Locking device for a ski binding

Claim 1

In a safety ski binding locking and release mechanism for holding a ski boot upon a ski, the improvement comprising a compound lever having a forwardly extending portion adapted to engage the sole of a ski boot and a rearwardly extending portion having a slanting surface normally extending forwardly and downwardly when said forwardly extending portion is in normal engagement with the ski boot, means pivotally mounting said compound lever on said ski about a transverse axis between said forwardly and rearwardly extending portions, a second lever pivotally mounted on said ski about a transverse axis at its lower end, and having at its upper end a forwardly and downwardly extending first surface normally engaging the slanting surface of the rearwardly extending portion of said compound lever, and a second bearing surface extending rearwardly from said first surface, a third right-angled lever pivotally mounted about a transverse axis on said ski having a normally horizontal forwardly extending arm whose end bears against the second bearing surface of said second lever, and a normally downwardly extending arm, an electromagnet having a plunger mounted on said ski with the end of its plunger contacting the lower end of said downwardly extending arm, first spring means urging the end of said downwardly extending arm to a vertical position against the end of said plunger and the end of said forwardly extending arm against the second bearing surface of said second lever, and second spring means urging said second lever in a rearward direction about its pivot, its second bearing surface against the front end of said forwardly extending arm of the third lever and its first surface against the slanting surface of said compound lever to hold the forwardly extending portion of the latter against the ski boot, whereby upon energization of said electromagnet in response to extraordinary vertical forces upon the ski boot, its plunger acts upon the downwardly extending arm of the third lever against the action of said first spring to rotate said third lever upwardly to disengage the front end of the forwardly extending arm from the second bearing surface of said second lever, whereupon said second lever pivots rearwardly under the action of said second spring and said compound lever is permitted to pivot to release the ski boot under the action of the upward forces thereon.