Adjustment device, particularly for ski bindings

Abstract

An adjustment device, particularly for ski bindings, comprising a first front plate and a second rear plate for supporting a toe unit and a heel unit. The device is constituted by a third plate which is interposed between the first and second plates and is centrally provided with a mechanism which actuates an opposite axial movement of the first and second plates by means of a flexible traction element which is guided on pulleys associated with the first and second plates. Elements for connection to the first and second plates are associated with the flexible traction element.

1 . An adjustment device, particularly for ski bindings, comprising a first plate and a second plate for supporting a toe unit and a heel unit, respectively, characterized in that it comprises a third plate which is interposed between said first and second plates and has at least one mechanism which is adapted to actuate an opposite axial motion of said first and second plates by means of at least one flexible traction element which is associated with said first and second plates.  
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one flexible traction element is guided on pulleys.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second plates are telescopically associated with said third plate.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second plates comprise means for connection to guiding means which are present in said third plate.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said first and second plates have a transverse cross-section shaped like an inverted U and in that said connection means are constituted by a first pair of wings and a second pair of wings which are mutually opposite, lie on a same plane and protrude from the free ends of said first and second plates.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said first and second plates are respectively and slidingly associable at said guiding means.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said guiding means are constituted by two underlying and complementarily shaped first and second ends of said third plate, said first and second pairs of wings being adapted to ensure guided mutual connection between said first and second plates and said first and second ends.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stroke of said first and second plates along said first and second ends of said third plate is limited by blocking means.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said blocking means is constituted by a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, obtained by tapering said first and second ends with respect to the central part of said third plate.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said third plate has a single mechanism, arranged approximately centrally on said third plate, which is adapted to actuate an axial, opposite and simultaneous movement of said first and second plates with respect to said third plate.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that a central body is connected to said third plate and is separate and distinct with respect to said third plate, said mechanism or components thereof being at least partially associated on said central body.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that a gear is formed centrally on said central body and is part of said mechanism, constituted by a circular gear, from which a square element protrudes downwards and axially.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said ring can be engaged in a lower region by a first gear which is associated with said central body of said third plate.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it has, below said first gear, a cavity which accommodates a complementarily shaped first pulley which is associated with said square element.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that a seat for a complementarily shaped bush is formed in the lower surface of said pulley.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said preferably square element of said ring is insertable in two complementarily shaped first and second holes, formed respectively in said first gear and said first pulley, having an internal complementary thread which is adapted for connection to a first threaded screw which can be inserted in a lower region at said bush.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that an elastically deformable element, which acts between said bush and said first pulley, is arranged inside said seat for said bush.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said elastically deformable element, constituted by a cylindrical spring, is preloaded during the connection of said bush to said square element.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , characterized in that said elastically deformable element facilitates the mutual connection of said first gear and of a complementarily shaped second gear, formed below said ring, while contrasting the mutual uncoupling, achieved by virtue of the lifting of said ring, of said first and second gears.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the two ends of said flexible traction element, constituted by a cable, are connected to said first pulley at two separate seats which are provided in opposite positions.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 20 , characterized in that said cable is guided on second and third pulleys which are freely pivoted below said first and second ends by a pair of pivots.  
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 20 , characterized in that said elements for connection to said first and second plates are constituted by a first block and a second block which are shaped like parallelepipeds and are connected to said cable at two predefined positions which are mutually opposite with respect to said first pulley.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , characterized in that first and second cutouts are formed in said first and second ends at said first and second blocks, are arranged longitudinally to said first and second ends and have a width which allows the sliding of said first and second blocks along them.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , characterized in that said first and second blocks can be associated in an upward region with said first and second plates, by a mechanical connection means, such as a second screw and a third screw which pass respectively through a third hole and a fourth hole formed in said first and second plates.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation of said mechanism forces a rotation of said first pulley which determines a sliding of said flexible traction element, with a consequent mutually opposite and simultaneous movement of said connecting elements associated with a mutually opposite longitudinal movement of said first and second plates with respect to said third plate.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third pulley is freely pivoted in a lower region with respect to a cable tensioner, which is slidingly associated with said is second end, by a fourth screw which can be secured in a slot formed in said cable tensioner, so as to allow adjustment in order to compensate for any plays due to assembly or slackening of said cable.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for rapidly disengaging the connection between said ring and said first gear.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that said means for rapidly disengaging the connection between said ring and said first gear are constituted by at least one button which is arranged at a complementarily shaped slot which is provided below said ring.  
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , characterized in that said button has, in an upper region, a first pair of mutually opposite inclined planes which are in contact with a second pair of complementarily shaped inclined planes formed transversely on said ring, thus being able to facilitate the lifting of said ring with respect to said first gear, acting in opposition to the return force of said cylindrical spring.  
     
     
         30 . The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third plate is centrally provided with two mechanisms which are arranged longitudinally and actuate an axial motion of, respectively, said first and second plates by means of two flexible traction elements guided on pulleys, said elements for connection to said first and second plates being associated with said two flexible traction elements.  
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 30 , characterized in that each of said two mechanisms is constituted by a first pulley with which one of said two flexible traction elements is associated.  
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , characterized in that each of said two flexible traction elements is constituted by a cable which is guided respectively on a second pulley or third pulley.  
     
     
         33 . The device according to either  claim 31  and  32 , characterized in that it comprises means for rapidly disengaging the connection between said ring and said first gear.  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 33 , characterized in that said means for rapidly disengaging the connection between said ring and said first gear comprises two buttons which are slidingly associable with said two mechanisms at a complementarily shaped slot formed therein.