The present invention relates to a ai bindingstructure, Backgronnd Art

Prior Patent Applications by the same Applicant (in particular, Italian Applications No. 24981 A 79 filed on 8th August, 1979; 21608 B/83 filed on 20th April, 1983; 22329 A 84 filed on 1 th August, 1 8 ; and 22601 A/84 filed on 11th September, 1984), incorporated hereto for reference, illustrate a ski binding which is comprised essentially of a front latch means and a rear latch body which cooperate together to firmly secure the sole of ski footwear.

The ski binding further comprises a pair of supports, spaced apart from each other and affixed to the ski, which define a pair o-f holes for pivotal engagement with the lower end of a rod-like member, engageable with its upper end in a rear side region of a skier's leg. The rear latch body is associated pivotally at its forward portion with the pin of the rod-like member and bears on the rear portion of a plate attachable to the ski. The oscillatory movement of the rod-like member and the rear latch body is resisted elastically by a telescoping pusher which acts between the rod-like member and the rear latch body.

Thus, the rear latch body has a degree of elasticity and can follow the ski flexing without being subjected to excessive stresses.

The simple rear support allows, moreover, shims to be inserted under the rear end of the rear latch

body such that the inclination of the same and the rod-like member can be changed in the rearward stopped position.

These implementations, while being satisfactory as far as safety and simple operation are concerned, have shown to be susceptible to further improvement especially as regards safety.

In fact, particularly in.the event o a forward fall, with a marked forward inclination of the skier's tibia, it would be desirable to have the presser member, carried on the rear latch body, decrease considerably the force that it normally applies to the footwear sole.

DISCLOSURE. OP THE INVENTION

The aim underlying the invention is indeed that of providing a ski binding structure which affords a reduction in the force required to ensure release in such a situation, but without favouring unintentional release while running.

Within the above aim, it is a particular object of the invention to provide a ski binding which affords the simple construction, low cost, and strength which are peculiar to the binding types described above. The above aim, and this and other objects to become apparent herein below, are all achieved by a a ski binding structure comprising a front latch means and a rear latch assembly for releasable engagement with footwear, said rear latch assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart supports affixed to the ski and defining a pair of mutually aligned holes along a substantially parallel axis to the plane defined by

the ski being' substantially perpendicular to the ski longitudinal direction for pivotal engagement with the lower end of a rod-like member engageable by contact at its upper side end with a skier's leg, a rear support, or pair of supports, attachable to the ski and being engaged oscillably by the rear portion of said rear latch assembly, said rear latch assembly engaging releasably a pair of latch members with its forward portion through a pair of moving hooks, also provided being actuation means connected to said rod-like member and effective to disengage said moving hooks from said latch members with said rod-like member at set positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages will be more clearly apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the ski binding structure according to the invention, as shown by way of illustration but not of limitation in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the binding structure of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the binding/footwear combination in the latched position, according to a first embodiment; Figure 3 is a side view of the binding/footwear combination shown in Figure 1 , in the upward released position;

Figure 4 is a side view of the constructional details of the latch members for the front portion of the rear latch assembly;

Figure 5 is a front view of the details shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the constructional details of a second embodiment of the latch members of the front portion of the rear latch assembly;

Figure 7 is a front view of the details of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side view of the constructional details of a third embodiment of the latch members on the front portion of the rear latch assembly;

Figure 9 is a front view of the details of

Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view with details of

_ the rear latch assembly; Figure 1t is a top plan view of said assembly;

Figure 12 shows a detail of the plate-like member for adjusting the set of the rear pivot axis.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the cited drawing figures, the ski binding structure according to this invention comprises a front latch means and a rear latch assembly, generally and respectively designated with the reference numerals 2 and 1.

The front latch means consists, as illustrated in the above-mentioned patent applications, of a shaped member 42 attachable directly to the ski by means of screws, which defines a front latch, seat of substantially V-like shape open to the rear portion of the ski; the inclination of the seat legs will vary according to the amount of the binding release force sought.

This seat accommodates the peg or roller 44 provided in a recess 45 _» defined by the sole 46, of the footwear at the foot toe end.

The rear latch assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart supports 3 attachable to the top face of a ski 47 at the side edges; the support pair define a pair of holes 48 which are aligned together along a substantially parallel axis to the plane defined by the ski and being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ski.

In said hole pair, there engages pivotally the lower end of a rod-like member 49 which has its upper end engageable with a rear side region of a skier's leg. The rear latch assembly is engaged oscillably, by interlocking, pin or the like, with a rear support or pair of supports 2, attached to the ski at the rear portion of said assembly; said support being provided with devices adapted for adjustment in elevation relatively to the ski and of the longitudinal setting of the oscillation centre of said assembly on said support, as explained hereinafter.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 _» the body 1 is provided, at its front portion close to said pair of supports 3, with a pair of moving hooks advantageous¬ ly comprising pegs 4 adjustable in position and engaging through a latch means with the cited supports 3. The latch means comprises swivel plates 5 of a small size having shaped recesses 5a affording a coupling zone 5b wherein the peg 4 is retained and

an elongate zone 5c, allowing for a movement of the peg 4 in the recess 5a, and consequently, a limited oscillation of the rear latch assembly 1.

On the cited small swivel plates 5 there act. elastic bias means, consisting of springs 10, which tend to bring the cited small plates elastically in engagement with an actuating member, advantageously composed of a cam 8 which is provided on the pin 14 of the telescoping pusher 13, advantageously comprising a gas spring.

The cam element 8 may be shaped and positioned on the pin 14 such that, at a predetermined inclination of the rod-like member to the ski, the small plates 5 are caused to swing and displace the peg from the coupling zone 5b to the elongate zone 5c, which enables in practice the rear assembly 1 to swing upwards.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the moving hooks comprise a pair of small pins 70 which protrude laterally of the rear latch body and engage in a shaped window 71 defined on a pair of small plates 72 constituting the latch members, which are mounted hingedly for oscillation about the axis 1 of the rod-like element. The window 71 has a coupling part 72 flanked by an elongate part 73 which is advantageously formed as a segment of a circumference.

In its front portion, at least one of the small plates 72 defines a small plate 75 which extends laterally outwards, substantially perpendicularly to

the plane of lay of the small plate itself and which supports a dowel 1, 76 adjustable in position, on which an arm 77 acts which is attached to the axis 15 and can engage by contact with the dowel 76.on the rod-like member reaching a predetermined inclination, obtaining disengagement of the small pins 70 from the coupling part 73 and consequent transition to the enlarged zone 74 where a limited oscillation is afforded for the rear assembly 1. The small pins 70 and the pegs 4 _> for adjustment of their positions, can be carried on a bracket 11 coupleable with the body 1 by shimmings 12. On the small plates 72 there act then elastic bias means, consisting of bias springs 78, which bias the small plate rearwardly to retain the small pins 70 in the coupling part 73 when the arm 77 which constitutes the actuating means is not operated. With reference to Figures 8 and 9 _» the moving hooks are composed of an outer tubular section 80 articulated to the rear assembly at the area of articulation of the elastic pusher 13. Said outer tubular section 80 has a through hole 81 whereinto a dog 82 is inserted elastically which is provided on small rods 83 forming the latch member which are articulated at' the axis 15 of the rod-like member 49 and are coupled telescopically with the interior of the outer tubular section 80. The outer tubular section 80 has then a stop hole 84 wherein the dog 82 elastically engages to provide a stop for the oscillation of the rear assembly. The actuating means consist of offcentered lugs 85 rigid with the pin 1 for connecting the

rod-like member 13 which engage, at a set inclination of the rod-like member, with the pegs 82 perform their uncoupling from the through holes 81 , with consequent possibility for a telescoping translation between the small rods 83 and the outer tubular section 80 and consequent possibility for oscillation of the rear assembly. Of course, all of the coupling groups described above between the moving hooks and the latch member may be reversed without altering the inventive concept of this invention.

It should be added to the foregoing that the moving hooks or the latch members may be provided with lever or the like means to enable manual disengagement of the moving hooks from the latch ^' members, irrespective of the position"and movement of the rod-like member and the elements connected thereto.

As mentioned above, an object of the invention is to accomplish disengagement of the presser piston forming a part of the rear release assembly from the recess in the sole heel, and accordingly, disengage¬ ment of the footwear from the ski binding according to the movement of the rod-like member, as taken at a given point of its rotation or range of its rotation, and possibly in particular in combination with vertical forces acting from the sole (recess in the heel) on the presser piston.

Another object of the invention is to also accomplish easy insertion of the sole into the ski/ binding combination and the possibility of disengaging

the footwear from the means of latching it on the ski, both through the movement of the rod-like member by itself and by manually biasing the devices forming the subject of this invention, without being forced to manipulate other elements of the structure and with a reduced effort.

All this without lowering the overall skiing performance of the equipment, in an effective and economical way, and while improving both the overall safety in the various conditions of use, and operation ease.

This invention also affords improvement and simplification, thanks to its particular features, as explained hereinafter, of the structures and details of the release combination forming a part of the rear ^* latch assembly.

In particular the rear latch assembly 1 has an outer body 19 with an internal cavity 20 and a rear engagement member 21 which affords connection to the rear support.

Upwardly, the body 19 has an upper hole wherein the rotating pin 14 is housed which withstands the thrust from the telescoping pusher 13.

In the lateral portion there is advantageously provided a small window 22 which affords display of the adjustment of the piston thrust, and the inner cavity 20 has at least one groove 23 _» advantageously provided at the zone affected by the window 22, which has the function of preventing rotation of the inner elements of the body 19.

Provided in the rear portion of the body 19 is an end cap 24 having a centre hole 25.

Slidable in the inner cavity 20 is a cylindrical piston 26 which is provided, in the middle region thereof, with a substantially flat cutout 27 capable of accommodating a cross pin 28 for limiting the travel length of the piston itself. On its projecting portion, the piston has a conical lug 29 with a cutout 30 which can accommodate a rotating disk 31 having a vertical axis 32.

The piston may be advantageously hollow inside to accommodate a first cylindrical compression spring 33 which, through a diaphragm 90, acts on a second cylindrical compression spring which, on the one side, urges the cited piston 26 outwards, and on the other side, acts against a retainer cap 34 provided with a rotation-preventing lug, which engages in the groove. 23 and has an inside threaded tang 35. Inside the threaded tang 35 there engages the threaded shank 36 of a screw coming out of the cavity 20, through the central hole 25, and provided with an actuation head 39.

By turning the cited screw the cap 34 is made to slide inside the cavity 20 against rotation owing to the means previously mentioned.

With the cited screw and precisely its terminating shank 38 a ring 37 is engaged which rests on the cap 24; the cited shank 38 extends outwards and is connected to the head 39 by means of-a small pin 41. The outer body 19 has, located at the rear

engagement member 21 , a hole 50 which accommodates a removable pin 51 which engages with the rear supports 52 so spaced apart as to accommodate the cited member 21 and being rigid with a plate-like member 53. The plate-like member 53 has advantageously a rectangular shape and two different types of holes placed at the four corners of the rectangle.

The first hole pair, arranged along one diagonal of the rectangle, comprise two through holes 54 of elongate shape in a parallel direction to the ski length; the second hole pair 56 are arranged along the other diagonal and comprise oblong holes provided with an end cap having a throughgoing slot 56, thereby acting as an abutment member for screws 57, advantage- ously with recessed heads and with a shank 58 coming out of the slot.

The shanks 58 are threaded into threaded bushes 59 which are housed in a lower flat member 60 at the holes 56. me bushes have a rotation-preventing polygonal head which is recessed from below, in matching.sea s 62 provided in the flat member.

The flat member has, at the corners corresponding to the other diagonal, holes 63 for engagement with self-tapping screws 64 for attachment to the ski.

The screws 64 can be actuated by means of a screw-driver led through the hole pair 54.

It is also possible to interpose shims 65 to the flat member 60 and the plate-like member 53 to adjust the fastening elevation of the rear supports 3.

The oblong shape of the holes enables the plate¬ like member to be shifted longitudinally to the flat member fastened to the ski; thus allowing any errors in assembling the rear body to the ski or else to be accommodated.

It may be appreciated from the foregoing description that the invention achieves the objects set forth, and in particular it should be emphasized that, with the binding described hereinabove, the rear latch oscillating block is held stationary in the running position and holds the footwear heel securely while affording, however, multidirectional release in the event of higher stresses, in the various directions, at preset values, acting on the re-entering piston. Whereas the rod-like member 49 will swing while running, the latch members remain stationary, or axe moved by the action of the rod-like member or of members connected thereto, without releasing the engagement with the moving hooks and, hence, without releasing the rear latch assembly in its upward oscillation.

On the rod-like member reaching or exceeding a preset inclination, the hooks will be shifted to the position of disengagement of the actuating members, thus allowing the rear assembly to swing upwards.

If, concurrently with this configuration, there occurs an upwardly directed thrust by the recess in the sole heel on the piston, and accordingly, on the rear assembly, the rear assembly would be raised and turned to release the heel, overcoming the downward

thrust from the telescoping pusher, or the vertical component thereof, without causing of necessity the piston to move back.

If during this phase, the upward thrust is removed or sufficiently decreased and the rod moves back or at least stops, the assembly is automatically re-engaged with the ski through the moving hooks and the latch members.

To put the ski on, one bears with the sole roller against the toe piece and lowers the heel hooking up the piston; by raising the rod and fitting it to the calf, one realizes both the piston-heel recess engagement and the ski-rear latch assembly engagement. Furthermore, by acting on the latch members or the dog of the embodimen -of Figures 8 and 9 _» either with one hand, or a foot, or a ski pole, either directly or on a small lever interconnected with the moving hooks, the latter can be easily disengaged from the corresponding moving hooks, to thus realize the release of the sole from the footwear owing to the rear latch assembly swinging as described hereinabove to move out in any direction whatever, overcoming the downward component only of the thrust from the telescoping pusher and lowering the rod-like member, not only are the hooks disengaged but with the rod¬ like member fully down, the vertical component sign is reversed and the assembly raised, swinging on the rear support and fully releasing the sole.

Furthermore, with the skis not in use and the rod-like member folded onto the ski, it becomes

possible, in order to reduce the bulk size, to lower the rear body back onto the ski and return the moving hooks to the position of engagement with the latch members; in the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, it is necessary that an optional auxiliary lock be provided since the arm 77 holds the small plates 72 at a position where the small pins are accommodated in the enlarged portion 74. To a binding equipped with the latching and releasing system controlled by the rod- like member, it is further possible to apply, as previously described, simplifications and improvements, the release lever acting on the piston being no longer required nor being required the micrometric adjustment of the piston, replaceable with that of the turning centre of the rear support, which is then transferred to the latch assembly and hence to the piston itself; better still if a ski mounting plate is adopted which has the front supports for the rod-like member joined together and which affords attachment of the adjustable rear support. The rear assembly, as so simplified, affords the possibility of having a presser piston push with the rotating disk inside the faceted recess in the footwear heel, and through the mainly rigid insert of the sole, push the front peg or roller with which it is provided against the front latch assembly. The thrust originates from the spring, adjustable by turning the threaded shank arranged inside the inner threaded tang rigid with the end cap. The piston is retained at the outlet by the cross-pin which allows it to move rearwardly in sufficiently for the release

requirements. For wider range of thrust adjustment, inner shims may be introduced or the springs employed may be possibly replaced.

Sideways release is facilitated by the rotation of the wheel disk whilst vertical release takes place by the wheel rubbing on the recess walls. The pin prevents the piston from turning, thereby the wheel can be held at all times in place.

The invention herein is susceptible to many modifications and changes without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

All the details, moreover, can be replaced with technical equivalents thereof.

In practicing the invention, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, and the dimensions and contingent shapes may be any ones meeting individual requirements.