Ski binding tester adapted for testing heel bindings

Claim 2

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding, said tester comprising: at least one lever; means for mounting said lever for pivotal movement at least in one direction about a pivotal axis; second means for drivingly connecting said lever and the ski boot at least when the lever is pivoted in said one direction; a flexible member, said flexible member being readily distortable to permit said flexible member to assume a compact configuration for transportation and storage of the ski binding tester; means for connecting the flexible Member to said lever so that by exerting a pulling force on said flexible member the lever can be pivoted in said one direction about said axis to cause said second means to apply a force to the ski boot sufficient to release the binding; and means drivingly connected to the flexible member for providing an indication related to the force at which the binding releases.

Claim 3

A tester as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever includes first and second pivotally interconnected links.

Claim 4

A tester as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said lever releasably mounts said lever whereby said lever can be removed from said means for mounting.

Claim 5

A tester as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever is a first lever, said tester including a second lever, said means for mounting also mounts said second lever for pivotal movement at least in said one direction about a pivotal axis, said means for drivingly connecting being joined to both of said levers and said means for connecting the flexible member connects both of said levers to said flexible member.

Claim 6

A tester as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said lever includes a mounting member, at least a portion of said mounting member being adapted to be received between the ski boot and the ski.

Claim 7

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to cause a ski binding to release comprising: at least one lever; means for mounting said lever for pivotal movement at least in one direction about a pivotal axis; second means for drivingly connecting said lever and the binding at least when the lever is pivoted in said one direction; a flexible member, said flexible member being readily distortable to permit said flexible member to assume a compact configuration for transportation and storage of the ski binding tester; means for connecting the flexible member to said lever so that by exerting a pulling force on said flexible member the lever can be pivoted in said one direction about said axis to cause said second means to apply a force to the binding sufficient to release the binding; and means drivingly connected to the flexible member for providing an indication related to the force at which the binding releases.

Claim 8

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to cause a ski binding to release comprising: at least one lever; means for mounting said lever for pivotal movement at least in one direction about a pivotal axis; second means for drivingly connecting said lever and the binding at least when the lever is pivoted in said one direction; a flexible member, said flexible member being readily distortable to permit said flexible member to assume a compact configuration for transportation and storage of the ski binding tester; means for connecting the flexible member to said lever so that by exerting a pulling force on said flexible member the lever can be pivoted in said one direction about said axis to cause said second means to apply a force to the binding sufficient to release the binding; and means drivingly connected to the flexible member for providing an indication related to the force at which the binding releases.

Claim 9

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a flexible force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes; a tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers; and said flexible force applying member being intermediate the location at which the tension element is attached to the levers and the pivotal axes.

Claim 10

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a flexible force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes; a tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers; and said flexible force applying member being intermediate the location at which the tension element is attached to the levers and the pivotal axes.

Claim 11

A ski binding tester as defined in claim 7 wherein said scale means includes memory means for providing an indication related to the maximum value of the force applied by the tension element to the levers, said memory means retaining said indication after said force has diminished to substantially zero.

Claim 12

A ski binding tester as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second pivotal axes substantially coincide and the lengths of said levers between said pivotal axes and the location at which said tension element is attached thereto are substantially equal, said tension element including a flexible section.

Claim 13

A ski binding tester as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said levers is foldable to reduce the length thereof and is removably mounted on said mounting member.

Claim 14

A ski binding tester as defined in claim 7 whereIn said tension element includes a flexible section and said first and second levers are removably mounted on said mounting member.

Claim 15

A ski biding tester as defined in claim 7 wherein said tension element includes first and second flexible elements of substantially equal length attached, respectively, to said first and second levers.

Claim 16

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a flexible force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes; a tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers; and said mounting member including a web adapted to underlie the ski boot and a pair of flanges projecting upwardly on opposite sides of the ski boot when the web underlies the ski boot, said first and second levers being pivotally connected to said first and second flanges, respectively.

Claim 17

A ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a flexible force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes; a tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers; and said mounting member including a web adapted to underlie the ski boot and a pair of flanges projecting upwardly on opposite sides of the ski boot when the web underlies the ski boot, said first and second levers being pivotally connected to said first and second flanges, respectively.

Claim 18

A portable ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes, said force applying member being adapted to apply a force to at least one of said ski boot and said ski binding; a flexible tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; said flexible tension element being readily distortable to permit the flexible element to assume a compact configuration for transportation and storage of the ski binding tester; and scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers.

Claim 19

A portable ski binding tester for determining the force required to release a ski boot from at least one ski binding comprising: first and second levers; a mounting member extending between said first and second levers for mounting said levers for pivotal movement about first and second pivotal axes, respectively; a force applying member connected to and extending between said levers at a location spaced from said pivotal axes, said force applying member being adapted to apply a force to at least one of said ski boot and said ski binding; a flexible tension element connected to the levers for applying a force thereto to pivot the first and second levers about the first and second pivotal axes, respectively; said flexible tension element being readily distortable to permit the flexible element to assume a compact configuration for transportation and storage of the ski binding tester; and scale means drivingly connected to said tension element for providing a measurement related to the force applied by the tension element to the levers.