be locked to a skate blade (FIG 4), in which case the shoe is attached by the pins 2 to the gripping grooves 13 in a special gripping rail 12, which in its turn is locked to the blade. The same applies for roller skates.