TRADUCTION NON-DISPONIBLE

HEEL BINDING FOR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The invention provides an auxiliary binding for cross-
country skis, comprising a clasp adapted to be fitted to a ski
boot, a plate adapted to be fitted to the ski and having two
upstanding prongs defining between them a recess having a width
which decreased towards the plate, a wedge attached to the clasp
and arranged to lodge in said recess in the standing or starting
position, a rounded protuberance on the clasp adapted to fit
into a corresponding groove formed in the heel of the boot, and
a bore in the clasp for receiving a screw to attach the clasp
to the heel of the boot.

Revendications

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis,
comprising a clasp adapted to be secured to the side wall of the
heel of a ski boot, said clasp having a rounded protuberance
adapted to be positioned in a corresponding groove formed in the
heel of the boot, a wedge portion connected to said clasp and
extending rearwardly therefrom, said wedge having downwardly
converging side walls, a plate secured to the ski, two upstanding
prongs intergrally connected to one end of said plate, said
prongs having upwardly diverging opposed inner edges defining
a recess having a width which decreases towards the plate, the
upwardly diverging opposed inner edges of the prongs at the
upper portions thereof diverging at a substantially greater
angle than at the lower portions said lower portions diverging
at an angle corresponding to the downwardly converging side walls
of said wedge, whereby the wide upwardly diverging upper portion
of the recess provides a guide to facilitate the insertion of
the wedge into the lower wedge gripping portion of the recess.
2. An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis,
according to claim 1, wherein said plate extends under the
heel of the ski boot, and a convexly curved resilient disc
mounted in the plate and being positioned under the heel of the
ski boot.
3. An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis,
according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the prongs facing
in the direction of the clasp diverge outwardly relative thereto.
4. An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis,
according to claim 1, wherein the clasp is secured to the side
wall of the heel by means of at least one screw extending
through a bore in the clasp extending parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the ski.

5. An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis,
according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of the wedge is
adjacent the plane of the bottom surface of the heel, and the
upper edge of the wedge is positioned above the top of the heel.

Description

542
The invention relates to an auxiliary binding for
cross-country skis which is distinguished by great reliability
and safe method of operaticn.
An auxiliary binding for cross-country skis in which
a wedge secured to the heel of the boot is inserted with ever
decreasing clearance into prongs, which are secured to the ski
and open out upwardly, on changing from the cross-country
position to the standing downhill position has already been
proposed.
The auxiliary bindings manufactured heretofore
according to these measures cannot cope with the highest stresses.
Neither the clasps with the wedges fastened to the heels of
the conventional cross-country boots nor the supporting plate
with the guide prongs fastened to the ski behind the heel of the
boot are reliable enough.
` It is the aim of the invention to avoid these dis-
advantages of the lighter construction of auxiliary hindings
used for cross-country skis heretofore.
According to the present invention there is provided
an auxiliary binding for cross-country s]cis, comprising a clasp
adapted to be secured to the side wall of the heel of a ski
boot, said clasp having a rounded protuberance adapted to be
positioned in a corresponding groove formed in the heel of the
boot, a wedge portion connected to said clasp and extending
rearwardly therefrom, said wedge having downwardly converging
side walls, a plate secured to the ski~ two upstanding prongs
; integrally connected to one end of said plate, said prongs
having upwardly diverging opposed inner edges defining a recess
having a width which decreases towards the plate, the upwardly
diverging opposed inner edges of the prongs at the upper portions
thereof diverging at a substantially greater angle than at the
lower portions, said lower portions diverging at an angle
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corresponding to the downwardly converging side walls of said
wedge, whereby the wide upwardly divergin~ upper portion of
the recess provides a guide to facilitate the insertion of the
wedge into the lower wedge gripping portion of the recess.
On the heel support the inwardly pro~ecting bulge
fills the groove on the heels and provides the clasp with a
maximum supporting surface and thus a firm grip on the heel of
the boot. One screw on the ends of the clasp is sufficient,
the clasp greatly protects the strength of the boot against
impairment caused by screws.
Because of the plate under the heel of the boot the
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transmission of force, starting from the heel by way of the
prongs and heel plate to the ski is increased when the wedge
engages the prongs.
In interplay with the wedge, the prongs which have
been improved in their shape and raised provide the cross-country
ski with increased assistance for guiding and starting and
always permit complete freedom for the heels which is indispen-
sable for cross-country skiing.
The two elastic discs embedded in the heel plate have
two functions. First, a hard step of the heel on the ski is
prevented and an elastic effect is attained upon push-off from
the ski. Second, the disc has been found to be snow-repellent
and the unpleasant clod formation is thus prevented.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by
way of examply only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 shows a substantial portion of the ski with
the auxiliary binding according to the invention in back view
with the feet in the standing or downhill position;
Figure 2 shows the plate with the prongs as seen from
above;
Figure 3 shows the ski with the auxiliary binding
according to the invention in lateral view.
In the drawings, a plate 2, which has prongs 3 widening
upwardly on its rearward end and an upwardly curved, flexible
disc 4, is screwed to the upper surface of a ski 1.
A curved clasp 6 is adapted to fit snugly to the heel
of the ski boot. A rounded protuberance 7 of semi-circular
cross-section projects from the leading edge of the clasp 6 and,
in the downhill position, fits into a horizontal groove 8 formed
in the side wall of the heel of the boot.
A borehole, extending parallel to the ski, is formed

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at each side of the clasp 6. A screw 9 extends through the
boreholes and firmly attaches the clasp 6 to the heel of the
boot.
In use, the wedge 5 may be lifted freely out of the
groove between the prongs 3 when the skier walks in the cross-
country mode. However, when a downhill slope is encountered,
the skier firmly digs his heels into the ski and the wedge 5 is
lodged in the recess between the prongs 3. This securely
attaches his heel to the ski and enables him to have good control
over his skis during the downhill run. ~hen the downhill run is
over, and the skier reverts to the cross-country mode, wedge
5 simply lifts out of the prongs 3 and the skier continues in
the usual manner.
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