Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
'~ ? o r 1 '~' ~ r r r p r f~ sJ '~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -
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L
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
Telemark ski binding
Technical field
The present invention relates to a ski binding,
especially a binding suitable for telemark skiing
(hereinafter reFerred to as a telemark ski binding).
Prior art
when skiing and/or touring in the "telemark" style
skiers move not only uphill but also downhill with the
heel able to be lifted away from the ski (also referred
to as "free heel"). During downhill skiing, in the case
of telemark skiing, cornering is undertaken by means of
a side step. For this purpose, the boot heel has to be
lifted away from the top of the ski on the inside of
the curve. In contzast, for example, to a ski touring
binding of the type described in WO-A-96/23559
(Fritschi), which is merely provided with a free heel
for uphill skiing, virtually no signif:ieant steering
forces being transmitted to the ski during uphill
skiing, in the case of telemark ski bindings (in other
words, ski bindings which are suitable far telemark
skiing) the ski must still be under controlled guidance
even in the position with the heel raised.
For many years, conventional telemark ski bindings have
customarily comprised a front jaw fixedly attached to a
ski with a front sole holder for holding the boot sole
down and fixing it laterally at the boot toe and a
cable pull device provided with tension springs by
means of which the boot heel is fixed to be resilient
substantially toward the front jaw. The heel is left
free perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of the
ski in order to permit raising of the heel away From
the ski. When the heel is raised, the sole of the
telemark ski boat is bent in the lengthwise direction,
the foremost part of the boot sole being held fixedly
down on the top of the ski by the sole holder and also
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
,. _,, , w ~? ~~ - ~a, -?~ a~ ,, ,_ , ' .
fixed against lateral displacements. As a result, the
skier can still steer the ski, even with the heel
raised, via the telemark ski boot which is still
fixedly connected to the ski at the front, steering
forces being transmitted to the ski in the region of
the ball of the foot and the toes. The lateral guidance
of the ski boot with the heel raised is, however,
relatively slight. In addition, the cable pulls in this
type of telemark ski binding are relatively frequently
sheared through in use because of the high stress to
which they are subjected.
A telemark ski binding of the type described above
provided with a cable pull is described in publication
WO-A-99/02226 (Ayliffe). In order to guarantee that the
boot heel is fixed, during its movement in the course
of raising of the heel by the cable pull, with a
predetermined spring force in the lengthwise direction
of the ski toward the front jaw, a spring disposed on
the ski in front of the front jaw is coupled to the
cable pull via a movable deviation element. ~rhis
deviation element ensures the desired characteristic of
the spring force as a function of the position of the
boot heel.
In Patent Specification US-A-4 887 833 (Bailey) a ski
binding is described which is suitable, inter alia, for
telemark skiing, in which the cable pull device is
replaced by a support on which is disposed a heel
holder formed to fix the ski boot heel on the support.
The support is articulated in the region of the boot
toe on a front yaw fixed on the ski, so as to be
pivotable about a first horizontal transverse axis, and
can be bent in the region of the ball of the foot about
a second transverse axis parallel to the first
transverse axis. As a result, the lifting-off of the
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 2a -
boot heel is made possible with the boot toe
simultaneously fixed in the front jaw without this
requiring a cable pull device in the manner of the
conventional telemark bindings. To fix the boot in the
binding, first, the ski boot toe is firmly pressed by
means of a fixing hoop on mandrels attached to the
front jaw which engage into corresponding holes drilled
in the boot sole. Secondly, the ski boot is fixed on
the support in the heel region by means of the heel
holder and additionally by means of a securing strap
surrounding the boot. .~s a result of these measures,
the boot is fixedly connected to the binding and, in
particular, any lateral displacement of the ski boot
relative to the binding (and hence relative to the ski)
is prevented in order to guarantee good lateral
guidance of the ski evwn with the heel raised. The
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 3 -
fixed connection between the ski and the ski boot,
however, proves dangerous in the event of a fall by the
skier, because in that case uncontrolled forces are
transmitted from the skis to the skier's legs arid can
result in substantial injuries to the skier.
aeseriptiaxi of tha 3.aveatioa
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
telemark ski binding which first guarantees good ski
guidance even with the boot heel raised and secondly
reduces the risk of injury to the skier i.n the event of
a fall.
The achievement of the object forms the subjer.t of the
independent patent claims.
According to the invention, a telemark ski binding has
a front jaw which can be fixedly (i.e. undisplaceably
and unpivotably) attached to a ski and on which a front
sole holdex' is disposed to be incapable of pivoting
relative to the ski. This is formed in such a way as to
fix the sole of a ski boot to the ski in the region of
the boot toe. The ski binding also has a support, which
is articulated, at a point set back from the boot toe
toward the boot heel, on a retaining part that can be
fixedly attached to the ski, to pivot about a pivot pin
extending transversely to the lengthwise direction of
the ski and parallel to the top of the ski, and having
a rear jaw disposed vn the support with a rear sole
holder. The latter is formed to fix the boot sole at
the boot heel to the support. The telemark ski binding
according t4 the invention is notable for the fact that
the rear sole holder is foamed to pivot laterally
outward relative to the rear jaw, in order to guarantee
the function of lateral release of a safety ski
binding.
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The front sole holder is formed so that the boot sole
of a ski boot inserted into the binding is fixed
relative to the ski by the front sole holder at or in
the region of the boot toe. In other words, the boot
sole is held down (in a manner known per se) on the ski
(or on a sole rest attached to the top of the ski) by
the front sole holder and at the same x-ime prevented
thereby from lateral displacements or forward
displacement relative to the ski_ In order to guarantee
good lateral ski guidance even with the boot heel
lifted, however, according to the invention, th.e front
sole holder is disposed completely unpivotably on the
front jaw, which is in contrast, for example, to the
front sole holder of a conventional alpine safety
1S binding, which can be pivoted outward sideways relative
to the fxont jaw to guarantee a lateral release.
The rear sole ho~.der is so formed that r_he boot sole of
the ski. boot introduced into the binding is fixed
relative to the support at or in the region of the boot
hee3 by the rear sole holder . In other words, the boot
sole is held down in a manner known per se (as is
described, for example, in Wc3-A-95123559) by the rear
sole holder on the support (car on a sole rest attached
to the support, which may be formed as part of the rear
jaw) and at the same time prevented thereby from
lateral displacements and displacements backward
relative to the support. In order to guarantee the
function of lateral xelease of a safety ski binding,
however, according to the invention, the rear sole
holder is formed to pivot laterally outward relative to
the rear jaw, which is in contrast, for example, to the
rear sole holder of a conventional alpine safety
binding, which cannot pivot outward 2_aterally. Because
of the lateral safety relEase embodied in the rear jaw,
when disproportionately high lateral forces arise
between the ski and the ski boot, the ski boot is
released from the binding, as a result of which
20.Juli 2001 16:19 Ke!!er r r'ar-ne AG u~' 3'O~J?~ 'ir.'21Q S. 7
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
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injuries to the skier in the event of a fall can be
prevented.
Because the rear jaw with the rear sole holder is
supported by the support, no cable pull to retain the
boot heel ~.s necessary for the binding according to the
invention, as a result of whir_h the disadvantages
associated with the cable pulls of previous telemark
ski bindings are eliminated_ The support is articulated
on the retaining part: to pivot about a pivot pin
extending transversely to the lengthwise direction of
the ski and parallel to the top of the ski. 1~s a
result, the boot heel of a telemark ski boot
accommodated in the binding can be lifted away from the
1.5 top of the ski and pz.votably moved in a plane defined
by the lengthwise direction of the ski and the surface
perpendicular to the top of the ski. As a result first
of the articulation of the support at a point set back
from the boot toe toward the boot heel, and secondly of
the unpivotable arrangement of the front sole holder on
the front jas~r, it is guaranteed that t:he sole of a
telemark ski boot, which is bendable in the lengthwise
direction, still part.ial7_y rests on the front jaw,
fixedly attached to the ski, or the top of the ski in
the region of the ball of the toot or the toes even
with the heel raised. prs a result oi= the contact
between the boot sole in its foremost region and the
front jaw or the top of the ski, the force transmission
necessary from the ball of the foot and/or toe region
to the ski during telemark skiing is made possible.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the froz~t sole holder is disposed completely fixedly on
the front jaw and is formed as an integral part
thereof. In this case, the front jaw and the front sole
holder can be formed as a single, integral. molding, as
a result of which a particularly simple and strong
design of the front jaw together with tine front sole
holder is permitted. It is however also possible to
7_0.~~~! 200! 16:20 Ke''e~ + ~,~,,-,~r AG ?' 3!~nr?', ~,~.s?78 S. 8
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
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dispose the front sole holder on the front jaw,
optionally so as to be vertically adjustable (for
example, by means of an adjusting screw) in order to
provide the possibility of adaptation to different sole
heights.
Preferably, the retaining part is also formed as an
integral part of the front jaw, in which case ~.t is
possible for the front jaw, the front sole holder and
the retaining part to be formed as a single, integral
molding. The support can be articulated on the same
piece of the front jaw as that on wh~.ch the front sole
holder is also disposed. As a result, the relative
position of the support articulation point relative to
the position of the sole holder can be precisely
predetermined by appropriate shaping of the front jaw.
1~s an alternatW a to this, the retaining part may also
be formed as a separate part which is separate from the
front jaw supportizlg the front sole holder_ As a
result, the ~.~elative position of the support
articulation point relative to the position of the sole
holder can be detexznined curing assembly of the binding
on the ski_
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the front jaw anal the front sole holder are so
configured and disposed that they form, ate least xn one
section, a receiving space for the ski boot toe which
narrows toward the front and into wh~.ch the boot toe
can be pushed forward in order to insert the ski boot
into the binding. The receiving space is further
limited by the front jaw and the front sole holder in
such a way that the boon toe. when the ski boot is
inserted in the binding, is capable only of being
pushed out backward from the receiving space and is
undisplaceably fixed in all ot.~ler directions by the
front jaw and/or the sole holder_ As a re,,>ult, the boot
inserted into the binding is well connected in its toe
20.Ju!~ 2001 16:20 Ke! ur + ~a~~~e~ A~ 2?' 310c0?° N~.'~2i8 S. 9
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 7
region to the fxont jaw and hence to the ski, which is
a precondition for optimum ski guidance_
Preferably, the pivot pin is set back from the boot toe
or from the point in the front jaw intended for the
latter in the lengthwise direction of the ski by at
least 4.0 cm (in connection with the present
description and the patent claims, a boot toe is always
to be understood as meaning the foremost part of the
corresponding boot sole). As a result., the surface on
which the boot sole between the boot toe and the pivot
pin still rests on the tap of the ski or the sole rest
on the front jaw is still sufficiently large for
adequate ski guidance Even with the heel raised.
preferably, the pivot pin is set back by at least 5.0
cm, especially even by aG least E_0 cm, from the boot
toe in order to enlarge the bearing surface of the boot
sole with the heel raised and so improve the ski
guidance. ~'he further the pivot pin is set back from
~0 the boot toe, the better, :First., :is the ski guidance
with the boot heel raised. Secondly, however, the
further the pivot pin is set back. from the boat toe,
the more the lifting of the heel away fr-om the top of
the ski. is prevented, because in this case a greateK
~5 bending resistance of the boat sole has to be overcome.
1-according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the support is formed as an articulated chain having a
plurality of rigid (in other words, rigid for torsional
30 and twist purposes? support parts which are connected
to each other by means of pivots, each of which can be
pivoted about a pivot pin extending traz~sversely to the
lengthwise direction of the ski and parallel to the top
of the ski. As a result, the bending of: the flexible
35 boot sole of a telemark ski boot is assisted_ A binding
foamed in this way has the advantage, by comparison
with conventional telemark bindings with a cable pull,
that it is rigid fvr torsional and twisting purposes
against trosional (si.c] and/or rotational movements
20.~u i 2001 16:20 Ke' e~ + ~a~!ne~ ~"G ~2' 31r~~%7 ~~.'2'g
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
8 _
about hinge pins that do not extend parallel to the
pivot axes of the pivots. As a result, the steerability
of the ski with the heel raised from the top of the ski
is impr_oved_
As an alternative to the support being formed as an
articulated chain, the support or at least pact of the
support can also be formed from a flexible material,
for example from a resilient pJ.astic sheet, in order to
assist the bending of the flexible boot sole of a
telemark ski boot_
Ixx telemark skiing, the length of the boon sole changes
as a consequence of the different degrees of bending of
the boot sole as a function of the raising of the heel
from the top of the ski. Consequently, in order to
adapt the binding to these changes in boot: sole length,
the distance between the front and the rear sole holder
must be variabl.e_ This object is achieved, according t:o
2 0 a preferred embodiment of the invent_i on, ix~. a telemark
ski binding, having a fronr_ jaw which can be fixedly
attached to a ski and on which a front sole holder is
disposed to be incapable of pivoting relative to the
ski, Having a support, which Can pivot about a pivot pin
extending transversely to the lengthwise direction of
the ski and parallel to the top of the ski and having a
rear jaw disposed on the support with a rear sole
holder, the rear jaw being disposed displaceably in the
lengthwise direction of the boot on the suppoxt so that
:30 it is displaceable in the sense of ixicreasing the
distance between the front and rear jaw~~ against the
force of at least one spring, the spring or springs
being dimensioned and disposed on the binding in such a
way that the retention of the boot is achieved solely
by the tensioning force between the front: jaw ana the
rear jaw caused by the spring or springs and the
binding is free of addi.ti.onal boot retention means_
This aspect of the invention also proves advantageous
ixx telemark ski bindings without latez'a~. release _ The
20.Ju!i 2001 16:21 Ke~~er + ~ar-oe~ AG ~;I ;~~~J?i~ Nr.!278 S.
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
g
spring or springs are so dimensioned and disposed on
the binding that the boot inserted into the binding is
clamped in the binding, even in the case of a min~.mal
boot sole length, with an adequate tensioning force
generated by the spring or springs between thc~ front
jaw and the back jaw, without further boot retention
means (i_e. means for fixing the boot in the binding)
being necessary_ It is thus possible to dispense
completely with additional retenta.on or- fixing means
(such as, for example, boot fixing straps, clamping
devices for Clamping the boot toe, mandrels engaging
into holes drilled in the boot sole, etc.), it being
ensured nevertheless that the boot is received in the
binding without play and an adequately strong
connection exists between the ski boot and the binding
for sufficient ski guidance. Such additional retention
or fixing means, in a ski binding according to the
invention w~.th lateral release, would seriously impair
the safety function of the latera3_ release or even make
it impossible.
p.s an alternative and/or in addition to disposing the
rear jaw on the support to be displaceable lengthwise,
the support itself may also be foxzned adjustably in the
lengthwise direr_tion of the support, in that, for
example, two support parts are connected to one another
to be displaceable lengthwise and held r_ogether by one
or more springs.
Preferably, in the case of a telemark ski binding
accordf.ng to the embodiment with a rear- jaw disposed
displaceably on the support, the spring or springs are
designed for lez~gthwise adaptation as part of a
funetianal unit independent of the support, which
3S functional unit further comprises an anchoring element
which is optionally displaceable in the lengthwise
direction along the support and can be fixed in a
desired sliding position on the support, the spring or
springs being disposed in a manner such that they act
20.,Jul~ 2001 15:2' Kel er + pa~~~Pr AG ~°~~' 'Oa~'c ~r.1278 S. ~2
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 1U -
between the rear jaw and the anchoring e7_ement_ The
anchoring element serves tc~ set the distance between
the front sole holder and the rear sole holder for
different boat sizes or boot sole lengths and
substantially determines the lengthwise position of the
rear jaw on the support.
Two cylindrical, helical compression springs are
provided for the lengthwise adaptation and are guided
by spring guide means in the lengthwise direction of
the support, the two helical compression springs being
disposed between a rear jaw part and a part of the
anchoring element in a manner such that they exert a
compressive force between the rear jaw and the
1S anchoring element. 'fhe spring guide means may comprise
two guide rods extending substantially in the
lengthwise direction of the support and fixedly
attached at their front lengthwise ends to a part of
the rear jaw, while the rear rod ends are guided in a
slidix~g function through holes drilled in a plate-
shaped part of the anchoring element disposed
transversely to the guide rods, the two helical
compression springs being disposed between the rear jaw
part holding the rod ends and the plate-shaped part of
the anchoring element, displacc?able in the lengthwise
direction relative to the rods, in such a way that they
exert a compressive force between the rear jaw and the
anchoring element.
Furthermore, the anchoring element can be provided with
a toothing which can be engaged into a corresponding
toothing on the support to fix the lengthwise position
of the anchoring element and can be disengaged from the
support tooth3_ng for the displacement of the anchoring
3 5 element _
~.ccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a
first rigid support part is articulated on r_he
retaining part to be pivcatable about the pivot pin
2C.Ju'~ eCC' 16:x' ~ellpr + Par'~e~ ,A~ C31 <'Cg~7r Nr.?C?g S 13
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
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extending transversely to the lengthwise direction of
the ski and parallel tQ the r_op of the ski, a second
rigid support part being articulated on the first
support part to be pivotable about a further pivot pin
parallel thereto, on which second support part the rear
jaw is disposed to be displaceable in the lengthwise
direction of the boot.. The pivot pin between the
retaining part and the first support part is preferably
set back from the toe toward the heel by about 1 / 8 of
the distance between the fror~t and the rear sole
holders and the furthex' pivot pin by about 1/3 of that
distance. Preferably, the rear jaw is guided in the
lengthwise direction of the boot. by two parallel
lengthwise supports of the second support part
additionally serving as guide rails. and these two
lengthwise supports are Gonnect.e~d to one another
substantially over their entire length by means of a
plurality of transverse struts in order to increase the
torsional and twisting rigidity of the second support
part. Tn this case, the second support part may be
formed in the manner of a latticework, with two rigid
parallel supports dzsposed at thca edges which
simultaneously serve as guide rails for guiding the
rear jaw, and a plurality of conmectirrg struts and/or
connecting plates disposed between the para~.lel
supports. Preferably, the transverse struts are so
formed and disposed that they can be simuJ.taneously
used as a toothing ozl the support side a_nto which the
toothing of the anchoring element can be engaged to fix
the lengthwise position of the anchoring element
according to the type of embodiment described above.
Preferably, in a telemark ski binding according to the
invention having a spring or springs far the lengthwise
adjustment resulting from the bending of the sole and
an anchoring element, this spring or there springs and
the anchoring e:Lement are disposed in a substantially
closed cavity of the rear jaw. As a result, they are
protected against Snow arid or [sic] against moisture,
20,Ju1 2001 16:21 Kel!e~ + °a~tne~ AG ,~ 318°~' N~.'278 S
°4
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- ~.2
so that their functioning is not imposed by icing. zn
this case, the support may be guided in a sliding
function through an aperture, closely enclosing the
support, in a wall limited [sicJ the cavity of the rear
jaw into the cavity, so that the rear jaw is
displaceable relative to the support.
Preferably, the telemark ski binding according to the
invention is provided with a ski brake which comprises
a brake element and a step part connected thereto in an
articulated manner. The step part may be of plate-J.ike
form. The brake element is artir_ulated on a retaining
part. which can be fixedly attached to i~he ski, this
brake element preferably being formed as an integral
part of the front jaw. The step part is formed and
integrated in the front jaw in such a way that, in the
event of a force exerted by the ski boot in the region
of the boot toe on the step part which is directed
downward relative to the ski, it holds up the brake
element in a non-braking position. ~rhis arrangement
guarantees, first, that the ski brake is held up in the
non-braking position even with the boot heel raised as
long as the ski boot toe exerts a downward force on the
step part:, and secondly trhat, in the event of a
separation of the ski. boot from the binding, it enters
into operation in order to brake the ski even when the
ski boat is separated from the binding in a binding
position with the boot heel raised.
Zn order further to improve the safety of the holding-
up of the brake element in the non-braking position,
the step part may be provided with a locking device
which is formed and disposed on the step part in such a
way that it locks the step part in the position for
holding up the brake element as long as the ski boot
eacerts a farce on the step part which is directed
downward relative to the ski_ The effect of this is to
guarantee that the ski brake springs into its braking
position only when the step part is fully released by
20.Ju!~ 2001 '6:22 Key e~ . ,u,<ne~ AG ~.. 3'J~HJ~'~' N~.~2?8 S 'S
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 13 -
the ski boot. zn this manner, undesired braking actions
of the ski brake can be prevented.
To assist the insertion of the ski boot toe into the
front jaw during introduction of the foot into the
binding, the step part may be provided with one ar more
rollers, rotatable about horizontal. transverse axes, on
its upper side. Moreover, the step part may be provided
with a retention edge disposed behind the ski boot toe
in order to prevent undesired pushing-out of the ski
boot toe from the front jaw when the boot hee2 is
raised_
According to a further preferred alternative embodiment
of the invention, the rear -jaw i.s provided with
supports project~.ng laterally downward which, in a
binding position with the heel lowered, engage over a
correspondingly formed bead attached fixedly to the top
of the ski in order, in that pasftion, to fix the rear
jaw against lateral displacements relative to the ski_
The steerability of the ski in a biauding position with
the boot heel lowered can be further .improved thereby.
.~ccarding to a preferred alternative embodiment of the
inventioz~, the rear sole holder is disposed on the rear
jaw to be pivotable about a substantially vertical,
central pivot pin fixed an r_he rear jaw in order to
guarantee lateral release. The release apparatus fvr
the lateral release of the rear jaw of the telemark ski
binding according to the invention can, i_n particular,
be fo med in the manner of the lateral release device
for a front jaw described in WO-A-96/23559- Thus, in
this alternative embodiment: of the invention, the rear
sole holder may have two downward--projecting dog
attachments, one on each side of the central pivot pin,
resting on free end surfaces of a pressure piece and
thereby supporting the sole holder against, lateral
outward pivoting, the pressure piece being mounted on
the rear jaw to be displaceable in the lengthwise
20.Ju1~ ?~0' 16:22 Ke~le~ - Par'~er AG ~., 3'08?~ Nr.'2?g e. 16
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
direction of the binding and being loaded by a
compression spring rer_eived in a cavity of the rear
jaw_ Preferably, the cavity receiving the compression
spring is disposed in a region below t-_he boot heel, as
a result of which a very compact, weight--saving design
is obtained.
~ro assist the lateral release, the rear jaw may be
provided with rollers disposed laterally on the sole
holder and rotatable about vertical hinge pins.
Furthermore, a sliding plate capable of pivoting out
laterally may be provided as a rest for the boot sole
in the heel region, in order to guarantee lateral
release substantially independent of the friction of
1'a the boot sole.
In contrast to the previously known telemark ski
bindings, in which introduction of the foot into the
binding is impossible without actuating the cable pull
device or the heel holder by hand, the telemark ski
binding according to the invention is preferably so
formed, by an appropriate configuration of the rear
jaw, that what is known as a step-in function is
prow ded, sca that no part s of the binding need to be
actuated by hand in order to introduce t=he foot into
the binding. In order to provide a step--in function,
the rear sole holder may, for example, be articulated
on the rear jaw to be pivotable about a horizontal
transverse axis in the manner of a conventional
automatic heel device. The automatic heel pivot.
mechanism for the te~lemark ski binding accordizzg t.o the
invention merely has to allow the foot. to be introduced
into and removed from the binding, since a safety
release about the horizont-.al transverse axis is not
necessary in a tel~mark ski binding with a free heel.
Thezefore the automatic heel device can be of much
simpler design for the telemark ski binding according
to the izwention than, for example, the automatic heel
device fox' a conventional alpa.ne ski binding, which
20.Ju1 200' 16:22 Keller + Partner AG 031 308~?C 1'~.?27~ S. ~l
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
T5 -
also has to guarantee a safety release about r_he
horizontal transverse axis.
~rhe detailed description of the present invention that
follows is intended to serve, in conjunctioz~ with the
appended drawings, merely as an example to improve
understanding of the invention arid is not to be
interpreted as restricting the scope of protection of
the patent claims_ The person ski~.led in the art will
readily identify from the description that follows, in
conjunction with the appended drawings and the patent
claims as a whole, further advantageous types of
embodiment and combinations of features, which,
however, still lie within the scope of the present
invention.
Brief description of tha drawings
'fhe drawings illustrate px~eferrec'i types of embodiment
of the present invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. ~. shows a preferred type of embodiment of the
telemark ski binding according to the
invention in a diagrammatic 7_ateral view,
with the ski brake i.n a non-braking position;
Fig. 2 shows the binding shown in Figure 1 in a
diagrammatic plan view from above;
Fig. 3 shows the binding shown in Figure 1 in a
partially cut--away lateral view, in a
position with the heel raised away from the
top of the ski;
Fig. ~ shows the biz~ding shown in Figure Z in a
partially cur_-away lateral view, with the ski
brake in a braking position;
20.Ju1 ~ 2001 16:23 Ke"e~ + ~art~e~ A; J' ;i?;~Q~;~;' ~~~,'2?8 S~ '8
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 1~ -
Fig. 5 shows a diagratmnatic, partially cut-away
partial lateral view of the rear jaw of the
binding as shown in Figure 1 in its open
position;
Fig. 6 shows a cross section through a supppxt of
the binding shown in Figure 1;
Fig. 7.a shows a rear jaw of the binding shown in
Figure 1, in a position displaced backward
relative to the support, in a partially cut-
away plan view from above;
Fig. 7.b shows a rear jaw of the binding shown in
Figure 1, in a position displaced forward
relative to the support, in a parti.-311y cut-
away plan view from above;
Fig. 8 shows a diagrammatic, partially cut-away
lateral. view of a detail of a step part for a
telemark ski binding according to a further
preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig, 9 shows a diagrat~unatiG lateral view of the
front jaw of a telemark ski binding according
tv a further preferred embodiment of the
invention, with the ski brake in a braking
position;
3U
~'ig. 10 shows a rear jaw of a telemark ski binding
according to a further preferred embodiment
of the invention W the closed position in a
diagrammatic, partially cut-away lateral
view; and
Fig. 11 shows the rear jaw shown in Figure 10 in the
open position, in a partially cut-away
lateral view corresponding to Figure ~Ø
~D.~UI ~ ~~~) )E:23 ~A~ e~ + ~'3~~rpr r~'a ~,' 3)~'~~~,) N'.''2,~ Vii. 'u
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 17 _
In principle, identical parts are provided with
identical reference numerals in the figures.
Pays of embodyirng the invention
~rhe telernark ski binding illustrated in Figures ~. to 7
according to a preferred type of embodiment of the
invention comprises a front jaw 60, a rear. jaw 20 and a
support connecting the two binding jaws 20, 50 with a
first support part 10 articulated on the front jaw 60
and a second support part 14, supporting the rear jaw
20, the first support part 10 being articulated about a
first pivot pin 2 transverse to the lengthwise
direction of the ski and parallel to the top of the ski
so as to be pivotable on the front. jaw 60 and the
second support part 1~ being articulated about a second
pivot pin 8 parallel to the first so as to be pivotable
on the first support part L0. The binding is farmed to
receive a norm 75 ski bUUt. The binding is further
provided wzth a ski brake in order to brake the ski in
the event of xelease of the telemark ski binding,
designed as a safety ski binding.
Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic lateral view of the
telernark ski binding. The rear jaw 20 is in its closed
position, and the ski brake is in its held-up, non-
braking position. Fig. 1 also shows diagrammatically,
in broken lines, the outline of a ski boot accoxranodated
in the binding and fixed thereby on the ski, together
with its boot sole. Tn Fig. 2, the bidding shown in
Fig. 1 is shown in a diagrammatic plan view from above
with the same position of the rear jaw 20 and of the
ski. brake, and F'ig. 3 shows the binding shown in Fig. 1
with the same position of the rear jaw 20 and of the
ski brake ixx a partially cut-away lateral view in a
position with the heel raised away from the top of the
s3ci_ Fig_ 4 shows the binding shown in Fig. 1 in a
partially cut-away lateral view. The rear' jaw 20 is
20.Jull 7001 16:23 Kel'er + par~~er A~ ~3~ "',isC'C K~.1278 S. 20
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
once again in its closed position, while the ski brake
is shown in a lowered, braking posi.tiori_ Fig. 5 shows
the rear jaw 2U of the binding shown in x'igures 1. to '7
in its open posit~.on. Fig. 6 shows a cross section
through the second support part 14 caf the two-part
support (10, 24), whi~~h connects the rear jaw 2U with
the front jaw 60, and Figures 7.a and ?.b i~_lustrate
the displaceable disposition of the rear jaw 20 on the
second support part 14 for the purposes of length
adjustment as a consequence of sole bending.
The integrally formed front jaw 60 has a substantially
plate-shaped base portion H2, which can be fixedly
attached to a ski._ Molded on its front-~ end is the
upward-extending and forward--curving front wall 64.
Molded on the side of this front wall facing the boot
is the front sole holder 66, which has the form of a
bead. The bead-shaped front sole holder 66 has an
arcuate outline in a plane substantially parallel to
the top of r-he ski which corresponds to the average
outward shape of a ski boot toe. The side of the front
wall 64 of the front jaw facing the boot is similarly
arcuate in form, its outline Corresponding to the
average outward shape of the toe of a :alki boot sole
according to norm 75.
The base portion 62 of the front jaw 60 is provided
with a first continuou:~ drilled hole extending
transversely to the lengthwise direction c>f the ski and
parallel to the t.op of the ski. This is formed to
receive the first pivot pin 2, on which the first
support part 10 is articulated. 'fhe pof>ition of the
base portion 62 with this drilled hole thus forms a
retaining part, in order to retain tk~e substantially
two-part support 10, 14 described below of the ski. The
first pivot pin 2 is set back from the position on the
front jaw 60 provided for the foremost boot toe toward
the heel by about 1/8 of the distance between the front
20.Jull ?001 16:23 Ke! e~ + ~a~~~,e~ Au 0?' 000~~~ ~~.~2i8 S. 2'
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_.
sole holder 66 and the rear sole holder 40_l, 40.2,
40.3.
Molded on the base portion &2 of the front jaw 60 are a
further two lateral support walls 68, each of which is
provided with a drilled holes [sic] for the
accommodation and pivotable mounting of a brake element
90, described in detail.. below, for the ski_ brake_ The
two support walls 68 with the drilled holes form a
brake element retaining part, in order to hold the
brake element 90 firmly on the ski. The two drilled
holes are disposed substantiali.y parallel tv the first
pivot pin 2 and flush with one another and define a
first hinge pin 6, substantially parallel to the first
pivot pin 2, about wh.ieh the brake element 90 is
articulated pivotably on the two support walls b8. The
two support walls 58 extend laterally on the base
portion 62 of the front jaw 60 approximately from the
position of the first pivot pin 2 toward the .rear.
The first support part 10 is of substantially UJshaped
form, having two branches 11, 12 and a web 13
connecting the two branches 11, 12. The two branches
11, 12 each have a drilled hole, at the-it branch end
remote from the web 13, which holes are formed to
receive the first pivot pin 2 in order to articulate
the first support part 10 on the front jaw 60. At its
lengthwise end on the web side, the first support part
10 is provided with a drilled hole substantially
parallel to the two drilled holes in the branches 11,
12 and formed to receive a second pivot pin 8, orz which
the second support part 14 is articulated. The second
pivot pin 8 is set back from the position on the front
jaw 60 provided for the foremost boot toe toward the
heel by about 1/3 of the distance between the front
sole holder 66 and the rear sole holder 40.1, 40.2,
40_3.
?o.o~~~ 200> as:2a Ke~~~, _ ~3~t~~ ,ac ~ :~cQ~",
~~~,~2~s ~2
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
~- 2 (?
A step part 80 for the ski brake is disposed
substantially between the two branches 11, 12 of the
first support part 10 and above the base portion 62 of
the front jaw 60_ The step part 80 of the binding shown
in Figures 1 to 7 corresponds substantially to the step
part 180 illustx-ated in Fig. 8, which latter differs
from the former merely in having an additional locking
lever 188. The step part 80 has an elongate outline and
extends forward in the lengthwise direction beyond the
position of the front sole holder 66 into the curvature
formed by the front wall 64 of the front jaw. As a stop
for the front edge of the ski boot sole, a wall 82
extending upward approximately at right angles to the
base surface is molded on the step part 80 in the
1S vicinity of its front edge. This wall 82 simultaneously
serves to secure the step part 80, in its front reg~vn,
in the curvature Formed by the front wall 64 of the
front jaw 60 so as to be displaceable lengthwise and
pivotable about a transverse axis extending paralltal to
the top of the ski, engaging behind a projection 67
correspondingly molded on the front jaw wa7_1 64.
In its lowered position shown ~,n Figures ~, to 3, in
which it holds up the brake element 90 for the ski
brake in a non-braking position, the step part 80 rests
on correspondingly formed supports of the base portion
62 of the front jaw 60 and then forms, together w~.th
the first support part 10, a substantially flat bearing
surface for the ski boot sole in its regions
corresponding to the toes and the ball of the foot_
At its lengthwise end of the base surface of the step
part 80 lying in the vicinity of the web 13 of the
first support. part 10, a downward---angled wall-like
projection B4 is molded on the latter. This projection
89 is provided at its lower end with a dr=filled through
hole, which is formed to receive the web 91 of the
substantially U-shaped braking elernent 90 for the ski
brake. The drill hole extends substantially parallel to
20.J~1' 200? 16:24 Kp P. + p~~~,~~e, A~ J:'' 2~~R~7n N~,'278 S. 22
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 2'1 _
the two pivot pins 2, 8 on the first support part 20
and defines a second hinge pin 4 about which the brake
element is pivotably articulated on the step part 80_
The brake element 90 is manufar_tured from a sprung
steel were of circular cross section and has a
substantially U-shaped form two branches [sic] and the
web 9~. connecting the latter, which, as described
above, is mounted in the drilled hole in the projection
84 of the step part 80. From the connecting web 91, the
two branches extend over a first; section 92, 93
initially substantially at right angJ.es to the
connecting web 91 and thereafter cover a second section
94, 95 approximately parallel to the connecting web 91,
so that the two branches move apart, and subsequently
over a third section 96, 97 again approximately
parallel to the first section. Over their second
section 9A, 95, the two branches are each passed
through one of the drilled holes described above in the
two support walls 68 of the base portion 62 of the
front jaw 60, in ox'der to articulate the brake element
90 on the r_wo support walls 68 so as to be pivotable
about the first hinge piri 6. The three cut parts [sic]
96, 97 df the two branches serve as actual brake legs
9~, 97 of the ski brake, urhich engage into the snow to
brake the ski.
In Fig. 4, to clarify the movement sequence, the
movement path of the second pivot 4 connecting the step
3U part 80 to the brake element 90 is shown. by a double
arrow 9. The brake element 90 is pivotable about the
first pivot 6, which is fixed relative to the front jaw
60. As a result, the second pivot 4 is moved on a
circular path, whi7.e the step part 80, at its front
lengthwise end, performs a pivot movement combined with
a lengthwise disp7.acement.
A helical spring having two branches is disposed
between the step part $0 arid the brake element 90 in a
20.Ju1', 200,, E;2r1 Kel e~ ~ ~a.~~e~ A~ ~' 3'~~~-'n N~.'2?~ ~. 24
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 2Z -
manner such that, if the step part 80 is not held down
by the ski boot, it brings the ski brake automatically
into the braking position shown in Fig. 4. Tn th~.s
position, the step part 80 is raised upward from the
base portion 62 and the two bxanches of the brake
element 90 project fo ~nrard beyond the bottom of the ski
i.n order to brake the ski.. As soon as the step part 80
is loaded by the ski boot, i.t is moved downward and
foxward against the spring force of the helical spring.
When this occurs, the second hinge pin 4 and hence the
web 91 of the brake element 90 are moved downward over
the circular path shown by the double arrow 9 in
Fig. 4, the projecting legs 96, 97 of the brake element
90 being simultaneously pivoted upward, by the pivot
movement of the brake element 90, abo~it the hinge pin 6
fixedly disposed on the front jaw E0. Even a relatively
slight downward- and/or forward-directed force of the
ski. boot on the step part 8U is sufficient tQ hold down
the step part 80 and hence to hold up the brake element
2p 9d.
The second support part 14 comprises two parallel
7.engthwise supports 25, 16 in the fomn of hollow
sections 25, 16 disposed at-_ the edges, as is apparent
in the cxoss-sectional view shown in Fig. 6. these are
connected to one another by means of a plurality of
plate-shaped and strut-shaped connecting elements
(19.1, 19.2, 7.9.3, 19.4) disposed substantially
transversely and forming, as a whole, a connecting
plate 17 disposed between the lengthwise supports 15,
16. Some of these transverse struts (19.1, 19.2) axe so
formed and disposed that they form a toothing freed
undisplaceably to the second support part 24, into
which a toothing 21 of an anchoring element 21, 23
described below can be engaged to fix t:he lengthwise
position of thzs anchoring element 21, 23. A fork--like
front portion 18 is molded on the front lengthwise end
of the second support part 14_ The two fork prongs at
the front end of the second support part. 14 are each
20.Ju!I 2001 X6:20 Ke~'er ~ ~ar'~e~ AJ' 31J8~~') N~.'2?8 S. 25
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
23 _.
provided with a drilled hale, which ho:l.es are formed to
receive the second pivot pin $, in order to articulate
the second support part 14 on the first support part
10. At its lengthwise end opposite the fork-~.ike front
portion 18, the second support part 1.4 supports the
rear jaw 20, the two lengthwise supports 15, 16
simultaneously serving as guide rails 15, 16 for
guiding the rear jaw 20.
The rear jaw 20 has an L-shaped base pox-Lion, of which
one branch 22 is disposed substantially in the
lengthwise direction of the support part 14 while the
other branch 24 is disposed substantially
perpendicularly thereto. 'rhe branch 22 disposed in the
lengthwise direcr_ion of the support has a substantially
closed cavity, through which the second support part 14
passes in the lengthwise direction in a displacement
guide in order to connect the rear jaw 20 with the
second support part 1.4 so as to be displaceable in the
lengthwise direction. In order, first, to provide
lengthwise adjustment as a consequence of the bendirxg
of the sole and secondly t.o provide a way of adjusting
the binding tar different boot sizes or boot sole
lengths, a tunctianal uni'c independent of the support
part 14 is disposed a~n this cav~.ty to change the
distance between the front sole holder 66 and the rear
sole holder 40.1. 40.2, 40.3.
The functional unit for changing the distance between
the front and the rear sole holders comprises an
anchoring element 21, 23 which is displaceable in the
lengthwise direction along the support part 14 and can
be fixed in a desired sliding position on the support
part 14. 'rhe anchoring element 21, 23, comprises a
sprung steel plate 21 extending in the lengthwise
direction of the support and provided with a too thing,
and a plate-shaped portion 23 disposed transversely to
the lengthwise direction of the support. The toothing
of the sprung steel plate 21 can be engaged in the
20.Jull 2001 16:20 Kel er + '?art~er Au ;;0' ;;'OH,:'; ~~.12?6 S. 26
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
toothing on the support part 14 farmed from the
transverse struts 19_1, 19.2, in order to fix the
anchoring elemez~t 21, 23 relative to the support part
14. ~y means of an actuating lever 25, the sprung steel
plate 21 having the soothing can be raised and the
soothing of the anchoring element 23., 23 can thus be
disengaged from the soothing an the support side,
whereupon the anchoring element 21, 23 can be displaced
in the lengthwise direction along the support path 14
and subsequently fixed again by engaging tk~.e to4things
in a desired position of dzsplacement_ In this manner,
the distaz~.ce between the front sole holder 56 and the
rear sole holder 90.1, X0.2, 4p_3 can be set in order
to set the binding for different boot sole lengths_
~rhe rear jaw 320 shown in Figures 10 and 11 is provided
with a functional unit, identical to that shown in
Figures 1-7, to change the distance between the front
and the rear sole holders, having corresponding
anchoring elements 321, 323, actuating lever 325 and
helical compression spring 329_1. rn contrast to the
illustrations in Figures 1-7, the functional unit shown
in Figures 10 and 11 is shown in a position with the
actuating lever 325 raised, in which position the
toothing of the anchoring element 21, 23 is disengaged
from the toothing on the support side.
For lengthwise adjustment of the binding as a
consequence of the bending of the sole, the functional
unit further comprises a spring mechanism with spring
guide means in the form of two guide rods 2'7_1, 2'7_2,
extending substantially in the lengthwise direction of
the support and each fixedly attached at its front
lengthwise ends to a portion of the horizontal branch
22 of the rear jaw 20. The rear rod ends are gus_ded, in
a sliding function, through drilled holes in the plate-
shaped portion of the anchoring element 21, 23 disposed
transversely to the guide rods 27_1, 27_2_ A
cylindrical helical compression spring 29_1, 29.2 is
20.Ju1 2001 16:2_6 Ke~!e~ + Pa~~~e~ AG ~'3' 3'08?J N~.'218 ~. 27
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 25
disposed on each of the two guide rods 27.1, 2'7.2 in a
mariner such that it exerts a compressive force between
the portion of the rear jaw branch 22 holding the guide
rods and the plate-shaped portion 23 of the anchoring
S element. (For the sake of clarity, only t:he lengthwise
ends of the helical compression springs 29.1, 29.2 are
suggested in Figures 7.a and 7.b respectively.) Tri the
embodiment of the inver~tion shown in Figures 1 to 7,
the rear jaw 20 is displaceable in thv.s manner by up to
'75 mm in the lengthwise direction relative to the
second support part 14, in order to guarantee
adjustment of the distance between the front sole
holder 66 and the rear sole holder 40.1, 40.2, 40_3 to
a change in boot sole length as a consequence of trhe
bending of the boot sale.
A jaw structural part '30 is disposed on the other
branch 24 of the rear jaw base portion, projecting
upward from the second support part 24. The rear sole
holder 40.1, 40.2. 40.3 is molded on the side of the
jaw struct=ural part 30 facing the boot. "the rear sole
holder 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 has the shape of a bead. Tn the
binding position with the boot heel lowered, it has an
arcuate outline in a plane substantially parallel to
the top of the ski, corresponding to the average
outward shape of a ski boat heel. The side of the jaw
structural part 30 facing the boot is similarly of
arcuate form. in the illustration shown in Figure 5,
the hatched surfaces each represent a section through
the lengthwise center of the rear jaw, where the
arcuate shape of the rear sole holder 40_2 and of the
side of the jaw structural part 30 facing the boot
extends furthest backward. The ou.Lli_ne shape of this
side and of the rear sole holder 40.3 is also drawn in
3.5 continuous lines at a lateral edge where they extend
furthest forward because of the arcuate shape. The rear
jaw 20 is also shown in a simz.,lar manner in Fig. 4.
20.Juli 2001 16:25 Kel!er ~ f~ar~n,E~~ AG 0<' u'000'~' 1r.~27g . 28
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 26 _
The jaw structural part 30 is mounted on the upward-
projecting branch 24 of the base portion of the rear
jaw 20 to be Capable of pivoting laterally outward
about a central swivel 32, the jaw structural part 30
being retained by a resilient release c~eW ce in its
intended pivot position on the jaw base portion to fix
the ski boat, in order t:o provide a lateral safety
release of the ski binding. The release device
substantially corresponds to the lateral release device
on the front jaw of a touring ski binding of the type
described in w0-A-96/23559 tFritschi)~
To assist the lateral release, rollers 48, each
rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation, are
disposed in a manner known per se on both sides of the
rear jaw, below the lateral edges of the near sole
holder 40.1, 40.2, 40.3. ~'ur_thermore, again in a manner
known per se, a sliding plate 46 which is pivotable
outward laterally is disposed on the branch 22 of the
rear jaw base portion disposed on the second support
part 14 as a rest for the boot sole in the heel region,
in order to guarantee a lateral release substantially
independent of the friction of the boot sole_
To provide a boot guide device which guides the rear
edge of the boot sole around the rear sole holder 40.1,
40.2, 40.3 when the foot is introduced int=o and removed
from the binding, a one--piece rocker is articulated on
the structural part 30 of the rear jaw 20 to be
pivotable about a substantially horizontal transverse
axis 52_ The rocker comprises two guide arms 54, 56
disposed approximately parallel to one another and
perpendicular to the transverse axis 52, and an
actuating arm 58, which extends from the transverse
axis 52 substantially in the opposite direction
relative to the guide arms 54, 56.
The transverse axis 52 is disposed, relative to the
second support part, approximately at the same height
20.Jull 2001 16:26 Kel'e~ + aav ne~ Aa 7?' 31J8J?J N~.'2l8 S. ~5
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
2~ _
on the structural part 30 of the rear jaw 20 as the
bead-shaped rear sole holder 40.1, 40_2, 40.3. As a
result, the length of the guide arms 54, 56 becomes
minimal, which is necessary in order to guide the boot
sole in a circular path around the -rear so:Le holder
40.1, 40.2, 40.3_
The guide arms 54, 56 extend from the trazzsverse axis
52 through two slit-like passages 34, 36 in the
structural part 30 and in the rear sole holder 40.1,
40.2, 40.3, which are formed off-center: between the
center and the l.ater_al edges in the structural part 30
and extend in the lengthwise direction. The bead-like
rear sole holder 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 is divided into three
1.5 parts by the two slit-like passages 34, 36. The length
of the guide arms 54, 56 is dimensioned so that they
project, in the vicinity of the rear sole holder 40.1,
40.2, 40.3, through the slit-like passages 34, 3fi
beyond the respective boot-side edge of the rear sole
holder 40_1, 40.2, 40_3. As a result, when the foot is
introduced into and removed from the binding, the sole
projection at the heel lengthwise en.d of the boot is
guided by the two guide arms 54, 56 substantially on a
cir~:ular path, having the transverse axis 52 as the
center, about the rear sole holder 40.1., 40.2, 40.3,
the two guide arms 54, 56 each touching the boot sole
off-center.
An angular recess 57 is formed in each of the sides of
the two guide arms 54, 55 facing the boot sole, in
order to receive the bottom edge of the boot sole. As a
result, when the foot i.s introduced into and removed
from the binding, at which time the guide arms 54, 56
touch the boot sole, the latter is retained on two
sides of the bottom edge by the guide arms 54, 56, in
order to guarantee secure guidance of the boot sole.
Above the transverse axis 52, a cylindrical helical
spring 44 having two branches is disposed in each of
26.!ui ?00' 16:7_6 Ke 'e. * p~,+~,e, qr~ ;~ ~.,n~",,, N~.~2?8 s. ?0
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
-- 28
the two slit-like passages 34, 36. One branch of each
of the two springs 44 bearing on the jaw structural
part 30 and the other on a protuberance 45 which is
disposed on a lateral surface of the guide arm 54, 56
extending through the slit-like passage 34, 36, the two
springs 44 act between the jaw structural part 30 and
the rocker. The spring branches that bear on the
protuberances 45 can slide freely thereon, and the
springs 44 fi.ogether with the protuberances 45 are so
disposed relative to the transverse axis 52 that their
lines of influence extend past the transverse axis 52
an one side in a first pivot position of the rocker and
on the other side in a second pivot position. As a
result of this disposition, a bistable rocker switch
1.5 device fox the rocker is created, in order to switch
the rocker back and forth in the mariner of a mechanical
flipflop between two stable pivot positions on the
transverse axis 52. On actuation of the rocker from one
of the stable pivot positions to the other, the latter
is moved beyond a dead-center position in which the
lines of influence of the springs 44 extexid through the
transverse axis 52.
The first. stable pivot position of the rcm:ker, shown in
Fi.g. 5, defines the opera position of the rear binding
jaw 20 or of the binding. In the open position, the two
guide arms 54, 56 are directed upward and the actuating
arm 58 downward_ In this position, in order to
introduce the foot into the binding, the boot heel can
be placed on the guide arms 54, 56 and subsequently
pressed downward, no manual. manipulation being
necessary. This in itself provides a step-in function.
The second stable pivot position of the rocker, shown
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, defines the closed position
of the rear binding jaw 20 or of the binding. In the
closed posit~.on, the two guide arms 54, 5fi are directed
downward and the actuating arm 58 upward. In this
position, the boot sol..e, secured on the second support
20.Jull 2001 16:26 Kel!er + Part~er AG (i3~~ ?'OgC?0 N~.1278 S. 3,
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
29 -
part 14 by the rear sole holder 40_:1., 40.2, 40.3, is
not touched by either of the two guide arms 54, 56_ 'fhe
effect of this is to guarantee that, i.n the closed
position, the guide arms 54, 56 do not obstruct either
the securing function of the rear sole holder 40_1,
40_2, 40.3 or the safety function of the lateral
release device.
A wall-like, downwaxd--projecting support 26 is molded
on each of the two lengthwise sides of the branch 22 of
the rear jaw base portion disposed on the secorzd
support part 14, these engaging, in a biz~ding position
with the heel lowered, over a correspondingly formed
lengthwise bead 28 fixedly attached to the tap of the
ski. As a result, in the binding position with the heel
lowered, the rear jaw 20 is fixed against lateral
displacements, as a result of which the steerability of
the ski in this binding position is further improved.
In Fig. 3, the binding is shown with the heel raised
away from the top of the ski- From this illustration,
it is clearly apparent that, with the heel raised, a
rest for the ski boot sole is provided by the base
portion 62 of the Front jaw 60, ttze step part 80, the
first support part 10 and the second support part 24,
this rest, because of the pivotability of the two
pivots 2, $ between the first support part 10 and the
front jaw 60 on the one hand and between the first
support part 10 and the second support part 14 on the
other hand, being of substantially arcuate form in the
lengthwise direction, in ordex to assist the bending of
the sole of a telemark ski. boot in the lengthwise
direction.
In ordez to introduce the foot into the bindir~g, the
latter is necessarily first brought into its open
position, the ar.tuating axm 58 being pressed downward
either by hand or by means of a ski stick. Thereafter,
the boot toe is zntroduccd into the front jaw 50, the
20.Jull 2001 16:27 Kel~e~ + ?ar'~er Au 03' ?'OQJ "', ~°.'278 ~. 02
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
- 3U --
sole projection vn the boot toe being pushed under the
front sole holder 66 on the front jaw 60. As a result,
the step part 80 on the rear jaw 20 zs pressed down and
the ski brake thus lifted. Subsequently, the boot heel
is placed on the guide axons 54, 56 on the rear jaw 20
in a manner such that the bottom edge of the ski boot
is received by the two angles 57 in the guide arms 54,
56. Now the bout heel is pressed downward" being guided
by the guide arms 54, 56. When the boot heel is pressed
down, the rear jaw 20 is first displaced by the two
guide arms 54, 56, against the force of the compression
springs 29 . 1, 29 . 2 , in the backward lexzgt.hwise
direction, away from the shoe, until the t:wo guide arms
54, 5& extend substantial7.y parallel to the second
support part 14. When the boot heel is further pressed
down, the rear haw 20 is again pressed forward, t-oward
the boot, by the compression springs 29.1, 29.2 in its
base portion, the rear sole holder 40_1, 40.2, 40.3
being pushed over the sole projection of the boot sole
at the heel end_ After the boot heel has been lowered
onto the second support part 14 or the base portion of
the rear jaw 20 and the br~ot is th~.rs completely
inserted in the binding, the rocker is moved a little
further again in the insertion direction 'by the two
helical springs 44 of the rocker sw~..tch device, until
the closed position of the binding is reached, in which
the boot sole is no longer touched by guide arms 54,
56.
Ta remove the foot from the binding, the actuating arm
58 is pressed downward, for example by means of a ski
stick. As a result, first, the t.wo guide arms 54, 56
are moved forward and upward in a mannex- such that the
two angles 57 of the guide arms 54, 56 encompass the
bottom edge of the boot sole. As a result of a further
downward pressing of the actuating arm 5$, the boot
sole projection at. the heel end is moved forward and
upward in order to guide it around the rear sole holder
40.1, 40.2, 40.3. As the boot toe is undisplaceably
20.Jull ?_001 16:2? Kel'er + ~a~;~er A~ J3' 3!08~",~ ~'~.~278 S. 33
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
-
secured by the front jaw 60, the rear jaw 20 ~.s
simultaneously displaced by the two guide arms 54, 56,
initially against the force of the compression sprzngs
29.1, 29.2, backward in the lengthwise direction, away
S from the boot, until the two guide arms 54, 56 extend
substantially parallel to the second support part.
Subsequently, during the further raising of the heel,
the two guide arms 54, 56 are pivoted further upward
and the rear jaw 20 is pressed forward again toward the
boot by the compression springs in its base portion
until the open position of the binding is reached. Zn
the open position, the rocker is secured by the two
helical springs 44 of the rocker switch device in the
pivot position with the guide arms 54, 56 directed
upward, so that n4 manual manipulation is necessary for
subsequent introductiozz of the foot. into the binding
and thus the step-in function is guaranteed. After the
removal of the boot toe from tree front jaw 60, the ski
brake is bx'ought automatically into its braking
position by the helical spring in the ski brake.
Fig_ 8 shows, in a detail view, a step part 180
together With a locking device 188 for a telemark ski
binding aCCOrda.ng to a fu.rthex~ preferred embodiment of
the invention. In order to permit a further reduction
of the force necessary to hold down the step part 180
and to be exerted by the ski boat on the step part 180,
in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, a
rocker-like locking lever 188 is articulated on the
step part 1.80, specifically on the base surface of the
step part 18b. One arm of the locking lever 188 i_s
formed as a locking hook, while the other arm of the
rocker-like locking lever 188 serves as an actuating
arm. When, in the lowered position of_ the step part
180, the actuating arm e~f. the Locking lever 1.88 is
loaded by the ski boot sole, the locking hook is
thereby hooked in around a cam correspondingly formed
on the base portion of the front jaw. As a result, even
in the event of an extremely slight force on the step
20.Ju'' 200 '6:27 Ke!'e, ~ oar~r,e~ A~a " 3'CBC~~' ~'~.'2?8 c 34
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 32 _
part 180 or the actuating ar~.n of the locking lever 1$8,
any lowering of the brake element is prevented, which
lowering might result in an undesired braking of the
ski.
Fig. 9 shows a front jaw 260 far a telemark ski binding
according to a further preferred embodiment of the
invention, which differs from the front jaw 60 shown in
Figures 1--7 substantially only in that the ski brake is
of different design. fn the lateral view of Fig. 9, the
front jaw 260 is shown with the ski brake in a lowered,
braking position, and the part of the front jaw 260
supporting the sole holder has been broken away for the
sake of clarity.
The ski brake of the front jaw 260 comprises a step
part 280 of substantially plate-like form, which is
articulated at its rear lengthwise end about a
horizontal transverse axis 205 to be pivotable on a
20 base portion 262 of the front jaw 260. At its front
lengthw~.se end, the step part 280 is provided ~r~lith a
substantially horizontal transverse slit aperture, open
toward the front. Accommodated in this aperture is the
connecting ~aeb, di.splac~eable in thm lengthwise
25 direction and pivotable about a horizontal transverse
a~cis, of a subst.antial.ly ~1--shaped brake element which,
together with the connecting web, also Comprises two
branches 296 connected to one another by the latter and
serving as actual brake legs. The brake legs 296 are
articulated on the base portion 2.&2 of the front jaw
260 to be pivotable about a horizontal transverse axis
206, the transverse axis 206, on which the brake legs
296 are articulated, being disposed in front of the
transverse axis 205 on which the step part 280 is
art~.GUlated.
When a ski boot is introduced into the front jaw 260,
its boot toe presses the step part 280 downward. As a
result, the brake element, in its front part, is
20.Ju1~ 2001 '6:28 Kei e~ + ~a~~~~e~ AG K8' 8108°i~ N~.'2'8 S. 36
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
pivoted downward about the transverse axis 206, as a
result of which the brake legs 296 are pivoted upward
about the transverse axis 206 into a non-braking
position_
To assist the insertion of the ski boot toe izlto the
front jaw 260 while the foot is being introduced into
the binding, the step part is provided with a pluraJ.ity
of rollers 201., 203, rot-_atab7.e about horizontal
transverse axes, which project at the top of the step
part 280. When the ski boat is inserted into the front
jaw 260, the ski boot sole rolls over these rollers
201, 203 in its foremost region, v5.rtually without
friction. The step part is further provided with a
retaining edge 207 disposed behind the ski boot toe
which prevents undesired pushing-out of the ski boot
toe from the front jaw 260 when the boot heel is
raised.
Figures 10 and 11 show, in an illustration
substantially corresponding to Fig. 5, a rear jaw 320
for a telemark ski binding according to a further
preferred type of embodiment of the invention, the rear
jaw 320 being shown in its closed position in Fig. 10
and in its open position in Fig. 11. The rear jaw 320
shown in Figures 10 and 11 differs from the rear jaw 20
shown in Figures 1-7 substantially only in having a
different embodiment of the mechanism for introducing
and removing the foot_
A rear jaw intermediate part 331 is mounted on a branch
324 of the L-shaped base portion of the rear jaw 320,
projecting from the second support part, so as to be
pivotable about a centra-1 pivot pin 332. A rear jaw
structural part 330 is arti~:ulatec3 on the rear jaw
inter'~nediate part. 331 to be pivotable about a
horizontal transverse axis 352. The rear _jaw structural
part 330 is formed in the manner of a two--armed rocker,
a rear sole holder 390 of bead--1-ike form being molded
20.Ju1~ 2001 16:28 Ke~'pr ~ ~a~~ne~ .AG ~3' 308011 N~.'2?8 S. 36
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 34 _
on the front rocker arm. Similarly to the embodiment
shown in Figs. I-7, the rear jaw 32p shown in
Figures 10 and 11 is also provided with rollers 348
rotatable about vertical axes of rotation to assist the
lateral release. The rear rocker arm 35$ serves to
actuate the rear jaw structural part 330, the rear jaw
structural part 330 being pivoted by means of the
actuating arm 358 about the pivot pin 352 in the manner
of an automatic heel device known for alpine ski
bindings for the introduction and remo~ral of the foot.
A pressure piston is accommodated in a driJ.led hole in
the rear jaw structural part 330 and is pressed by a
compression spring onto a pressure surface formed on
the rear jaw intermediate part 331.. rfhe pressure
surface is so formed that, when the rear jaw structural
part 330 is pivoted about the pivot pin 352, the
pressure piston and hence the rear jaw structural part
330 engage into two locking pQSir_~_ons predetermined by
2Q the pressure surface that. define the closed position
and tie open position, respectively, of the binding.
In contrast to a conventional alpine sk:i binding, no
step spur is necessary iro the te~.emark ski bind~.ng
shown in Figures 10 and 11, on which the boat heel has
to be placed in order to introduce r_he foot into the
binding, in order subsequently to press down the
automatic heel device_ In the telemark ski binding
shown in Fzgures 10 and 11, the distance between the
front sole holder and the rear sole holder 340 is set
in a manner such that, after the introduction of the
boot tae into the froxzt jaw, the boor._ heel lies on the
rollers 34$. After the boot heel is placed on the
rollers 348, the heel is simply pressed downward. As a
result, the rear jaw structural part 330 is p~.voted
about the pivot pin 352, r_he reaw jaw 320
simultaneously being displaced backward against the
compression spring 329_1 of the furiCti.onal unit to
change the distance between the front and the rear sole
20.Ju1~ 2001 '6:28 Ke'~'er + ='a~~.~e~ AG ::'?' ?WB;;v"' N~.',2~18 S. 3?
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
35 _
holders and thus permit introduction of the foot into
the binding.
In summary, i_t can be said that the invention provides
a telemark ski binding which not only guarantees good
ski guidance even with the boot heel raised but also
reduces the risk of injury to the skiex in the event of
a fall .
20.Jn1 2001 16:30 Ke'~!er + Partne~ AG 33' 3?'i3C7J Nr.'2?8
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
international Patent Application PGT/GH99/00522
Publication No. WHO 00/30$5
Fritschi AG - b'~iss Bindings
List Qf references
2, 8 Pivot pin
4, 6, 204, 208 Hinge pin
9 Double arrow
First support part
11, 12. Branches of the first support part
13 Web of the first support part
14 Second support part
15, 16 Hollow profile-type lengthwise support
of the second support part
17 Connecting plat-a of the second support
part
18 Fork-shaped front part of the second
support part
19.1, 19.2, Connecting element
19.3, 19_4
20, 320 Rear jaw
21, 321 Sprung sheet steel part of the
anchoring element
22, 24 Branches of the rear jaw base portion
23, 323 Plate-shaped part of the anchoring
element
25, 32.5 Actuating lever
26 Guide support
27.1, 27.2 Guide rod
28 Guide bead
29_l, 29.2, Helical compression spring
329.1
30, 330 Reax jaw structural part
32, 332 Pivot pin
34, 36 Slit--like passage
40.1, 40.2, Rear sole holder
40.3, 340
44 Helical spring
45 Protuberances on the guide arm
20.~u1 2001 16:30 Ke! e~ + pa~t~e~ qG n3~ y'Ogn'r V~.?2i8 S. 46
CA 02360819 2001-07-20
_ 2
46 Sliding plate
48, 348 Roller
52, 352 Transverse axis
59, 56 guide arm
57 Angular recess
58, 358 Actuating arm
60, 260 Front jaw
62, 262 Front jaw base portion
64 Arcuate front wall, a~cchingof the
front jaw
66 Front sole holder
67 Projection
68 Supporting wall.
8U, 380, 280 Step pax-t
82 Front wall of the step paxt
84 Projection of the step part
90 Braking element
91 Web of the braka.ng element
92, 93 First branch section of the braking
element
94, 95 Second branch section of braking
the
element
96, 97, 296 Third branch sE?Ction of braking
the
el emezzt , brake 1 eg
188 Locking lever
201,203 Roller
205 Hinge pin
207 Retention edge
331 Rear jaw intermediate part
351 Pressure piston
352 Transverse axis
353 Compression spring
