Mechanism for locking longitudinally a ski-binding on a mounting plate

Abstract

Provided is a locking mechanism for a ski-binding, the locking mechanism comprising only one lever adapted to be pivoted between an engaged and a disengaged position. The lever further comprises at least one lug, the at least one lug adapted to engage with a notch formed in a mounting plate in an engaged position, and wherein the lug is adapted to hold the lever in a non-sliding manner when engaged with the notch. Explicitly, the locking mechanism does not comprise a second lever. Also provided is a ski-binding comprising only one locking mechanism, or adapted to receiving only one locking mechanism, and a mounting plate for use with the locking mechanism, and ski-binding.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A locking mechanism for a ski-binding, the locking mechanism comprising:
 only one lever adapted to be pivoted between an engaged and a disengaged position,   wherein the lever comprises at least one lug, the at least one lug adapted to engage with a notch formed in a mounting plate in the engaged position,   wherein the lug is adapted to hold the lever in a non-sliding manner when engaged with the notch, and   wherein the locking mechanism does not comprise a second or more lever,   wherein the lever is adapted to be pivotingly engaged with the ski-binding at a proximal end of the lever, and wherein the lug is positioned between a/the distal end and the proximal end of the lever and wherein the proximal end of the lever is integrally formed with the ski-binding, wherein the proximal end of the lever is adapted to have an increased flexibility compared to the lever and ski-binding, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the lever at the proximal end.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lug comprises a front-facing surface having a contour similar to a front surface of the notch, and a rear-facing surface having a contour similar to a rear surface of the notch, wherein, when the lug is engaged with the notch, the front-facing surface and the rear-facing surface are adapted to contact the front surface and the rear surface of the notch. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising locking means, the locking means adapted to lock the lever in the engaged position when the lever is engaged with the notch. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the locking means comprises at least one of a recess and a protrusion, wherein one of the recess or the protrusion is provided at a distal end of the lever and is adapted to engage a recess or protrusion located on the ski-binding when the lever is in the engaged position. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the locking means comprises a sliding plate, the sliding plate adapted to slide so as to lock the lever in the engaged position when a part of a surface of the sliding plate is positioned over a part of a top surface of the lever. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the lever comprises at least one of one or more side protrusions and one or more side recesses, the side protrusions or side recesses provided on a side of the lever between a/the distal end and a proximal end of the lever, the side protrusions and side recesses adapted to engage corresponding protrusions and recesses located in the ski-binding. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is provided with a decreased thickness at the proximal end thereof, the decreased thickness providing increased flexibility with respect to the lever. 
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lug is adapted to be engaged with the notch in a water-tight manner when in the engaged position. 
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is provided with an indent portion sized and shaped to receive at least a fingertip of an operator of the lever, thereby enabling the operator to grasp the lever when in the engaged position and actuate the lever to the disengaged position. 
     
     
         10 . A ski-binding adapted to receive only one locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the ski-binding is adapted to be slidingly engaged with the mounting plate and, when the lug is engaged with the notch in the locked position, is adapted to be held in a non-sliding manner, wherein the ski-binding is not adapted to receive a second or more locking mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A ski-binding comprising only one locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the ski-binding is adapted to be slidingly engaged with the mounting plate and, when the lug is engaged with the notch in the locked position, is adapted to be held in a non-sliding manner, wherein the ski-binding does not comprise a second or more locking mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The ski-binding of  claim 10 , wherein the lever is integrally formed with the ski-binding and wherein the lever is biased to the disengaged position. 
     
     
         13 . The ski-binding of  claim 10 , wherein, when the lever is in the disengaged portion, the ski-binding is adapted to slide in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         14 . The ski-binding of any of  claim 10 , wherein the ski-binding further comprises a lever-receiving hole adapted to receive the lever, and wherein the lever-receiving hole is adapted to pivotingly provide the lever at one end of the lever-receiving hole. 
     
     
         15 . The ski-binding of  claim 10 , wherein the lever is provided as an integral part of the ski-binding, the lever provided at an end of the lever-receiving hole and adapted to pivot at the end. 
     
     
         16 . The ski-binding of any of  claims 10  to  13 , in particular  claim 14 , wherein the ski-binding includes at least one of:
 one or more recesses and/or one or more protrusions located at an end of the lever-receiving hole opposite to where the lever-receiving hole is adapted to pivotingly provide the lever, wherein the one or more recesses and one or more protrusions are adapted to receive corresponding recesses or protrusions located on the lever; 
 sliding plate accommodating means that is adapted to accommodate a part of a sliding plate when the lever is in the engaged position, or accommodate the entire sliding plate when the lever is in the disengaged position; 
 one or more side protrusions and one or more side recesses located at a side portion of the lever-receiving hole and adapted to receive side protrusions and side recesses of the lever; and 
 an edge portion adapted to receive side clips provided on the lever.