Ski boot and ski binding therefor

Claim 2

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded within the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably mounted in said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking element having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element being removably connected to said tubular element at said edge of said sole, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said tubular element, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking element for connecting said boot to said ski.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which the outer ends of said Tubular element are substantially flush with the peripheral edge of said sole.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said bearing element consists of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element, and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said tubular element is embedded in and locked to said sole when said sole is being molded.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said locking elements are disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a right angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot.

Claim 7

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded in the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably connected to said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element consisting of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements, and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end of said tubular element, one of said locking elements consisting of a screw having an at least partly spherical head rotatable but nonslidable in its axial direction in one of said bushings, a nut screwed upon said screw and nonrotatably guided within said tubular elements so as to be slidable along said screw when said screwhead is turned, a compression spring mounted within said tubular element and having one end acting upon the other locking element and another end acting upon said nut so as to permit said other locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

Claim 8

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded in the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably connected to said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element consisting of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements, and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end of said tubular element, one of said locking elements consisting of a screw having an at least partly spherical head rotatable but nonslidable in its axial direction in one of said bushings, a nut screwed upon said screw and nonrotatably guided within said tubular elements so as to be slidable along said screw when said screwhead is turned, a compression spring mounted within said tubular element and having one end acting upon the other locking element and another end acting upon said nut so as to permit said other locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said other locking element consists of a ball rotatably and slidably mounted within one of said bushings.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 6, in which the outer end portions of said tubular element have a circular cross section, one of said bushings being screwed into each of said end portions, the longer central part of said tubular element in which said nut is slidable having a noncircular cross section for guiding said nut and preventing it from turning relative to said tubular element.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said partly spherical screwhead has at least one recess at the outside of its bushing and extending transverse to the axis of said screw, said recess being adapted to permit a tool to be connected to said head for turning said screw.

Claim 12

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, said locking elements being disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a righT angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

Claim 13

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, said locking elements being disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a righT angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

Claim 14

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski for connecting said boot to said ski, said fittings including a pair of arms normally projecting upwardly from the opposite lateral sides of said ski and each having a recess for receiving the spherically projecting part of one of said locking elements, and adjustable means for varying the distance between said arms and for securing said fittings to said ski.

Claim 15

In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski for connecting said boot to said ski, said fittings including a pair of arms normally projecting upwardly from the opposite lateral sides of said ski and each having a recess for receiving the spherically projecting part of one of said locking elements, and adjustable means for varying the distance between said arms and for securing said fittings to said ski.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 11, in which said arm of at least one of said fittings is pivotably connected to said ski so as to be pivotable from a substantially vertical position to a position laterally outside of said ski so as to permit said sole to be easily inserted between and removed from said arms, and locking means for normally securing said pivotable arm in said vertical position.