US3801119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety ski binding
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-15
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1992-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A ski binding for releasably retaining a ski boot on a ski including a sole plate mountable on, and slightly spaced apart from the upper surface of a ski, a ski boot engaging member including a release plate insertable between the sole plate and the upper surface of the ski to retain a ski boot in position on the sole plate, and retaining members for engaging appropriate edge contours of the release plate to prevent the release plate from moving in the lateral or longitudinal directions but to allow the release plate to pivot about a predetermined pivot point to release the ski boot engaging member from the ski. The ski boot engaging member may be in the form of a rigid or semirigid shell which engages the medial or ''''inside'''' lateral surface of the exterior of the ski boot and extends around the lateral ''''outside'''' surface of the heel to provide a portion of the necessary support for the skier''s heel and ankle and thus allow the skier to wear a lighter, softer, more comfortable and inexpensive ski boot. The ski boot engaging shell may be canted outward to provide improved control of the ski edges. A heel block having a grooved pattern which mates with complementary grooves on the heel of the ski boot may be provided to afford increased control of the ski.
Inventors
- 👤 J Andre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C9/00; A63C9/08; A63C9/081; A63C9/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A ski binding for releasably retaining a ski boot on a ski, comprising: a sole plate fixedly mountable on the upper surface of a ski for supporting a ski boot, at least a portion of said sole plate being raised apart from the upper surface of the ski; ski boot engaging means for removably engaging a ski boot, said ski boot engaging means including a release plate insertable between said raised portion of said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski to retain said ski boot engaging means on the ski; and retaining means disposed between said raised portion of said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski for engaging said release plate for preventing said ski boot engaging means from moving laterally or longitudinally with respect to said sole plate, said ski boot engaging means being pivotable about a pivot axis extending through the ankle of the skier to release said release plate from said retaining means and thereby free said ski boot engaging means from said sole plate and the ski in response to a torque about said pivot axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A ski binding for releasably retaining a ski boot on a ski, comprising: a sole plate fixedly mountable on the upper surface of a ski for supporting a ski boot, at least a portion of said sole plate being raised apart from the upper surface of the ski; ski boot engaging means for removably engaging a ski boot, said ski boot engaging means including a release plate insertable between said raised portion of said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski to retain said ski boot engaging means on the ski; and retaining means disposed between said raised portion of said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski for engaging said release plate for preventing said ski boot engaging means from moving laterally or longitudinally with respect to said sole plate, said ski boot engaging means being pivotable about a pivot axis extending through the ankle of the skier to release said release plate from said retaining means and thereby free said ski boot engaging means from said sole plate and the ski in response to a torque about said pivot axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ski binding of claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is located at a distance from the heel of the ski boot in the range from 30 to 45 percent of the ski boot length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ski binding of claim 2, wherein said pivot axis is located substantially over the inside edge of the ski.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ski binding of claim 3, wherein said ski boot engaging means of the left ski binding is pivotable in the clockwise direction about said pivot axis, and the ski boot engaging means of the right ski binding is pivotable in the counterclockwise direction about said pivot axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ski binding of claim 4, further comprising a pivot member mountable between said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski at said pivot axis for engaging said release plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ski binding of claim 1, further comprising: friction means tending to restrain the pivotal movement of said release plate relative to said sole plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ski binding of claim 6, wherein said friction means comprises: means for urging a portion of the upper surface of said release plate into frictional engagement with the lower surface of said sole plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ski binding of claim 7, wherein said means for urging said release plate into frictional engagement with said sole plate comprises a leaf spring mountable on the upper surface of the ski.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ski binding of claim 7, wherein said portion of said release plate and said sole plate include complimentary features which mate when said portion of said release plate and said sole plate are aligned for skiing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
The ski binding of claim 1, wherein said release plate includes a curved edge, a portion of said curved edge extending substantially laterally of the ski and having its center of curvature substantially coincident with said pivot axis; and wherein said retaining means comprises a first retaining member extending between said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski for engaging said laterally extending portion of said first curved edge of said release plate so as to retain said release plate against longitudinal movement with respect to said sole plate and the ski but to permit said release plate to pivot around said pivot axis to release said ski boot engaging means from said sole plate and the ski.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
The ski binding of claim 10, wherein said release plate further includes a second curved edge, at least a portion of said second curved edge extending substantially longitudinally of the ski and having its center of curvature substantially coincident with said pivot axis; and wherein said retaining means further comprises a second retaining member extending between said sole plate and the upper surface of the ski for engaging said longitudinally-extending portion of said second curved edge so as to restrain said release plate from lateral movement with respect to the ski but to permit said release plate to pivot around saId pivot axis to release said ski boot engaging means from said sole plate and the ski.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The ski binding of claim 1, wherein said ski boot engaging means further comprises a substantially rigid shell extending upward from the medial edge of said release plate for engaging a substantial portion of the medial surface of a ski boot so as to transmit canting movements of the ski boot through said release plate to said sole plate and the ski.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ski binding of claim 12, wherein said shell engages substantially the entire medial surface of a ski boot and extends around the rear of the ski boot to engage a portion of the lateral heel surface thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ski binding of claim 13, wherein said ski boot engaging means further comprises a releasable strap extending between the forward edge of the medial portion of said shell and the lateral portion of said shell to retain a ski boot in engagement with said shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ski binding of claim 14, wherein said strap is made of an elastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The ski binding of claim 1, further comprising a heel block mounted on the upper surface of the ski to the rear of said sole plate, the upper surface of said heel block having a grooved pattern for engaging a complimentary grooved pattern on the heel of a ski boot.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ski binding of claim 16, wherein said grooved pattern extends primarily in the longitudinal direction so as to inhibit lateral movement of the heel of the ski boot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ski binding of claim 12, wherein said shell is canted toward the outside edge of the ski from a line perpendicular to the running surface of the ski.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ski binding of claim 18, wherein said sole plate is canted outward by an amount corresponding to said shell so that said sole plate is substantially perpendicular to said shell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
199 words
A safety ski binding for releasably retaining a boot on a ski comprising: boot engaging means for removably engaging a boot, said boot engaging means including a substantially rigid upstanding shell for engaging substantially the entire medial surface of the boot and extending around the rear of the boot to engage a portion of the lateral heel surface thereof so as to firmly hold and support the boot, and a releasable strap extending between the forward edge of the medial portion of said shell and the lateral portion of said shell to retain the boot in engagement with said shell; and releasable retaining means having first and second mating parts, said first mating part being rigidly connected to the lower medial edge of said shell and extending under the sole of the boot and the second mating part being fixedly mountable on the upper surface of a ski, said first and second mating parts cooperating to prevent said boot engaging means from moving laterally or longitudinally with respect to the ski but to free said boot engaging means from the ski when said boot engaging means is pivoted about an axis extending vertically through the ankle of the skier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
199 words
A safety ski binding for releasably retaining a boot on a ski comprising: boot engaging means for removably engaging a boot, said boot engaging means including a substantially rigid upstanding shell for engaging substantially the entire medial surface of the boot and extending around the rear of the boot to engage a portion of the lateral heel surface thereof so as to firmly hold and support the boot, and a releasable strap extending between the forward edge of the medial portion of said shell and the lateral portion of said shell to retain the boot in engagement with said shell; and releasable retaining means having first and second mating parts, said first mating part being rigidly connected to the lower medial edge of said shell and extending under the sole of the boot and the second mating part being fixedly mountable on the upper surface of a ski, said first and second mating parts cooperating to prevent said boot engaging means from moving laterally or longitudinally with respect to the ski but to free said boot engaging means from the ski when said boot engaging means is pivoted about an axis extending vertically through the ankle of the skier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
FR793530A
Cited
FR903887A
Cited
US3079163A
Cited
US3606370A
Cited
US3645017A
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |