Ski safety binding

Claim 2

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with and extending the length of the sole of the ski boot, pivot mounting means for pivotably mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to an upwardly facing sole plate surface, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate to said ski in a fixed rotative position, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means, said hold down means being connected to and movable with said sole plate and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole palte and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, and wherein said sole plate is freely rotatable about said axis and movable away from said pivot mounting means and said ski when said sole plate locking means is in said unlocked position.

Claim 3

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said sole plate lockIng means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot.

Claim 4

A ski safety binding according to claim 2, wherein said hold down locking means includes means for intentionally releasing said boot from said sole plate while said sole plate locking means is maintained in the locked position.

Claim 5

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position.

Claim 6

A ski safety binding according to claim 4, wherein said hold down means, said sole plate locking means, and said hold down locking means are all located at the rear of said boot when said boot is in an in-use skiing position.

Claim 7

A ski safety binding according to claim 5, wherein said locking lever is pivotably mounted on said sole plate and said locking member is mounted on said hold down means.

Claim 8

A ski safety binding according to claim 5, wherein a front holding device is provided at the front of the boot which includes a locking bracket mounted on the ski, guide means rigidly connected to said sole plate, a locking member guided by said guide means, and resilient front locking means disposed between said guide means and said locking member and adapted to press said locking member into locking engagement with said locking bracket.

Claim 9

A ski safety binding according to claim 4, wherein said locking lever is pivotably mounted on said sole plate and said locking member is mounted on said hold down means.

Claim 10

A ski safety binding according to claim 4, wherein said sole plate is attached to said ski such that the front and rear ends of the sole plate may be lifted off of the ski, wherein a front holding device including first front holding means connected to the sole plate and second front holding means connected to the ski is provided, one of said first and second front holding means including resilient front locking means adapted to hold said first and second front holding means in resilient engagement with one another but to release them from each other in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in one of an upward and transverse direction against the front end of said sole plate.

Claim 11

A ski safety binding according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said releasable sole plate locking means and hold down locking means includes resilient means adapted to hold said releasable sole plate locking and hold down locking means in resilient engagement with one another but to release them from each other in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in an upward direction against the rear end of said sole plate.

Claim 12

A ski safety binding according to claim 10, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes means for releasing the sole plate for rotation about said axis in response to a predetermined transverse force on said sole plate.

Claim 13

A ski safety binding according to claim 9, wherein said second front holding means includes the resilient front locking means.

Claim 14

A ski safety binding accordingg to claim 12, wherein said first front holding means includes at least one jaw engageable over the boot sole and an extended part of said sole plate extending forwardly of said jaw, wherein said second front holding means includes at least one element projecting over said extended part and having an inclined locking surface and means for mounting said element for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said ski, and wherein said resilient front locking means holds said element in resilient locking engagemEnt with said extended part by way of said inclined locking surface such that, in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in the upward direction on said extended part, said element is pressed backwardly by said inclined surface against the action of said resilient front locking means.

Claim 15

A ski safety binding according to claim 9, wherein said first front holding means includes the resilient front locking means.

Claim 16

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for moving upwardly when released by said second releasable locking means.

Claim 17

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, and wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring.

Claim 18

A ski safety binding according to claim 1 wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position.

Claim 19

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said hold down means, said releasable sole plate locking means and said releasable hold down locking means are all disposed adjacent the rear end of said boot when said boot is in an in-use skiing position.

Claim 20

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein the pivot mounting means is arranged in the middle of the sole plate between the front and rear ends thereof.

Claim 21

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said hold down means includes a front hold down device on the front end of the sole plate and a rear hold down device on the rear end of the sole plate, and wherein said pivot mounting means is disposed approximately midway between the front and rear hold down devices of the sole plate.

Claim 22

A ski safety binding according to claim 1, wherein said hold down means includes a rear hold down device, and wherein said hold down locking means includes a manually operable holding lever for selectively locking and unlocking said rear hold down device, said holding lever extending over the boot heel of a ski boot when in position on said ski binding.

Claim 23

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring, and wherein said sole plate locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, said sole plate locking lever having a part with an inverted V-shaped connecting surface engaging from above with said roller.

Claim 24

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring, and wherein said sole plate locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, said sole plate locking lever having a part with an inverted V-shaped connecting surface engaging from above with said roller.

Claim 25

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, means for mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis, said releasable sole plate locking means including means for preventing rotation of said sole plate about said axis when in a locked position and permitting said rotation when in an unlocked position, and releasable hold down locking means for relasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, and wherein said means for mounting said sole plate includes a plate, a pivot rigidly secured and projecting from said plate, and means for securing said plate to the ski at two points disposed substantially within the longitudinal axis of the ski near the opposite ends of said plate and spaced considerably from said pivot.

Claim 26

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, means for mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis, said releasable sole plate locking means including means for preventing rotation of said sole plate about said axis when in a locked position and permitting said rotation when in an unlocked position, and releasable hold down locking means for relasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, and wherein said means for mounting said sole plate includes a plate, a pivot rigidly secured and projecting from said plate, and means for securing said plate to the ski at two points disposed substantially within the longitudinal axis of the ski near the opposite ends of said plate and spaced considerably from said pivot.

Claim 27

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, wherein a front holding device is provided at the front of the boot which includes a locking bracket mounted on the ski, guide means rigidly connected to said sole plate, a locking member guided by said guide means, resilient front locking means disposed between said guide means and said locking member and adapted to press said locking member into engagement with said locking bracket, a front sole holding member, means for guiding said front sole holding member relative to said locking member, limiting means for limiting the movement of said sole front holding member, and further resilient means between said locking member and said sole holding member and acting upon the latter so as to abut against said limiting means.

Claim 28

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted on one of said sole plate and said hold down means and movable between a first position in engagement with a locking member which is movable with said boot engaging means on the other one of said sole plate and hold down means to lock said hold down means in said hold down position and a second position out of engagement with said locking member to permit movement of said hold down means to said released position, wherein a front holding device is provided at the front of the boot which includes a locking bracket mounted on the ski, guide means rigidly connected to said sole plate, a locking member guided by said guide means, resilient front locking means disposed between said guide means and said locking member and adapted to press said locking member into engagement with said locking bracket, a front sole holding member, means for guiding said front sole holding member relative to said locking member, limiting means for limiting the movement of said sole front holding member, and further resilient means between said locking member and said sole holding member and acting upon the latter so as to abut against said limiting means.

Claim 29

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, and wherein said guide means comprise an arm and means for pivotably connecting a first end of said arm to said sole plate and the other end of said arm to said hold down member, a guide cam rigidly connected to said sole plate, and a guide member rigidly connected to said hold down member and guided by said guide cam, said hold down member thus being guided by said arm and said guide cam.

Claim 30

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, and wherein said guide means comprise an arm and means for pivotably connecting a first end of said arm to said sole plate and the other end of said arm to said hold down member, a guide cam rigidly connected to said sole plate, and a guide member rigidly connected to said hold down member and guided by said guide cam, said hold down member thus being guided by said arm and said guide cam.

Claim 31

A ski safety binding according to claim 25, in which said arm extends substantially from said first pivoted end toward the rear, said hold down member extends from the other pivoted end of said arm substantially upwardly, and said guide cam extends obliquely upward and toward the rear.

Claim 32

A ski safety binding according to claim 25, in which said guide member also forms a locking member which is operatively associated with said locking lever to be locked thereby and unlocked therefrom.

Claim 33

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said Skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member engageable by said hold down locking means and guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means is disengaged from said hold down member to thereby release said hold down means from said hold down position, and wherein said guide means are designed so that a pivot means for accommodating rearward pivotal movement of said hold down member is guided for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position.

Claim 34

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said Skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member engageable by said hold down locking means and guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means is disengaged from said hold down member to thereby release said hold down means from said hold down position, and wherein said guide means are designed so that a pivot means for accommodating rearward pivotal movement of said hold down member is guided for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position.

Claim 35

A ski safety binding according to claim 28, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, and wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined escessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring.

Claim 36

A ski safety binding according to claim 29, further comprising means for mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means prevents rotation of said sole plate about said axis when in a locked position and permits said rotation when in unlocked position.

Claim 37

A ski safety binding according to claim 28, further comprising means for mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means prevents rotation of said sole plate about said axis when in a locked position and permits said rotation when in an unlocked position.

Claim 38

A ski safety binding according to claim 31, wherein said hold down means, said releasable sole plate locking means and said releasable hold down locking means are all disposed adjacent the rear end of said boot when said boot is in an in-use skiing position.

Claim 39

A ski safety binding according to claim 32, wherein said sole plate is attached to said ski such that the front and rear ends of the sole plate may be lifted off of the ski, wherein a front holding device is provided which includes first front holding means connected to the sole plate and second front holding means connected to the ski, one of said first and second front holding means including resilient front locking means adapted to hold said first and second front holding means in resilient engagement with one another but to release them from each other in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in one of an upward and transverse direction against the front end of said sole plate.

Claim 40

A ski safety binding according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said releasable sole plate locking means and releasable hold down locking means includes resilient means adapted to hold releasable sole plate locking means and releasable hold down locking means in resilient engagement with one another but to relEase them from each other in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in an upward direction against the rear end of said sole plate.

Claim 41

A ski safety binding according to claim 34, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes means for releasing the sole plate for rotation about said axis in response to a predetermined transverse force on said sole plate.

Claim 42

A ski safety binding according to claim 33, wherein said second front holding means includes the resilient front locking means.

Claim 43

A ski safety binding according to claim 36, wherein said first front holding means includes at least one jaw engageable over the boot sole and an extended part of said sole plate extending forwardly of said jaw, wherein said second front holding means includes at least one element projecting over said extended part and having an inclined locking surface and means for mounting said element for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said ski, and wherein said resilient front locking means holds said element in resilient locking engagement with said extended part by way of said inclined locking surface such that, in the event of a predetermined strong force acting in the upward direction on said extended part, said element is pressed backwardly by said inclined surface against the action of said resilient front locking means.

Claim 44

A ski safety binding according to claim 33, wherein said first front holding means includes the resilient front locking means.

Claim 45

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, wherein said hold down means includes a bearing bracket rigidly connected to said sole plate, wherein said guide means is positioned between said sole plate and said bearing bracket for said guiding of said hold down member in an upward direction relative to said sole plate, wherein said releasable hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotably mounted on said bearing bracket, and wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a locking member on said bearing bracket operatively associated with a part of said first releasable locking means attached to said ski.

Claim 46

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, wherein said hold down means includes a bearing bracket rigidly connected to said sole plate, wherein said guide means is positioned between said sole plate and said bearing bracket for said guiding of said hold down member in an upward direction relative to said sole plate, wherein said releasable hold down locking means includes a locking lever pivotably mounted on said bearing bracket, and wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a locking member on said bearing bracket operatively associated with a part of said first releasable locking means attached to said ski.

Claim 47

A ski safety binding according to claim 28, in which said locking member consists of a locking roller mounted on the rear side of said bearing bracket and having a rotational axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

Claim 48

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means Being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, and wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring, and wherein said sole plate locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, said sole plate locking lever having a part with an inverted V-shaped connecting surface engaging from above with said roller.

Claim 49

A ski safety binding comprising: a sole plate engageable with the sole of the ski boot, said sole plate being movable between an in-use skiing position and at least one released position, releasable sole plate locking means for locking the sole plate in said skiing position on a ski, hold down means separate from said sole plate locking means and including boot engaging means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means Being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate, and releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said hold down means in said hold down position, wherein one of said sole plate locking means and said hold down locking means is automatically movable from the locked position thereof in response to a predetermined strong force acting on the ski boot, wherein said hold down means includes guide means connected to said sole plate and a hold down member guided by said guide means for upward movement when said releasable hold down locking means releases said hold down means from said hold down position, wherein said releasable sole plate locking means includes a housing mounted on said ski, a sole plate locking lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a sole plate locking spring in said housing for resiliently forcing said sole plate locking lever into engagement with a sole plate locking member attached to said sole plate, and wherein said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member engage each other to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, said sole plate locking lever and sole plate locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting on said sole plate locking lever to move said sole plate locking lever against said sole plate locking spring, and wherein said sole plate locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, said sole plate locking lever having a part with an inverted V-shaped connecting surface engaging from above with said roller.

Claim 50

A ski safety binding for a ski boot comprising a sole plate, means for movably mounting said sole plate so as to permit the front end of said sole plate to be lifted off the ski, a locking bracket mounted on the ski, a guide member secured to the front end of said sole plate, a locking member guided by said guide member and movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski, a sole holding member movable in said longitudinal direction relative to and guided by said locking member, and resilient means between said guide member and said locking member and acting upon the latter so as to hold it in a locking position in engagement with said locking bracket, stop means for limiting the movement of said sole holding member relative to said locking member, and further resilient means between said locking member and said sole holding member and adapted to hold said sole holding member in a position determined by said stop means.

Claim 51

A ski safety binding for a ski boot comprising a sole plate, means for movably mounting said sole plate so as to permit the front end of said sole plate to be lifted off the ski, a locking bracket mounted on the ski, a guide member secured to the front end of said sole plate, a locking member guided by said guide member and movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski, a sole holding member movable in said longitudinal direction relative to and guided by said locking member, and resilient means between said guide member and said locking member and acting upon the latter so as to hold it in a locking position in engagement with said locking bracket, stop means for limiting the movement of said sole holding member relative to said locking member, and further resilient means between said locking member and said sole holding member and adapted to hold said sole holding member in a position determined by said stop means.

Claim 52

A ski safety binding according to claim 42, in combination with guide means for slidably moving said locking member in said guide member, and guide means for slidably moving said sole holding member in said guide member.

Claim 53

A ski safety binding according to claim 42, in which said locking member and said sole holding member form a housing unit the parts of which are adapted to telescope within and relative to each other similar to the elements of a cylinder and piston unit, said two resilient means being disposed adjacent to each other within said unit.

Claim 54

A ski safety binding according to claim 42, in which said locking bracket and said locking member are provided with projections directed toward each other and engaging over each other, at least one of said projections having an inclined surface upon which the other projection engages in a locking position under the action of said first resilient means so that, if an excessive force acts in the upward direction upon the front end of the sole, the other projection can slide relative to and off said inclined surface while overcoming the action of said first resilient means.

Claim 55

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with and extending the length of the sole of the ski boot, piVot mounting means for pivotally mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to an upwardly facing sole plate surface, hold down means for clamping said ski boot to said sole plate, and releasable sole plate locking means separate from said hold down means for locking the sole plate to said ski in a fixed rotative position, said sole plate locking means being automatically movable from a locking position to an unlocking position in response to predetermined strong forces acting on the sole plate, said sole plate being freely rotatable about said axis and movable away from said pivot mounting means and said ski when said locking means is in said unlocking position.

Claim 56

A ski safety binding for binding a ski boot to a ski comprising: a sole plate engageable with and extending the length of the sole of the ski boot, piVot mounting means for pivotally mounting said sole plate so as to be rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to an upwardly facing sole plate surface, hold down means for clamping said ski boot to said sole plate, and releasable sole plate locking means separate from said hold down means for locking the sole plate to said ski in a fixed rotative position, said sole plate locking means being automatically movable from a locking position to an unlocking position in response to predetermined strong forces acting on the sole plate, said sole plate being freely rotatable about said axis and movable away from said pivot mounting means and said ski when said locking means is in said unlocking position.

Claim 57

A ski safety binding according to claim 46, wherein said hold down means include means engageable with an upper side of said sole, said hold down means being movable between a hold down position with said sole clamped against said sole plate and a released position with said sole released from said sole plate.

Claim 58

A ski safety binding according to claim 47, wherein said hold down means is connected to and movable with said sole plate.

Claim 59

A ski safety binding according to claim 48, wherein said hold down means is arbitrarily releasable from said sole.

Claim 60

A ski safety binding according to claim 46, wherein the pivot mounting means is arranged in the middle of the sole plate between the front and rear ends thereof.

Claim 61

A ski safety binding according to claim 46, wherein said pivot mounting means includes a plate, a pivot rigidly secured and projecting from said plate, and means for securing said plate to the ski at two points disposed substantially within the longitudinal axis of the ski near the opposite ends of said plate and spaced considerably from said pivot.

Claim 62

Sole plate locking means for releasably locking a ski binding sole plate in position on a ski, comprising: housing means mounted on one of said ski and said sole plate, a locking member mounted on the other of said ski and said sole plate, a locking lever mounted on said housing, said locking lever and locking member being engageable with one another to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, and resilient means in said housing resiliently forcing said lever into engagement with said locking member, said locking lever and locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting by way of said locking member on said locking lever to move said locking lever against the force of said resilient means, wherein said locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski when said sole plate is in said central position, and wherein said locking lever has a part with a V-shaped connecting surface engaging with said roller when said sole plate is in said operative central position.

Claim 63

Sole plate locking means for releasably locking a ski binding sole plate in position on a ski, comprising: housing means mounted on one of said ski and said sole plate, a locking member mounted on the other of said ski and said sole plate, a locking lever mounted on said housing, said locking lever and locking member being engageable with one another to lock said sole plate in an operative central position, and resilient means in said housing resiliently forcing said lever into engagement with said locking member, said locking lever and locking member being disengageable from one another in response to predetermined excessive forces acting by way of said locking member on said locking lever to move said locking lever against the force of said resilient means, wherein said locking member comprises a roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski when said sole plate is in said central position, and wherein said locking lever has a part with a V-shaped connecting surface engaging with said roller when said sole plate is in said operative central position.

Claim 64

Sole plate locking means according to claim 52, wherein said housing means is mounted on said ski and said locking lever is pivotally mounted on said housing for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

Claim 65

A hold down device for releasably holding a ski boot on a relatively fixed member; said hold down device comprising: a boot engaging member engageable with upwardly facing portions of said ski boot, said boot engaging member being movable between a hold down position with said boot clamped against said relatively fixed member and a released position with said boot released from said relatively fixed member, releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said boot engaging member in said hold down position, said releasable hold down locking means being only arbitrarily releasable, and guide means for guiding movement of said boot engaging member between said hold down and released positions, said guide means including a pivot means for accommodating pivotal Movement of said boot engaging member and means for guiding said pivot means for upward movement during movement of said boot engaging member from said hold down position to said released position.

Claim 66

A hold down device for releasably holding a ski boot on a relatively fixed member; said hold down device comprising: a boot engaging member engageable with upwardly facing portions of said ski boot, said boot engaging member being movable between a hold down position with said boot clamped against said relatively fixed member and a released position with said boot released from said relatively fixed member, releasable hold down locking means for releasably locking said boot engaging member in said hold down position, said releasable hold down locking means being only arbitrarily releasable, and guide means for guiding movement of said boot engaging member between said hold down and released positions, said guide means including a pivot means for accommodating pivotal Movement of said boot engaging member and means for guiding said pivot means for upward movement during movement of said boot engaging member from said hold down position to said released position.

Claim 67

A hold down device according to claim 54, wherein said relatively fixed member is a sole plate which is releasably connectible with a ski.

Claim 68

A hold down device according to claim 55, wherein said guide means includes: an arm, means pivotably connecting a first end of said arm to said sole plate and the other end of said arm to said boot engaging member, a guide cam rigidly connected to said sole plate, and a guide member rigidly connected to said boot engaging member and guided by said guide cam.

Claim 69

A hold down device according to claim 56, wherein said arm extends substantially from said first pivoted end toward the rear, said boot engaging member extending from the other pivoted end of said arm substantially upwardly, said guide cam extending obliquely upward and toward the rear.

Claim 70

A hold down device according to claim 55, wherein said guide member also forms a locking member engageable by said releasable hold down locking means.