Heel supporting device of a ski safety binding

Claim 2

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, and means for supporting one end of said additional spring means on said mounting means and the other end on said transmitting means.

Claim 3

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bracing unit including a first bracing lever, a second bracing lever, and means for pivotably connecting said two bracing levers to each other and also for pivotably connecting said two levers to said mounting means so that said mounting means and said two bracing levers together form a substantially triangular bracing unit, means for supporting said transmitting means on said bracing unit, said additional spring means consisting of at least one substantially C-shaped spring bracket in parallel connection within said bracing unit to one of said bracing levers, means for permitting a predetermined play at said last-mentioned bracing lever relative to said stroke limiting means, whereby said last-mentioned lever can carry out a stroke in accordance with said play and said additional spring means can carry out a corresponding resilient stroke.

Claim 4

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 2, in which said additional spring means consist of at least one substantially C-shaped spring bracket.

Claim 5

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bracing unit for bracing said transmitting means, said bracing unit including an intermediate member forming a first bracing lever, a second bracing lever, means for pivotably connecting said two bracing levers to each other, separate means for pivotably connecting the free ends of each of said bracing levers to said mounting means, said two bracing levers and said mounting means forming a substantially triangular bracing unit, said means for pivotably connecting a first of said bracing levers additionally serving as a means for pivotably connecting one end of said additional spring means to said mounting means and the other end to said second bracing lever, means for permitting a limited play at one of said connecting means for one of said bracing levers, said limited play being determined by said stroke limiting means, said play permitting a limited stroke of said first bracing lever and a corresponding resilient stroke of said additional spring means.

Claim 6

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional spring means is under an initial tension when said heel depressor is pivoted downwardly upon said ski.

Claim 7

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional spring means consists of at least one substantially C-shaped spring bracket.

Claim 8

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means consisting of at least one sUbstantially C-shaped spring bracket interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.

Claim 9

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means consisting of at least one sUbstantially C-shaped spring bracket interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.

Claim 10

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, said means for movably connecting said heel depressor includes pivot means having a pivot axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski for permitting said heel depressor to pivot about said pivot axis, said transmitting means including a lever mechanism having at least one lever, and bracing means for pivotably mounting one end of said lever on said ski and the other end on said heel depressor, said lever assuming a dead-center position relative to said spring means, when said spring means presses said heel depressor by means of said lever against said ski, said heel depressor being pivotable upwardly to a heel releasing position only against the action of said spring means when said lever is moved to a position exceeding said dead-center position, said bracing means for pivotably mounting said lever including said additional spring means and said means for limiting the stroke of said additional spring means.

Claim 11

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, said means for movably connecting said heel depressor includes pivot means having a pivot axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski for permitting said heel depressor to pivot about said pivot axis, said transmitting means including a lever mechanism having at least one lever, and bracing means for pivotably mounting one end of said lever on said ski and the other end on said heel depressor, said lever assuming a dead-center position relative to said spring means, when said spring means presses said heel depressor by means of said lever against said ski, said heel depressor being pivotable upwardly to a heel releasing position only against the action of said spring means when said lever is moved to a position exceeding said dead-center position, said bracing means for pivotably mounting said lever including said additional spring means and said means for limiting the stroke of said additional spring means.

Claim 12

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 8, wherein said bracing means for pivotably mounting said lever further include a bracing unit supported on the ski, a further lever, connecting means for pivotably connecting one end of said further lever to said bracing unit and its other end to said first lever, said two levers forming a toggle-lever mechanism, said spring means biasing said two levers into a position of straight alignment, and wherein said additional spring means includes at least one spring element, connecting means for connecting one end of said spring element to the ski and the other end to said bracing unit at least adjacent to said connecting means, one of said connecting means carrying said stroke limiting means and permitting a certain play at one end of said spring element.

Claim 13

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, heel depressing means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor in such a manner that, if an excessive force acts in the upward direction upon the heel depressor, said heel depressor will be lifted against the action of said spring means until said heel is released from said heel depressor, additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, means for limiting the resilient stroke of saiD additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, and a bracing means for bracing said transmitting means, said bracing means comprising an intermediate member, means for connecting one end of said intermediate member to said mounting means and means for connecting the other end to said transmitting means, means for permitting a predetermined play at one of said two last-mentioned connecting means a play thereby allowing a limited upward movement of said heel depressor, said stroke limiting means defining the maximum upward movement of said heel depressor, said connecting means being provided with means for connecting said additional spring means to said intermediate member whereby said additional spring means can carry out a resilient stroke in accordance with the limited stroke of said intermediate member as determined by said play.

Claim 14

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, heel depressing means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor in such a manner that, if an excessive force acts in the upward direction upon the heel depressor, said heel depressor will be lifted against the action of said spring means until said heel is released from said heel depressor, additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, means for limiting the resilient stroke of saiD additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, and a bracing means for bracing said transmitting means, said bracing means comprising an intermediate member, means for connecting one end of said intermediate member to said mounting means and means for connecting the other end to said transmitting means, means for permitting a predetermined play at one of said two last-mentioned connecting means a play thereby allowing a limited upward movement of said heel depressor, said stroke limiting means defining the maximum upward movement of said heel depressor, said connecting means being provided with means for connecting said additional spring means to said intermediate member whereby said additional spring means can carry out a resilient stroke in accordance with the limited stroke of said intermediate member as determined by said play.

Claim 15

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 10, in which said additional spring means consist of at least one substantially C-shaped spring bracket.

Claim 16

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said intermediate member includes a lever, said means for connecting said intermediate member to said mounting means includes pivot pins, and wherein said intermediate member is provided with an elongated hole for providing said predetermined play through which one of said pivot pins extends, the ends of said hole forming stops for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means.

Claim 17

A heel supporting device as defined in claim 12, in which said additional spring means consist of at least one substantially C-shaped spring bracket.

Claim 18

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, the maximum spring force of said additional spring means being lower than the spring force exerted by said spring means upon the heel on the ski, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.

Claim 19

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, the maximum spring force of said additional spring means being lower than the spring force exerted by said spring means upon the heel on the ski, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.

Claim 20

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, said additional spring means being under an initial tension when said heel depressor is pivoted downwardly toward said ski and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additionaL spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, whereby at the upper end of said resilient stroke as determined by said stroke limiting means the spring force of said additional spring means is lower than the spring force with which said heel depressing spring means press said heel depressor upon said heel on said ski.

Claim 21

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, said additional spring means being under an initial tension when said heel depressor is pivoted downwardly toward said ski and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additionaL spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor, whereby at the upper end of said resilient stroke as determined by said stroke limiting means the spring force of said additional spring means is lower than the spring force with which said heel depressing spring means press said heel depressor upon said heel on said ski.

Claim 22

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means consisting of a pair of substantially C-shaped spring brackets disposed at the opposite sides of the vertical longitudinal axis of said heel depressor interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.

Claim 23

A heel supporting device of a ski binding for clamping a boot upon a ski comprising mounting means to be secured to a ski, a heel depressor having means normally acting upon the heel of the boot for depressing the same upon the ski, means for movably connecting said heel depressor to said mounting means, spring means for resiliently pressing said heel depressor upon said ski, transmitting means for transmitting the spring force of said spring means to said heel depressor, means operatively connected to said transmitting means for permitting said heel depressor to be lifted against the action of said spring means upon the application of an excessive force in the upward direction upon said heel depressor until the heel of the boot is released therefrom, an additional spring means consisting of a pair of substantially C-shaped spring brackets disposed at the opposite sides of the vertical longitudinal axis of said heel depressor interposed in the direction of force between said ski and said heel depressor, and means for limiting the resilient stroke of said additional spring means so as to permit the heel to move upwardly from the ski for a limited distance without causing the heel to be released from said heel depressor.