US3907316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and devices for releasing a ski boot from the ski
Assignee: Marker International Co
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Filing: 1973-09-13
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and a device for automatically releasing a ski boot from a ski on which the boot is mounted, in the event of danger to the skier. The forces acting in a skier''s leg are continuously monitored and are compared, over a predetermined interval of time, with a threshold value. When the forces reach a predetermined value, related to the threshold value, the ski boot is released from the ski.
Inventors
- 👤 Hannes Marker
- 👤 Heinz Korger
- 👤 Hans-Joachim Steinmetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:41
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C9/00; A63C9/08; A63C9/086; A63C9/084; A63C9/0846; A63C9/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of automatically releasing a ski boot from a ski on which the ski boot is mounted, in the event of danger to the skier, the method comprising the steps of: constantly monitoring the forces acting on a skier''s leg; generating force signals representative of the forces acting on the skier''s leg; developing a threshold signal representative of the maximum stresses to be tolerated by the skier''s leg; developing a control signal whose continuous magnitude is dependent both upon the magnitude and duration of the force signals; comparing said control signal with said threshold signal and releasing the ski boot from the ski upon the control signal reaching a value at least equal to that of said threshold signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of automatically releasing a ski boot from a ski on which the ski boot is mounted, in the event of danger to the skier, the method comprising the steps of: constantly monitoring the forces acting on a skier''s leg; generating force signals representative of the forces acting on the skier''s leg; developing a threshold signal representative of the maximum stresses to be tolerated by the skier''s leg; developing a control signal whose continuous magnitude is dependent both upon the magnitude and duration of the force signals; comparing said control signal with said threshold signal and releasing the ski boot from the ski upon the control signal reaching a value at least equal to that of said threshold signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein an arithmetic mean value is continuously formed from consecutive force signals relative to the duration interval, and compared with the threshold signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein force signals leading to different loads on the skier''s leg, e.g. torsion or bending loads, are separately recorded and compared with one threshold signal, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a threshold signal for a combined load is varied as a function thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for automatically releasing a ski boot from a ski on which the ski boot is mounted, in the event of danger to the skier, the device comprising: a ski boot holder; locking means for fixing said ski boot holder to the ski; monitoring means in the form of a pressure recorder for continuously monitoring the forces acting on a skier''s leg and comprising; first generating means for generating first signals representative of the forces acting on the skier''s leg; second generating means for developing a predetermined threshold signal representative of the maximum stresses to be tolerated by the skier''s leg; third generating means for developing control signals whose continuous magnitudes are dependent upon both the magnitude and duration of said first signals; comparator means for comparing said control signals with said threshold signal; and a threshold value switch for controlling the locking means and for unlocking the locking means to release the ski boot from the ski upon the control signals reaching a value at least equal to that of said threshold signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for automatically releasing a ski boot from a ski on which the ski boot is mounted, in the event of danger to the skier, the device comprising: a ski boot holder; locking means for fixing said ski boot holder to the ski; monitoring means in the form of a pressure recorder for continuously monitoring the forces acting on a skier''s leg and comprising; first generating means for generating first signals representative of the forces acting on the skier''s leg; second generating means for developing a predetermined threshold signal representative of the maximum stresses to be tolerated by the skier''s leg; third generating means for developing control signals whose continuous magnitudes are dependent upon both the magnitude and duration of said first signals; comparator means for comparing said control signals with said threshold signal; and a threshold value switch for controlling the locking means and for unlocking the locking means to release the ski boot from the ski upon the control signals reaching a value at least equal to that of said threshold signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 5, wherein the third generating means is an integrator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the integrator has an adjustable time constant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 5, wherein a capacitive or inductive pick-up serves as the force monitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 5, wherein a piezoelectric element is used as the force monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 5, wherein a carbon pressure element serves as the force monitor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 5, wherein a magnetoeleastic pressure gauge is used as the force monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 5, wherein the locking means takes the form of a release mechanism having an actuating element held normally in the unstable state of equilibrium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 12, wherein the actuating element is coupled to a control organ of the threshold value switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 12, wherein the release mechanism comprises a toggle lever held normally in the extended position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 14, comprising a sole plate acting as a ski boot holder and held detachably on the ski, wherein the toggle lever is hinged directly with one arm and indirectly via a stop lever with the other arm to the sole plate and a ski fitting interacting with the stop lever is provided.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the stop lever has a nose and the ski fitting a notch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 15, wherein a spring-loaded swivel member serves as the ski fitting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the stop lever is designed as a two-arm lever and the toggle lever is hinged onto the lever arm facing away from the lock.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 15, comprising a stabilising spring acting on the stop lever.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the sole plate is held quasi-rigidly on the ski via a base plate that can be detached together with it from the ski.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 20, wherein the sole plate is supported by the base plate at four points.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 20, wherein the sole plate overlaps the base plate in the form of a box and is secured against lateral movements by spot-like contact points on the base plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 20, wherein the base plate carries one pressure recorder acting on the sole plate for torsion loads and one for bending loads and a time evaluation element and a threshold value switch are assigned to each pressure recorder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 5, wherein sole holders engage on the toe and heel of the ski boot and serve as the ski boot holders.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 5, wherein at least some elements of the device are housed in the sole of a ski boot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 5, and including an impedance transformer stage, a carrier frequency oscillator, a rectifier stage anD an arithmetic mean value generator between the pressure recorder and the threshold value switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |