Safety ski binding

Claim 2

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the ball and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, said cross axis being vertically spaced above the sole of the boot when said boot is in a clamped position on a ski.

Claim 3

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the release means holds the boot indirectly against the resistance.

Claim 4

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the release means holds the boot directly against the resistance.

Claim 5

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the cross axis extends essentially through the neutral axis of the lower leg.

Claim 6

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the cross axis is located within the area of the upper boot edge height.

Claim 7

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the boot is rotatable by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot also about an upright axis in response to a predetermined torque which corresponds to a torsional moment just barely still tolerable for the lower leg.

Claim 8

A safety ski binding according to claim 6, wherein the boot is rotatable by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot also about a longitudinal axis in response to a predetermined torque which corresponds to a bending moment just barely still tolerable for the lower leg.

Claim 9

A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the cross axis extends essentially through the neutral axis of the lower leg.

Claim 10

A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the cross axis is located approximately at that place of the lower leg at which the ratio of the bending moment to resistance moment of the lower leg has a maximum.

Claim 11

A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the cross axis lies above the ankle approximately one-third the distance between the ankle and the knee joint.

Claim 12

A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the cross axis is located within the area of the upper boot edge height.

Claim 13

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two parts consisting of a boot sole and a sole plate arranged therebelow is so suspended forwardly and rearwardly thereof at guide means pivotally connected with the ski about cross axes, that the boot is able to carry out a limited rotary movement about said cross axis, and in that detent means are provided in the ski binding for determining the predetermined torque about the cross axis.

Claim 14

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the boot is rotatable by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot also about a longitudinal axis in response to a predetermined torque which corresponds to a bending moment just barely still tolerable for the lower leg.

Claim 15

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the boot is rotatably supported for movement by an amount in the rearward direction sufficient for the release of the boot about said cross axis in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which corresponds to the bending moment just barely still tolerable for the lower leg.

Claim 16

A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said cross-axis lies intermediate the height of the ankle and the knee joint of a skier when said skiers leg is in a substantially vertical position with respect to said ski.

Claim 17

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein the cross axis is located approximately at that place of the lower leg at which the ratio of the bending moment to resistance moment of the lower leg has a maximum.

Claim 18

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein the cross axis is located approximately at that place of the lower leg at which the ratio of the bending moment to resistance moment of the lower leg has a maximum.

Claim 19

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein the cross axis lies above the ankle approximately one-third the distance between the ankle and the knee joint.

Claim 20

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein the cross axis lies above the ankle approximately one-third the distance between the ankle and the knee joint.

Claim 21

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein one of the two parts consisting of a boot sole or a sole plate arranged therebelow is provided with a slide surface means of substantially circular cylindrical shape, whose cylinder axis essentially coincides with the cross axis and which cooperates with a slide surface means fixed on the ski, further means being provided for holding together the slide surface means slidable with respect to one another about the cross axis, and detent means being provided between the slide surface means which determine the predetermined torque about the cross axis.

Claim 22

A safety ski binding which comprises a release means retaining a ski boot against a resistance, comprising means rotatably supporting the boot for movement by an amount sufficient for the release of the boot about a cross axis arranged intermediate the toe and heel area of the boot and intermediate the running surface of the ski and the knee joint of the skier, said release means releasing in response to a predetermined torque in relation to said cross axis which torque corresponds to a just barely still tolerable bending moment tolerable by the lower leg of the skier, wherein one of the two parts consisting of a boot sole or a sole plate arranged therebelow is provided with a slide surface means of substantially circular cylindrical shape, whose cylinder axis essentially coincides with the cross axis and which cooperates with a slide surface means fixed on the ski, further means being provided for holding together the slide surface means slidable with respect to one another about the cross axis, and detent means being provided between the slide surface means which determine the predetermined torque about the cross axis.

Claim 23

A safety ski binding according to claim 18, wherein the slide surface means are substantially spherically shaped.

Claim 24

A safety ski binding according to claim 18, wherein said slide surface means are curved at least about two axes.

Claim 25

A safety ski binding comprising: a ski boot retaining means for normally retaining a ski boot in an in-use skiing position on a ski, and release means for releasing said boot from said ski in response to predetermined forces acting on said ski boot, wherein said release means includes means for guiding and supporting the boot for rotational movement along a predetermined path about a cross-axis from said in-use position to a release position which is rotatably spaced from said in-use position, and wherein said cross-axis extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of said ski and is disposed intermediate the heel and ball area of said ski boot, said cross axis being vertically spaced above the sole of the boot when said boot is in a clamped position on a ski.

Claim 26

A safety ski binding comprising: a ski boot retaining means for normally retaining a ski boot in an in-use skiing position on a ski, and release means for releasing said boot from said ski in response to predetermined forces acting on said ski boot, wherein said release means includes means for guiding and supporting the boot for rotational movement along a predetermined path about a cross-axis from said in-use position to a release position which is rotatably spaced from said in-use position, and wherein said cross-axis extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of said ski and is disposed intermediate the heel and ball area of said ski boot, said cross axis being vertically spaced above the sole of the boot when said boot is in a clamped position on a ski.

Claim 27

A safety ski binding according to claim 21, wherein said cross-axis is disposed intermediate the running surface of the ski and the position of the knee joint of a skier using said bindings when said skiers leg is in a substantially vertical position with respect to said ski.

Claim 28

A safety ski binding according to claim 22, wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes mated relatively slideable curvilinear surfaces having said cross-axis as the axis of curvature thereof.

Claim 29

A safety ski binding according to claim 22, wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes means for maintaining said cross-axis in a relatively fixed position with respect to said ski during movement of said ski boot from said in-use to said release position.

Claim 30

A safety ski binding according to claim 22, wherein said retaining means includes a sole plate separate from said ski and hold-down means for holding said ski boot to said sole plate, and wherein said release means includes means for releasably holding said sole plate to said ski.

Claim 31

A safety ski binding according to claim 21, wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes means for maintaining said cross-axis in a relatively fixed position with respect to said ski during movement of said ski boot from said in-use to said release position.

Claim 32

A safety ski binding according to claim 21, wherein said retaining means includes a sole plate separate from said ski and hold-down means for holding said ski boot to said sole plate, and wherein said release means includes means for releasably holding said sole plate to said ski.

Claim 33

A safety ski binding according to claim 21, wherein said cross-axis lies intermediate the height of the ankle and the knee joint of a skier when said skiers leg is in a substantially vertical position with respect to said ski.

Claim 34

A safety ski binding comprising: a ski boot retaining means for normally retaining a ski boot in an in-use skiing position on a ski, and release means for releasing said boot from said ski in response to predetermined forces acting on said ski boot, wherein said release means includes means for guiding and supporting the boot for rotational movement along a predetermined path about a cross-axis from said in-use position to a release position which is rotatably spaced from said in-use position, wherein said cross-axis extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of said ski and is disposed intermediate the heel and ball area of said ski boot, and wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes mated relatively slideable curvilinear surfaces having said cross-axis as the axis of curvature thereof.

Claim 35

A safety ski binding comprising: a ski boot retaining means for normally retaining a ski boot in an in-use skiing position on a ski, and release means for releasing said boot from said ski in response to predetermined forces acting on said ski boot, wherein said release means includes means for guiding and supporting the boot for rotational movement along a predetermined path about a cross-axis from said in-use position to a release position which is rotatably spaced from said in-use position, wherein said cross-axis extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of said ski and is disposed intermediate the heel and ball area of said ski boot, and wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes mated relatively slideable curvilinear surfaces having said cross-axis as the axis of curvature thereof.

Claim 36

A safety ski binding according to claim 29, wherein said means for guiding and supporting includes means for maintaining said cross-axis in a relatively fixed position with respect to said ski during movement of said ski boot from said in-use to said release position.