Binding for cross-country ski and cross-country ski equipped with such a binding

Abstract

A cross-country ski binding intended to receive a boot equipped with a connecting member, has a base with a receiving portion configured to receive the connecting member, and a holding element movable between an engaged position in which it prevents the connecting member from exiting the receiving portion, and a retracted position, in which the receiving portion is open to allow insertion and removal of the connecting member in the receiving portion. The holding element is carried by a mechanism allowing its rotation with respect to a vertical axis, in which the holding element has two protruding portions oriented in opposite directions, arranged to cover the connecting member when the holding element is in the engaged position, such that the protruding portions are moved in opposite directions of the longitudinal direction between the engaged and retracted positions.

1 - A cross-country ski binding intended to receive a boot equipped with a connecting member located in a front part, said binding comprising:
 a base extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a receiving portion configured to receive said connecting member, and   a holding element movable between an engaged position in which it prevents an exit of said connecting member from the receiving portion, and a retracted position, in which the receiving portion is open to allow insertion and removal of said connecting member in the receiving portion, wherein the holding element is carried by a mechanism allowing rotation of said holding element with respect to an axis of rotation about a vertical axis,   wherein the holding element comprises two protruding portions oriented in opposite directions, arranged to cover the connecting member when the holding element is in the engaged position, such that said protruding portions are moved in opposite directions of the longitudinal direction between the engaged and retracted positions.   
     
     
         2 - The binding according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding element is formed by two hooks arranged to receive the connecting member between them and each having an end portion each forming one of the protruding portions, such that in the engaged position, the end portions are moved closer to one other to be arranged above the connecting member when the connecting member is received between the hooks, and in the retracted position, the end portions are spaced apart from one other to allow passage of the connecting member between the end portions. 
     
     
         3 - The binding according to  claim 2 , wherein the hooks respectively have first portions rising vertically up to the end portions in such a way that, in the engaged position, the first portions are arranged on either side of the connecting member, close to the connecting member, and, in the retracted position, the first portions are arranged on either side of the connecting member, at a distance from the connecting member. 
     
     
         4 - The binding according to  claim 2 , wherein at least part of the end portion of each of the hooks extends in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         5 - The binding according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation is arranged between the two protruding portions. 
     
     
         6 - The binding according to  claim 2 , wherein the hooks are symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 - The binding according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion has two grooves, the grooves being formed in walls extending vertically and longitudinally. 
     
     
         8 - The binding according to  claim 7 , wherein the base has an internal recess inside which a hook moves when it moves from an engaged position to a retracted position. 
     
     
         9 - The binding according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is connected to an operating member, the movement of which causes the holding element to move from the engaged position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         10 - The binding according to  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism comprises a substantially horizontal plate, mounted mobile in rotation about the vertical axis on the base, said plate carrying the hooks. 
     
     
         11 - The binding according to  claim 10 , wherein the plate comprises an arm intended to be connected to the operating member, the rotation of the arm and of the plate about said vertical axis causing the rotation of the hooks. 
     
     
         12 - The binding according to  claim 10 , wherein the mechanism comprises two fins extending in the plane of the plate, symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         13 - The binding according to  claim 1  wherein the binding comprises return means configured to exert a return force on the mechanism forcing the latter to remain in an engaged position. 
     
     
         14 - The binding according to  claim 9 , wherein the operating member is fixed at the end of the arm. 
     
     
         15 - The binding according to  claim 9 , wherein the operating member is mounted mobile in transverse translation with respect to the base and cooperates mechanically with the end of the arm so that its translation causes the arm to rotate. 
     
     
         16 - The binding according to  claim 10 , wherein the arm extends towards the front of the binding and the operating member is positioned on the front of the binding. 
     
     
         17 - The binding according to  claim 9 , wherein the operating member has locking means making it possible to block the arm in a position in which the holding element is in the engaged position. 
     
     
         18 - The binding according to  claim 17 , wherein the locking means comprise a portion mobile in translation with respect to the end of the arm, and capable of cooperating with an area of the rest of the binding to block the rotation of the arm. 
     
     
         19 - The binding according to  claim 2 , wherein the hooks have, in the upper part, inclined ramps which make it possible to move the hooks from the engaged position to the retracted position when the connecting member of the boot exerts a downward force on these ramps, at the time of fitting. 
     
     
         20 - A cross-country ski equipped with a binding according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 - The cross-country ski according to  claim 20 , wherein the cross-country ski comprises a plate fixed to the upper surface of the cross-country ski on which the position of the binding is adjustable in longitudinal translation. 
     
     
         22 - A cross-country ski binding intended to receive a boot equipped with a connecting member located in a front part, said binding comprising:
 a base extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a receiving portion configured to receive said connecting member, and   a holding element movable between an engaged position in which it prevents an exit of said connecting member from the receiving portion, and a retracted position, in which the receiving portion is open to allow insertion and removal of said connecting member in the receiving portion,   wherein the holding element is carried by a mechanism allowing rotation of said holding element with respect to an axis of rotation about a vertical axis,
 wherein the holding element is formed by two hooks having each an end portion, the end portions of the two hooks being oriented in opposite directions.