Releasable heel riser for ski binding

Abstract

The present invention relates to ski bindings. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable heel retention system, which includes a base, a climbing bar, a climbing bar interface member, and a heel throw. The base is coupled to a ski or snow sport device in a fixed manner. The climbing bar is rotatably coupled to the base to provide an extended and retracted position. The climbing bar interface member is configured to bear against the climbing bar in some manner when the heel is retained. In one embodiment, the climbing bar interface member is rotatably coupled to the climbing bar. Alternatively, the climbing bar interface member may be shaped to selectively hook under the climbing bar when the heel is retained. The heel throw is a lever type releasable coupler for coupling to the heel region of a boot. The heel throw is directly coupled to the climbing bar interface member. In one embodiment, the heel throw and climbing bar interface member are rotatably coupled to the climbing bar. Alternatively, the heel throw and climbing bar interface member may be coupled to a cable. The releasable heel retention system of the present invention may be completely independent of any of binding systems or used in conjunction with an existing binding system to provide an improved multi-use binding.

1 . A releasable heel retention system for use with a ski binding, comprising: 
 a base fixeably coupled to a ski surface;    a climbing bar rotatably coupled to the base and configured to pivot between an extended and retracted position with respect to the base;    a heel throw shaped to releasably couple to a heel portion of a boot; and    a climbing bar interface member coupled to the heel throw to selectively bind against the climbing bar thereby binding the heel portion of the boot to the ski surface.    
   
   
       2 . The releasable heel retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing bar interface member is rotatably coupled to the climbing bar.  
   
   
       3 . The releasable heel retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable heel retention system is operationally independent of a toe retention system.  
   
   
       4 . The releasable ski system of  claim 1 , wherein the heel throw is coupled to a cable which extends from a toe region of the boot.  
   
   
       5 . The releasable ski system of  claim 4 , wherein the cable is part of a Telemark ski binding.  
   
   
       6 . The releasable ski system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing bar is shaped to bear on a heel portion of the boot when the heel throw is coupled to the heel portion and the climbing bar interface member is in contact with the climbing bar.  
   
   
       7 . The releasable ski system of  claim 6 , wherein the climbing bar is shaped to bear on an upper substantially flat surface of the heel region of the boot when the heel throw is coupled to a lower substantially flat surface of the heel region of the boot and the climbing bar interface member is in contact with the climbing bar.  
   
   
       8 . The releasable ski system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing bar is shaped to include a spring mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The releasable ski system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing bar is shaped in a substantially rectangular shape.  
   
   
       10 . The releasable ski system of  claim 1 , wherein the heel throw is configured to lever against a substantially flat lower cable groove on the heel region of a boot.  
   
   
       11 . A releasable heel retention system for use with a ski binding, comprising: 
 a base fixably coupled to a ski surface;    a climbing bar rotatably coupled to the base and configured to pivot between an extended and retracted position with respect to the base;    a heel throw shaped to releasably couple to a heel portion of a boot; and    a climbing bar interface member rotatably coupled to the climbing bar interface member.    
   
   
       12 . A releasable heel retention system for use with a ski binding, comprising: 
 a base fixably coupled to a ski surface;    a climbing bar rotatably coupled to the base and configured to pivot between an extended and retracted position with respect to the base;    a heel throw shaped to releasably couple to a heel portion of a boot, wherein the heel throw is coupled to a cable which extends from a toe region of the boot; and    a climbing bar interface member coupled to the heel throw to selectively hook under a portion of the climbing bar thereby binding the heel portion of the boot to the ski surface.    
   
   
       13 . A method for releasably securing a heel region of a boot to a ski, comprising the acts of: 
 providing a heel retention system which includes a base, a climbing bar, a heel throw, and a climbing bar interface member;    rotating the climbing bar to a position that allows the heel region of the boot to contact the base;    positioning the heel region of the boot on top of the base;    releasably securing the heel throw to the heel region of the boot and the climbing bar via the climbing bar interface member.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the act of releasably securing the heel throw to the heel region of the boot and the climbing bar via the climbing bar interface member further includes: 
 hooking the heel throw over a lower surface of the boot; and    levering the heel throw against the lower surface of the boot such that the heel throw clasps against the boot.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heel throw is rotatably coupled to a cable which extends from a toe region of the boot, and wherein the heel throw is coupled to the climbing bar interface member.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further includes hooking the climbing bar interface member under the climbing bar.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heel throw is rotatably coupled to the climbing bar via the climbing bar interface member.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  further includes hooking a portion of the climbing bar over a surface of the boot.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  further includes hooking a portion of the climbing bar over an upper surface of the boot.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the climbing bar includes a spring mechanism.