Toe or heel holding device for safety ski bindings

Claim 2

A toe-or heel-holding device for safety ski bindings comprising a soleholder member, a resistance means in operative relationship with said soleholder member for resisting movement by said soleholder member relative to the ski, said soleholder member, upon overcoming the resistance of said resistance means, being automatically movable from a locking position to a release position, an inertial mass for automatically controlling the resistance of said resistance means and for opposing movement of said soleholder member as a function of the kinetic energy applied to the ski, said inertial mass being mounted in a rest position and being subject to momentary deflection by forces of mass inertia, and means cooperating with said inertial mass and acting on said resistance means for causing said resistance, means to oppose the movement of said soleholder member in dependence upon said momentary deflection of said inertial mass.

Claim 3

A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for cooperating with said inertial mass and acting on said resistance means is an electrical automatic control system including: means operatively connected to said inertial mass and to said soleholder member for deflecting in response to movement of said soleholder member in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the ski; deflection-measuring means positioned adjacent said deflection means for determining the degree of deflection of said deflecting means; a coil in electrical circuit relationship with said deflection-measuring means for passing an electrical current of a magnitude proportional to the amount of deflection of said deflection means; lever arms connected to said soleholder member; and a core member located within said coil and maintained in position by a magnetic field created by said current passing through said Coil, at least one of said lever arms bearing against said core member to oppose movement of the soleholder member in a transverse direction relative to the ski.

Claim 4

A device as in claim 2 further including an amplifier in circuit between said deflection-measuring means and said coil.

Claim 5

A device as in claim 2 further including a pressure spring mounted with its axis transverse to the ski and supporting members connected to the soleholder member for acting against the pressure spring to oppose movement of the soleholder member in a direction transverse to the ski.

Claim 6

A device as in claim 1 wherein said resistance means is a hydraulic automatic control system, said system including: levers connected to said soleholder member and movable in response to movement of the soleholder member relative to the ski; a hydraulic cylinder; a piston positioned within said cylinder and movable within the cylinder in response to movement of the soleholder member and said levers; a hydraulic circuit externally of said cylinder and connecting opposite ends of the cylinder in hydraulic circuit relationship; and said inertial mass comprising a correcting element in circuit relationship with said hydraulic circuit and mounted for movement transversely of the ski for reducing the flow of fluid from within said cylinder to oppose movement of the piston and to oppose movement of the soleholder member relative to the ski.

Claim 7

A device as in claim 5 further including springs positioned to hold the correcting element in a predetermined position.

Claim 8

A device as in claim 6 wherein said correcting element is substantially cylindrical in form and includes an annular slot in normally fluid circuit relationship with said cylinder.

Claim 9

A device as in claim 5 further including a spring within the cylinder for holding the piston in a predetermined normal position and for opposing movement of the piston within the cylinder.

Claim 10

A device as in claim 5 further including an adjustable throttle valve in said hydraulic circuit.

Claim 11

A device as in claim 1 wherein said resistance means is a friction clutch automatic control system, said system including: levers connected to said soleholder member and movable in response to movement of the soleholder member relative to the ski; arms extending from said levers; spring means fixedly mounted relative to the ski and positioned to oppose movement of said arms; a first friction lining mounted on said soleholder member; another friction lining positioned to selectively engage said first friction lining and to oppose movement of said soleholder member relative to the ski and means in cooperating relationship with said inertial mass for moving said friction linings into engagement with each other when said inertial mass moves relative to the ski.

Claim 12

A device as in claim 10 wherein said moving means include a cross tie interconnected between said levers, a pendulum rod hingedly mounted on said cross tie, said inertial mass comprising a balance weight supported by said pendulum rod, cams located on said pendulum rod, a piston normally resting against both of said cams, a guideway fixedly positioned relative to said ski, and a pressure spring positioned between said piston and said other friction lining whereby movement of said soleholder member relative to said ski results in movement of said pendulum rod and compression of said pressure spring to cause said friction linings to engage and to oppose said movement of said soleholder member.