Ski binding with improved lateral stability

Abstract

A ski binding adapted for telemark and alpine touring comprises a cable retention system between the toe assembly and a heel carriage retention structure that includes an elongated plate on which the heel carriage is adapted to slide, and an adjustment carriage. A portion of the cable defines a truss configuration pivotable along the transverse axis of the binding. The heel carriage is tensioned forward by means of a biased connection extending between the adjustment carriage and the heel carriage. A heel assembly includes dual pivot points and a cam arrangement to provide a selective release set point for the heel of the boot.

1 . A ski binding comprising: 
 a toe assembly, attachable to a ski, for receiving the toe end of a ski boot, a heel carriage for receiving the heel end of a ski boot, and a heel carriage retention structure for operatively associating said heel carriage with said toe assembly;    said toe assembly, heel carriage retention structure and heel carriage being arranged in the order stated along a longitudinal axis of said binding;    a first length of flexible cable extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between a part of said heel carriage retention structure on a first side of said longitudinal axis and a part of said toe assembly on a second side of said longitudinal axis;    a second length of flexible cable extending between a part of said heel carriage retention structure on said second side of said longitudinal axis and a part of said toe assembly on said first side of said longitudinal axis;    said first and second lengths of flexible cabling defining an x configuration about said longitudinal axis; and    said heel carriage being biased toward said retention structure but being displaceable in relation thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The binding of  claim 1  wherein said first and second lengths of flexible cable are each part of a single flexible cable.  
     
     
         3 . The binding of  claim 2  wherein said flexible cable has two ends, one of said ends being retained on one side of either said heel carriage retention structure or said toe assembly and the other of said ends being retained on an opposite side of said heel carriage retention structure or toe assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The binding of  claim 2  wherein said first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of the binding when the lengths of cable are in tension.  
     
     
         5 . The binding of  claim 4  wherein said toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a first portion of said cable below said boot when a toe end of said boot is engaged in said toe assembly and further comprises two support surfaces rearward of said cable guide for supporting a second portion of said cable in said plane when the cable is in tension, said second portion of said cable being at a higher elevation than said first portion of said cable.  
     
     
         6 . The binding of  claim 2  wherein: 
 said flexible cable has two ends, a first end being retained on one side of said heel carriage retention structure and a second end being retained on another side of said heel carriage retention structure;  
 said first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of said binding, when said lengths are in tension;  
 said toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a portion of said cable below the level of said first and second lengths of flexible cable and below the level of said boot when a toe end of said boot is engaged in said toe assembly, said cable guide defining a path that extends substantially around the base of said toe assembly; and  
 said toe assembly further comprising two support surfaces rearward of said cable guide for supporting said first and second lengths.  
 
     
     
         7 . The binding of  claim 6  wherein said cable extends from said first end forward toward said toe assembly, over a first one of said support surfaces, along said cable guide substantially around said toe assembly, over a second one of said support surfaces toward said first end of said cable, through a passageway in said retention structure toward said second end of said cable, toward said first one of said support surfaces, along said cable guide substantially around said toe assembly, over said second one of said support surfaces and longitudinally to said second end of said cable.  
     
     
         8 . The binding of  claim 1  wherein said retention structure comprises an elongated plate extending generally along the longitudinal axis of said binding.  
     
     
         9 . The binding of  claim 8  further comprising an adjustment carriage selectively securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions and having at least one solid member extending from said plate to said heel carriage.  
     
     
         10 . The binding of  claim 9  wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.  
     
     
         11 . The binding of  claim 9  wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.  
     
     
         12 . The binding of  claim 11  wherein said solid member is U-shaped, with the legs of the U slidably extending through said adjustment carriage, and wherein a spring is mounted on each of said legs.  
     
     
         13 . The binding of  claim 10  wherein said biasing is by means of a spring, and said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.  
     
     
         14 . The binding of  claim 13  wherein said abutment surface is formed by a bolt threaded onto said solid member.  
     
     
         15 . The binding of  claim 12  wherein said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.  
     
     
         16 . The binding of  claim 1  wherein said heel carriage comprises: 
 a heel mount for receiving the bottom portion of the heel of a boot, said heel mount having a first pivot point and being selectively pivotable in the vertical plane; and  
 a heel throw mounted on an upper portion of said heel mount, said heel throw having a second pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane.  
 
     
     
         17 . The binding of  claim 16  further comprising a latch attachable to a ski rearward of said toe assembly, said elongated plate being selectively securable to said latch.  
     
     
         18 . The binding of  claim 17  wherein said heel mount is selectively securable so as to prevent pivoting thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The binding of claim t 8  wherein said heel throw has a heel throw tongue projecting forward from the heel throw, said heel throw tongue engaging a groove on the heel of a boot, when said boot is placed in said binding.  
     
     
         20 . The binding of  claim 14  or  15  wherein said solid member has a cam associated therewith, said cam being actuatable between a first position or a second position, said first position being one in which said spring is less compressed and said second position being one in which said spring is more compressed.  
     
     
         21 . A ski binding comprising: 
 a toe assembly adapted to receive fasteners for fastening said toe assembly to a ski, a heel carriage for receiving the heel end of a ski boot, an elongated plate extending between said toe assembly and said heel carriage, said toe assembly, heel carriage and plate being arranged along a longitudinal axis of said binding;    a first length of flexible cabling extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between said plate and said toe assembly, and a second length of flexible cabling extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between said plate and said toe assembly, such that said first and second lengths of cabling are arranged in an X configuration about said longitudinal axis and in a horizontal plane;    said heel carriage being mounted on said plate so as to be slidable in relation thereto along the longitudinal axis of said binding and being biased in the direction of said toe assembly.    
     
     
         22 . The binding of  claim 21  farther comprising an adjustment carriage securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions, and at least one solid member extending between said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage.  
     
     
         23 . The binding of  claim 22 , wherein said heel carriage is located rearward along said longitudinal axis in relation to said adjustment carriage.  
     
     
         24 . The binding of  claim 22  wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.  
     
     
         25 . The binding of  claim 22  wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.  
     
     
         26 . The binding of  claim 25  wherein said solid member is U-shaped, with the legs of the U slidably extending through said adjustment carriage, and wherein a spring is mounted on each of said legs.  
     
     
         27 . The binding of  claim 22  wherein said biasing is by means of a spring, and said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.  
     
     
         28 . The binding of  claim 27  wherein said abutment surface is formed by a bolt threaded onto said solid member.  
     
     
         29 . The binding of  claim 26  wherein said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.  
     
     
         30 . A ski binding comprising: 
 a toe assembly;    a heel carriage comprising a heel mount and a heel throw;    said toe assembly and said heel carriage being arranged along a longitudinal axis of said binding;    said heel mount being for receiving the bottom portion of the heel of a boot;    said heel mount having a first pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane;    said heel throw having a second pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane;    said second pivot point being the location of mounting of the heel throw to an upper portion of said heel mount;.    
     
     
         31 . The binding of  claim 30  further comprising a latch attachable to a ski rearward of said toe assembly, said heel carriage being selectively securable to said latch.  
     
     
         32 . The binding of  claim 31  wherein said heel mount is selectively securable so as to prevent pivoting thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The binding of  claim 32  wherein said heel throw has a heel throw tongue projecting forward from the heel throw, said heel throw tongue engaging a groove on the heel of a boot when said boot is placed in said binding.  
     
     
         34 . The binding of  claim 33  further comprising an elongated plate extending between said toe assembly and said heel carriage.  
     
     
         35 . The binding of  claim 34  wherein said heel carriage is mounted on said plate so as to be slidable in relation thereto along the longitudinal axis of said binding and is biased in displacement toward said toe assembly.  
     
     
         36 . The binding of  claim 35  further comprising an adjustment carriage securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions, and at least one solid member extending between said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage.  
     
     
         37 . The binding of  claim 36  wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.  
     
     
         38 . The binding of  claim 37  wherein said solid member has a cam associated therewith, said cam being actuatable between a first position or a second position, said first position being one in which said spring is less compressed and said second position being one in which said spring is more compressed.  
     
     
         39 . The binding of  claim 38  further comprising a flexible cabling connecting said heel carriage to said toe assembly, said cabling defining an X configuration about said longitudinal axis.