Ski binding with brake

Abstract

A binding ( 1 ) holds a ski boot ( 2 ) on a cross-country ski ( 3 ). A pair of jaws ( 5 a, 5 b ) in a retaining position (P 1 ) engage and pivotally retain a front end of the boot and in a liberated position (P 2 ) free the boot from the binding. A ski brake ( 4 ) includes braking elements ( 4 a, 4 b ) which pivot between a braking position (PF) and a retracted position (PE). Inserting the boot into the binding and moving the jaws to the retaining position locks the brake elements in the retracted position. Opening the jaws to the liberated position to release the boot releases the brake elements to assume the braking position.

1 . A binding to hold a ski boot to a ski, comprising two lateral jaws disposed substantially face to face laterally, each of the jaws pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis to have at least two positions, a retaining position to retain the boot and a liberated position, the jaws cooperate with side areas of the boot in the retaining position, in order to define a transverse pivot axis of the boot, a transverse vertical plane passing through the axis defining a front zone, and a rear zone, such that the ski brake is pivotally mounted around a transverse axis to assume the two positions, including a brake position, and a retracted position, the pivot axis of the brake being located in the rear zone. 
     
     
         2 . The binding according to the  claim 1 , wherein the brake includes a pedal operated by the boot such that a locking protrusion maintains the brake in its retracted position. 
     
     
         3 . The binding according to the  claim 2 , wherein each of the jaws is in the form of a right angle pivot, including a retaining arm extending upwards and an operating arm, extending substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         4 . The binding according to  claim 3 , wherein movement of the brake from the retracted position to the braking position is done through an elastic device associated with a sliding piece. 
     
     
         5 . The binding according to  claim 4 , wherein the sliding piece, is connected to the brake and includes at least a locking protrusion cooperating in the boot retaining position with the operating arm, in order to lock the brake in its retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The binding according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking protrusion cooperates with an end piston of each of the operating arms. 
     
     
         7 . The binding according to  claim 4 , wherein a lever cooperates with the locking stop of the sliding piece to maintain the brake in its retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The binding according to  claim 7 , wherein the jaw is supported by the rear control arm which buts up against the locking stop of the sliding piece. 
     
     
         9 . The binding according to  claim 5 , wherein the brake is mounted in an articulated manner on a base plate and wherein the pedal is connected to the sliding piece by a connecting rod. 
     
     
         10 . The binding according to  claim 5 , wherein the sliding piece is lodged in a longitudinal central groove defined in the center of the base plate. 
     
     
         11 . The binding according to  claim 5 , wherein a rear end of the sliding piece is connected to the rod through a pivot pin, and a front end is connected to a spring which is connected to the base plate. 
     
     
         12 . The binding according to  claim 9 , wherein the rod is connected by one of its ends to the sliding piece by a pivot pin and is connected by its other end to the pedal by another pivot pin. 
     
     
         13 . The binding according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking of the sliding piece is accomplished indirectly by an elastic lamina. 
     
     
         14 . A ski binding comprising:
 at least one plate;   two jaws pivotally connected to the plate along first and second longitudinal pivot axes, the jaws pivoting between a retaining position in which the jaws engage and pivotally retain a front portion of a ski boot about a transverse pivot axis and a liberated position in which the ski boot is released;   at least one braking element pivotally mounted to the plate to pivot around a rearward transverse pivot access between a braking position in which the braking elements extend below a lower surface of a ski to which the binding is attached and a retracted position; and   a mechanism connected with the plate which locks the braking element in the retracted position in response to the jaws assuming the retaining position and which moves the braking element to the braking position in response to the jaws assuming the liberated position.   
     
     
         15 . A ski binding according to  claim 14 , wherein the mechanism includes:
 a pedal connected with the braking element to be engaged by a heel of the boot as the boot is received in the binding moving the braking element to the retracted position;   a sliding piece connected to the pedal to slide toward a forward position as the boot is received;   a biasing element which biases the sliding piece rearward; and   a locking assembly connected with the jaws and the sliding piece to lock the sliding piece in the forward position, when the jaws are in the retaining position and release the sliding piece to move rearward when the jaws assume the liberated position.