Ski binding having preset means and detent trigger for said preset means

Abstract

A snap lock modification which can be applied to various types of present day releasable ski bindings in which one component of the binding is connected to or forms a part of a ski boot and the other component is attached to the ski. One of the components includes latch means movable from inoperative position to latching position in engagement with a receiver formation on the other component. A resilient force unit is adjustable after the boot is in place to yieldingly urge the latch means into engaging position to retain the boot in position during normal maneuvers and to release the boot in response to excessive loads produced during a fall. The modification provides a detent trigger which restrains the action of the loaded force unit and which is actuatable upon placing the boot in skiing position to release and allow the latch means to snap into latching engagement with the receiver formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ski binding adapted to releasably secure a ski to an associated ski boot comprising: a first binding component in the form of a substantially rigid latch receiving member provided with at least one latch receiver formation;   and a second binding component in the form of a substantially rigid latch mounting body;   one of said components being constructed for permanent connection to a ski boot and the other component being constructed for permanent connection to a ski;   latch means movably mounted on the body for movement between inoperative position substantially free of the latch receiving member and operative position in latching engagement with the receiver formation;   a resilient force unit carried by the body and adjustable between a no-load condition and a loading condition;   link means connecting the force unit to the latch means and movable to transmit the force of the force unit to the latch means to yieldingly urge the latter into operative position;   and a detent trigger mounted on the body and movable between a first interfering position engaging the link means to restrain it against movement in the latching direction in response to the urging of the force unit in loading condition and a second non-interfering position;   the trigger being settable in the first position to restrain the link means against latching movement and being actuatable by a skier upon placing his boot in skiing position on the ski to move to the second position and release the link means to allow it to move and transmit the force of the force unit to the latching means and yieldingly urge it into latching engagement with the receiver formation.   
     
     
       2. A binding as claimed in claim 1; in which the trigger is resiliently biased toward its first position and is automatically movable thereto when the force unit is in no-load condition to restrain the link means against movement in the latching direction in response to adjustment of the force unit to loading condition.   
     
     
       3. A binding as claimed in claim 1; in which the link means is slidably mounted within the body for fore and aft movement;   and the force unit is pivotally mounted on the aft portion of the body for swinging between no-load and loading condition.   
     
     
       4. A binding as claimed in claim 1; in which the latch means comprises a pair of latch members mounted in the body for lateral movement between free and latching positions;   the link means is slidably mounted in the body for fore and aft movement and engages the latch members to produce their lateral movement;   and the force unit is constructed and arranged to exert a rearwardly directed force on the link means when the force unit is in loading condition.   
     
     
       5. A binding as claimed in claim 1; in which the boot is provided with the latch receiver formation and the latch mounting body is fixedly secured to the ski;   and the link means is slidably mounted in the body for movement in a fore and aft direction.   
     
     
       6. A binding as claimed in claim 5; in which the trigger is actuated by contact with the boot as the latter is placed in skiing position.   
     
     
       7. A binding as claimed in claim 5; in which the latch mounting body includes a sole plate formed with a fore and aft recess in its under side;   the link means is an elongate link slidably mounted in the recess with its forward end in engagement with the latch means and its aft end connected to the force unit and formed with abutment means;   the trigger includes a contact portion and a detent portion to engage the abutment means on the link;   and the contact portion, when the trigger is in its first position, extends above the surface of the sole plate in a location to be depressed by the sole of the boot as it is placed in skiing position.   
     
     
       8. A binding as claimed in claim 7; in which the sole plate is provided with a generally vertically extending aperture;   and the contact portion of the trigger is generally vertically movable through the aperture.   
     
     
       9. A binding as claimed in claim 8; in which the abutment means comprises a recess in the link;   and the detent portion of the trigger moves vertically into and out of the recess.   
     
     
       10. A binding as claimed in claim 9; in which the recess comprises an elongate slot extending through the link and directed along its longitudinal axis;   the trigger includes a vertically disposed contact portion slidable in the aperture in the sole plate and in the slot in the link and a horizontally disposed forwardly extending detent portion connected to the lower end of the contact portion and slidable into and below the slot in the link;   and spring means is arranged below the detent portion and biased to urge it upwardly into the slot when the force unit is in no-load condition, with the forward end of the detent portion engaging the forward end of the slot to restrain the link against rearward movement as the force unit is adjusted to loading position;   the upper end of the contact portion extending above the upper surface of the sole plate when the detent portion is located in the slot;   the contact portion being adapted to be depressed by contact of the boot as it is placed in skiing position to force the detent portion downward out of the slot and release the link to allow it to move rearward in latching direction in response to the force exerted by the force unit.   
     
     
       11. A ski binding adapted to releasably secure a ski to an associated ski boot comprising: a latch mounting body constructed to be fixedly attached to a ski;   latch means movably mounted on the body for movement between inoperative position substantially free of the boot and operative position in latching engagement with a receiver formation on the boot;   a resilient force unit carried by the body and connected to the latch means and adjustable between a no-load condition and a loading condition in which to yieldingly urge the latch means into operative position;   and a detent trigger mounted on the body and movable between a first interfering position to restrain the action of the force unit in loading condition and a second non-interfering position;   the trigger being settable in the first position to restrain the action of the force unit and being actuatable by a skier upon placing his boot in skiing position on the ski to move to the second position and release the force unit to allow it to urge the latch means into latching engagement with the receiver formation on the boot.   
     
     
       12. A binding as claimed in claim 11; in which the trigger is resiliently biased toward its first position and is automatically movable thereto when the force unit is in no-load condition to restrain the action of the force unit as it is adjusted to loading condition.   
     
     
       13. A binding as claimed in claim 11; in which the trigger is actuated by contact with the boot as the latter is placed in skiing position.   
     
     
       14. A binding as claimed in claim 11; in which the latch mounting body includes a sole plate;   the trigger includes a contact portion and a detent portion;   and the contact portion, when the trigger is in its first position, extends above the surface of the sole plate in a location to be depressed by the sole of the boot as it is placed in skiing position.   
     
     
       15. A binding as claimed in claim 14; in which the sole plate is provided with a generally vertically extending aperture;   and the contact portion of the trigger is generally vertically movable through the aperture. .Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  A ski binding adapted to releasably secure a ski to an associated ski boot rearward of the toe and forward of the rear of the heel of the ski boot comprising: a first binding component in the form of a latch receiving member provided with at least one latch receiver formation; and a second binding component in the form of a latch mounting body;   one of said components being constructed for connection to a ski boot and the other component being constructed for connection to a ski;   latch means mounted on the body for actuation between an inoperative condition substantially free of the latch receiving member and an operative condition in latching engagement with the receiver formation;   a force unit;   link means connecting the force unit to the latch means to transmit the force of the force unit to the latch means; and   a trigger means operatively coupled to said latch means and actuatable between a first condition in which the trigger means causes the latch means to remain in its operative condition and a second condition in which the trigger means enables the latch means to change into its operative condition with the force of said force unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       17.  A ski binding according to claim 16 wherein said trigger means comprises a movable trigger member and said first and said second conditions comprise a first and a second position; and means for moving said movable trigger member between said first and said second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A ski binding according to claim 16 wherein said trigger means is actuated by contact with said ski boot as said ski boot is placed in skiing position in said binding. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A ski binding according to claim 16 wherein said trigger means is mounted on said body and comprises means for engaging said link means to restrain movement of said link means in response to the urging of said force unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A binding according to claim 16 comprising means for moving said trigger means below the plane of the ski boot when said latching means engages said latch receiving member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A ski binding according to claim 20 wherein said moving means comprises means for moving said trigger member in a generally vertical direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A ski binding adapted to releasably secure a ski boot to a ski rearward of the toe and forward of the rear of the heel of the ski boot comprising: a first and a second engaging means;   means for attaching said first and said second engaging means to said ski boot and said ski;   a force unit for providing a clamping force; and   a step-in member movable relative to said first and said second engaging means in response to the placing of a ski boot in skiing position in said binding for engaging said first and said second engaging means with said   
     
     
        clamping force. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A safety binding to hold a boot to a ski and comprising: (a) a base plate secured to the ski;   (b) two jaws adapted to move in relation to said baseplate and arranged symmetrically on each side of the longitudinal axis of the ski, said jaws being designed to cooperate with the sides of the boot and being displaceable in the plane of the ski;   (c) a resilient means mounted on said baseplate and including (i) a slide element mounted to move in translation in said baseplate and to cooperate with said jaws, in such a manner that the displacement of said slide corresponds to the opening or closing of said jaws; and   (ii) a spring means associated with the slide element and tending to retain the latter in a position corresponding to the closed jaws, the displacement of said slide occurring against the action of said spring means, said slide being adapted to move between a first position corresponding to the closing of said jaws and a second position corresponding to the opening thereof; and     (d) a lock means on said baseplate engaging one of the elements of said resilient means when said slide is in its second position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A binding according to claim 1, further comprising an element sensitive to the presence of the boot upon the ski, the action of said element ensuring the release of said element engaged by the lock when the ski is fitted to the boot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A binding according to claim 24, wherein said element sensitive to the presence of the boot is retractable when the boot is in place upon the ski, said element therefore playing no part in intentional or safety releases. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A safety binding designed to hold a boot to a ski and comprising:   a baseplate secured to the ski;   two jaws adapted to move in relation to said baseplate and arranged symmetrically upon each side of the longitudinal axis of the ski, said jaws being designed to cooperate with the sides of the boot and being displaceable in the plane of the ski, and   a resilient element mounted upon said baseplate and including: a slide adapted to move in translation in said baseplate and to cooperate with: said jaws, in such a manner that the displacement of said slide corresponds to the opening or closing of said jaws, and a spring associated with the slide and tending to keep the latter in a position corresponding to the closed jaws, the displacement of said slide occurring against the action of said spring, and said slide being adapted to move between a first position corresponding to the closing of said jaws and a second position corresponding to the opening thereof,       said baseplate being equipped with a lock with which said slide engages when it its second position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A binding according to claim 26, wherein said slide comprises a housing for cooperation with said   
     
     
        lock. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  A ski binding adapted to releasably secure a boot to a ski rearward of the toe and forward of the rear of the heel of the ski boot comprising: a first and a second engaging means;   means for attaching the first and the second engaging means to the ski boot and the ski;   a force unit for providing a clamping force; and   a step-in member movable relative to the first and the second engaging means in response to the placing of a ski boot in skiing position in the binding for engaging the first and the second engaging means with the clamp force, the step-in member being located so that when the ski boot is moved into the skiing position the step-in member contacts and is actuated by a mid-sole portion of the boot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A ski binding according to claim 28 wherein the engaging means is also located at about the mid-sole portion of the boot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A ski binding according to claim 28 wherein the first engaging means is attached to the ski and comprises a jaw member operatively coupled with the force unit for engaging the second engaging means with the clamping force generated by the force unit; and wherein the second engaging means is attached to the ski boot at about said mid-sole portion so that the actuation of the step-in member by the ski boot requires a substantial alignment of the second engaging means with the jaw member. .Iaddend.