Toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding

Abstract

The toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding comprises: a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably coupled with a base fixable to a ski; a first hooking element borne by the first jaw and having a first tip for inserting in a first lateral hole of a ski boot and a second hooking element borne by the second jaw and having a second tip for inserting in a second lateral hole of the ski boot when the toe-piece assumes a configuration of an inserted ski boot. The toe-piece is configured so that the first hooking element is inserted in a first seat in the first jaw to enable a roto-translatory motion between a retracted position when the boot is aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and a plurality of possible advanced positions when the ski boot temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding, wherein:
 it comprises a base which is fixable to a ski;   it comprises a first jaw which is rotatably coupled to the base;   it comprises a second jaw which is rotatably coupled to the base and which is opposite the first jaw;   it comprises a first hooking element which is borne by the first jaw which in turn comprises, at a relative end, a first tip for inserting in a first lateral hole made in the front part of a ski boot for ski mountaineering;   the first jaw comprises a first seat or partially receiving the first hooking element, so that the first tip exits from the first seat;   it comprises a second hooking element which is borne by the second jaw which in turn comprises, at a relative end, a second tip for inserting in a second lateral hole which is made in the front part of the ski boot for ski mountaineering and which is opposite the first lateral hole;   it is designed to assume a configuration (O 1 ) of an inserted ski boot, for skiing downhill, in which the first tip is inserted in the first lateral hole of the front part of the ski boot for ski mountaineering, in which the second tip is inserted in the second lateral hole of the front part of the ski boot for ski mountaineering and in which the ski boot for ski mountaineering is aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski;   it comprises first elastic elements which act at least on the first jaw and/or on the second jaw, when the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding is in the configuration (O 1 ) of inserted ski boot, to stably maintain the ski boot for ski mountaineering aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski;   wherein:   the first hooking element engages in the first seat in such a way as: to be able to perform a roto-translatory motion between a retracted position (PR) and an advanced position (PA) of a plurality of possible advanced positions in which it is more greatly projecting from the first seat;   the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding is designed in such a way that in the configuration (O 1 ) of the inserted ski boot the first hooking element assumes: the retracted position (PR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering is aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski; and an advanced position (PA) of the plurality of possible advanced positions when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.   
     
     
         2 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first seat is conformed in such a way as to comprise an external housing and an internal housing, in communication with one another, and wherein the first hooking element is conformed in such a way as to comprise a first part, which is conformed in a complementary way to the external housing of the first seat and which bears the first tip, and a second part, connected to the first part, which is conformed in such a way as to be freely accommodated, with freedom to perform roto-translational movement, in the internal housing of the first seat, wherein, in the configuration (O 1 ) of inserted ski boot and with the ski boot for ski mountaineering aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the first hooking element is in the retracted position (PR) with the first part inserted and in contact with the external housing of the first seat and with the second part completely inserted in the internal housing, and wherein, when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the first hooking element assumes at least an advanced position (PA) of the plurality of possible advanced positions with the first part uncoupling, and at least partially exiting from the external housing of the first seat and with the second part performing a roto-translatory movement with respect to the internal housing enabling the first tip to remain at least partially in contact with the first hole of the front part of the ski boot for ski mountaineering. 
     
     
         3 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 2  comprising retaining elements which are configured to allow the first hooking element to perform a roto-translatory movement from the retracted position (PR) to an extreme advanced end-run position (PAF) of the plurality of possible advanced positions wherein the first hooking element is retained in a configuration of maximum protrusion with respect to the first seat. 
     
     
         4 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the retaining elements comprise a pin, arranged in such a way as to transversally involve the internal housing of the first seat, and a slot or recess realised along the second part of the first hooking element and delimited by an external wall and an internal wall, with the pin being inserted in the slot or recess. 
     
     
         5 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the retaining elements comprise at least a spring, arranged in such a way as to be in contact with the second part of the first hooking element and which is configured: to allow the first hooking element to assume the retracted position (PR), in the configuration (O 1 ) of the inserted ski boot with the ski boot for ski mountaineering aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski; to allow the first hooking element to assume any advanced position (PA), up to the extreme advanced end-run position (PAF) of the plurality of possible advanced positions, when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, to allow the first hooking element to return to the retracted position (PR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         6 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the spring is inserted in a niche made in the second part of the first hooking element in such a way that the spring is in abutment, on a first side, against a wall of the niche, and on the other side is in contact with the pin in such a way that the spring is compressed when the first hooking element assumes any advanced position (PA), to the extreme advanced end run position (PAF) of the plurality of possible advanced positions consequently to a misalignment of the ski boot for ski mountaineering with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, in order to recall the first hooking element towards the retracted position (PR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         7 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the spring is inserted in a niche made in the second part of the first hooking element in such a way that the spring is in abutment, on a first side, against a wall of the niche, and on the other side is in contact with the pin in such a way that the spring is compressed when the first hooking element assumes any advanced position (PA), to the extreme advanced end run position (PAF) of the plurality of possible advanced positions consequently to a misalignment of the ski boot for ski mountaineering with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, in order to recall the first hooking element towards the retracted position (PR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         8 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the retaining elements further comprise at least a magnet configured in such a way as to be able to exert an action of attraction on the second part of the first hooking element which is made of a magnetic material, wherein the at least a magnet is arranged in a cavity made in a wall of the internal housing of the first seat present in the first jaw. 
     
     
         9 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second jaw comprises a second seat for partially receiving the second hooking element, so that the second tip exits from the second seat, wherein the second hooking element engages in the second seat in such a way as: to be able to carry out a roto-translatory motion between a retracted position (VR) and an advanced position (VA) of a plurality of possible advanced positions in which it is more projecting from the second seat;
 the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding is designed in such a way that, in the configuration (O 1 ) of an inserted ski boot, the second hooking element assumes: the retracted position (VR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering is aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski; and an advanced position (VA) of the plurality of possible advanced positions when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.   
     
     
         10 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second seat is conformed in such a way as to comprise a second external housing and a second internal housing, in communication with one another, and wherein the second hooking element is conformed in such a way as to comprise a first part, which is conformed in a complementary way to the second external housing of the second seat and which bears the second tip, and a second part, connected to the first part, which is conformed in such a way as to be freely accommodated, with freedom to perform roto-translational movement, within the second internal housing of the second seat, wherein, in the configuration (O 1 ) of inserted ski boot and with the ski boot for ski mountaineering aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the second hooking element is in the retracted position (VR) with the first part inserted and in contact with the second external housing of the second seat and with the second part completely inserted in the second internal housing, and wherein, when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the second hooking element assumes at least an advanced position (VA) of the plurality of possible advanced positions with the first part which uncouples, at least partially, from the second external housing of the second seat and with the second part performing a roto-translatory movement with respect to the second internal housing enabling the second tip to remain at least partially in contact with the second hole of the front part of the ski boot for ski mountaineering. 
     
     
         11 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 10  comprising second retaining elements ( 5 ) which are configured to enable the second hooking element to perform a roto-translatory movement from the retracted position (VR) to an extreme advanced end-run position (VAF) of the plurality of possible advanced positions, wherein the second hooking element is retained in a configuration of maximum protrusion with respect to the second seat. 
     
     
         12 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the second retaining elements comprise a second pin arranged in such a way as to transversally involve the second internal housing of the second seat and a second slot or recess made along the second part of the second hooking element and delimited by an external wall and an internal wall, with the second pin being inserted in the second slot or recess. 
     
     
         13 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second retaining elements comprise at least a second spring, arranged in such a way as to be in contact with the second part of the second hooking element and which is configured: to allow the second hooking element to assume the respective retracted position (VR), in the configuration (O 1 ) of the inserted ski boot with the ski boot for ski mountaineering aligned to the longitudinal axis of the ski; to allow the second hooking element to assume any respective advanced position (VA), up to the extreme advanced end-run position (VAF), when the ski boot for ski mountaineering temporarily misaligns with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski; to allow the second hooking element to return into the respective retracted position (VR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         14 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the second spring is inserted in a second niche made in the second part of the second hooking element in such a way that the second spring is in abutment, on a first side, against a wall of the niche, and on the other side is in contact with the second pin in such a way that the spring is compressed when the second hooking element assumes a respective any advanced position (VA), up to the extreme advanced end run position (VAF), of the plurality of possible advanced positions consequently to a misalignment of the ski boot for ski mountaineering with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, to recall the second hooking element towards the respective retracted position (VR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         15 . The toe-piece as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second spring is inserted in a second niche made in the second part of the second hooking element in such a way that the second spring is in abutment, on a first side, against a wall of the niche, and on the other side is in contact with the second pin in such a way that the spring is compressed when the second hooking element assumes a respective any advanced position (VA), up to the extreme advanced end run position (VAF), of the plurality of possible advanced positions consequently to a misalignment of the ski boot for ski mountaineering with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, to recall the second hooking element towards the respective retracted position (VR) when the ski boot for ski mountaineering returns into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski.