FR2689773A1 - Device indicating the prestress applied in particular to the return spring of an alpine fastening element. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for indicating the hardness of an elastic return member, in particular of the prestress applied to a return spring of a fixing element, in particular of alpine fixing (1). The indicating device has a scale of marks along which a cursor moves relative to the displacement of the hardness adjustment means (7). It is characterized in that it is shaped like a bowl, having a rim (14) and a bottom (15) at least partially transparent, through which the cursor is visible, and that the scale of marks is located on the bottom of the bowl recessed relative to the edge (14).

Description

PRESSURE INDICATOR DEVICE APPLIED IN PARTICULAR TO THE SPRING

RECALLING A

ALPINE FIXING ELEMENT

  The invention relates to a device for indicating the hardness of an elastic return member, in particular of the prestress applied to a return spring of a fixing element, in particular of alpine fixing. The invention also relates to a fastening element, in particular an alpine fastening element, which is

  equipped with such an indicating device.

  In the case of alpine skiing, it is known that a boot is retained in abutment on the ski by a front binding element and a rear binding element Each binding element has a 1 i O member for retaining one end of the shoe, this member being movable under the impulse of the shoe, against the return force of an elastic return member generally constituted by a spring. The intensity of the force or moment that the shoe must overcome to be released, and which is usually called release force or moment of release, depends on the dimensions and kinematics of the retaining member, and also on the inherent stiffness of the spring, as well as the adjustment of its hardness, that is to say its initial prestressing For a given fixing element, only the latter parameter can be adjustable so as to adapt the fixing element to the skier, others

  parameters being determined by the construction of the fastener.

  The currently existing fastening elements are equipped with a scale of marks, opposite which moves a movable cursor according to the displacement of the means which allow the adjustment of the hardness of the spring. The mark opposite which the cursor is positioned allows to know the hardness setting of the fastening element, that is to say the value of the moment or the release force of the shoe. There are standards which define, for the various benchmarks of the scale, the value or a range of value of this moment of release There are also standards which define, according to the capacities, the weight, the level, and other parameters of the skier, the reference to which the binding element must be adjusted so as to allow skiing in the best conditions, that is to say by avoiding inadvertent trips, and by also offering a

  safety to release the shoe in case of danger.

  The fastening elements currently existing therefore have on the one hand a means for adjusting the hardness of the element, generally a screw or a threaded plug which regulates the initial preload of the return spring, and an indicator, provided with a scale of markers, generally numbers, in front of which a moving cursor moves with the hardness adjustment means The problem is that the indicating device must remain perfectly visible over time, and whatever the

  conditions under which the fastener is used.

  There are fasteners for which the scale of marks is placed directly on the cover of the fastening element, that is to say that the scale is directly accessible from the outside. For these fasteners, this scale of marks rapidly deteriorates with the blows and shocks to which

  the fastener is subjected during its existence.

  To overcome this drawback, there are fasteners for which the scale of marks is carried by a label which is protected by a transparent cover. The cursor is then mobile under the cover. The problem with this construction is that dirt or humidity enter the interior of the binding, and therefore into the cavity defined by the transparent cover and the label, which deteriorates its legibility This legibility is also affected by the fogging which can

  form under the transparent cover.

  To have a good view of the scale of marks, it is advantageous for the transparent cover to have large dimensions. However, in this case, it is difficult to protect it from knocks and shocks to which the fastening element is subjected during its existence The rollover therefore presents, 1 i O over time, scratches or other damages which make it opaque, and hamper the readability of

the benchmark scale.

  One of the aims of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of this device, and to propose an indicator device which has large dimensions, but which also keeps a very good readability whatever its duration of use, and the conditions in which element of

fixing is used.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an indicator device which is simple to

  realize easy to assemble to the rest of the fastener.

  Other objects and advantages will appear during the description which follows, this description

  being however given as an indication and not limiting.

  The device indicating the hardness of an elastic return member, in particular of the prestress applied to a return spring of a fastening element, in particular of alpine binding, the element comprising a retaining member of a shoe worn by a body, the retaining member being movable elastically relative to a rest position against the restoring force of the elastic member, means moreover making it possible to adjust the hardness of the elastic member, comprises a scale of marks the along which a cursor moves relatively according to the displacement of the hardness adjustment means It is characterized in that it is shaped like a bowl comprising a rim and a bottom recessed under the rim, at least partly transparent, through which the cursor is visible, and the scale of marks is located on the bottom of the recessed bowl

relative to the ledge.

  The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below as well as to the drawings in

  annex which form an integral part thereof.

  Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a front fixing element, and, in the raised position, a

  indicating device according to a first implementation of the invention.

  Figure 2 shows, in side view in partial section, the fastening element of Figure 1 equipped

of its indicating device.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the indicating device of FIG. 2.

  FIG. 4 is a top view of the indicating device of FIG. 3.

  Figure 5 is a view of the same type as that of Figure 1, and illustrates an alternative embodiment

of the invention.

  Figures l and 2 show, by way of nonlimiting illustration of the invention, a front fixing element 1, which comprises a base 2, intended to be linked to the ski, and a member 3 for retaining the front end of the shoe The retaining member is here carried by a fixed body 4, that is to say connected integrally to the base 2 The member is constituted by two independent wings articulated relative to the body 4, which result in their movement a piston 5 movable in a housing of the body 4 The piston causes the compression of a spring 6 which develops a restoring force on the piston, and therefore on the retaining member 3 The spring 6 has its own stiffness, in particular linked to the characteristics of the wire which constitutes it An adjusting means makes it possible to adjust the length of the spring 6 at rest, that is to say the initial prestressing of the spring The means here consists of a screw 7 which 1 i O is supported on the front part of the body and which crosses the spring The rotation of the screw causes the longitudinal displacement of a stop 8 against which one end of the spring bears. The head 9 of the screw 7 is accessible from outside the body of the binding, and in the example illustrated, the head is slotted to receive a screwdriver In its upper part, the body 4 has an opening 10 below which the stop 8, or more exactly a slider 11 connected integrally to the stop 8 moves The slider 11 may have an index, for example a line transverse to its upper surface. The rotation of the screw 7 therefore causes the stop 8 to move in a horizontal and longitudinal direction. The cursor 11, which moves with the stop 8, is visible through the opening 10, and

  its position indicates the initial compression that was applied to the spring, and therefore its hardness.

  In the example illustrated, it should also be noted that in the area of the opening 10, the

  cover 12 of body 4 is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the cursor i 1.

  The fixing element 1 is equipped with an indicating device 13 In the example of FIG. 1, the

  indicator device 13 consists of a plate of material having the shape of a bowl.

  In particular, the cup-shaped plate has a peripheral rim 14 which is intended to be housed on the edges of the opening 10 which has the cover of the fixing element. It should be noted that the rim 14 has a substantially inclination identical to that presented by

  cover 12 in the area of the opening 10.

  The cup-shaped plate also has a bottom 15, which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the cursor 11 When the plate is in position inside the opening 10, the bottom 15 is located just above of cursor 11 and it spans at least the entire

  cursor movement i i.

  Finally, the plate has a peripheral side wall 16 which connects the bottom 15 to the rim 14.

  The dimensions of the rim 14 correspond substantially to the dimensions of the opening 10 so that the indicating device is integrated in the cover of the binding, and there is at this level a

  good sealing, in particular to avoid penetration of snow and dirt.

  The plate of transparent material 13 is assembled to the body of the fixing element by any

  appropriate means, and for example by elastic tabs 22 and 23 visible in FIG. 3.

  The bottom 15 has large dimensions, and good results have been obtained with a bottom 25 millimeters in length and about 18 millimeters wide. This, of course, is not limiting

for the invention.

  The bottom 15 of the bowl is at least partially transparent, so that the cursor 11 is visible, and more precisely that its position relative to a scale of marks, carried by the device

  13, can be seen from the outside without any difficulty.

  Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the bottom 15 is divided into three longitudinal areas 17, 18 and 19 The central area 17 is located just above the cursor movement area 11, and this area is transparent so that the position of the cursor is visible The lateral zones 18 and 19 each carry 1 i O part of the scale of marks, the marks here being materialized by dashes and

  numbers corresponding to hardness setting values.

  In the example illustrated, the reference scales were made on the lower surface of the bottom 15.

  The figures and dashes were first printed by any appropriate means, either by engraving or by hot stamping Then these figures were covered by two strips of

  painting which constitute zones 18 and 19.

  Thus, from what has just been described, it appears that the part of the indicating device 13 which carries the scale of marks, through which the cursor is visible, has large dimensions which allow an easy reading of the adjustment. of hardness of the fixing In addition, this zone is largely set back with respect to the edge 14 of the device 13 This zone is therefore well protected from blows and shocks to which the fixing element is subjected during its use Finally, it should be noted that the device 13 is very simple, although the cover 12 of the fixing element is oblique, and that the direction of movement of the cursor 11 is horizontal and longitudinal No particular adaptation or particular arrangement is made necessary for the cursor constantly moves to

  immediate proximity to the benchmark scale.

  FIG. 5 represents an alternative embodiment, according to which the device 13, in addition to the plate 11, similar to the preceding plate, has a label 20, interposed between the

  wafer and the opening 10 of the cover, which matches the general shape of the wafer of the wafer, i.e.

  say in particular the rim 14 and the bottom 15 In addition, in its bottom part, the label 20 has a slot 21, of longitudinal direction, through which the cursor 1 i of the fastening element is

  visible The slot 21 is actually located in the area 17 of the wafer.

  Possibly, it is the label, on either side of the slot 21, which could carry the scales

  In this case, the bottom 15 of the device would be completely transparent.

  Naturally, this description is given for information only and we could adopt

  other implementations of the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (4)

  1 device for indicating the hardness of an elastic return member, in particular of the prestress applied to a return spring of a fixing element, in particular of alpine fixing, the element comprising a retaining member (3) of a shoe carried by a body (4), the retaining member being movable elastically with respect to a rest position against the restoring force of the elastic member, means (7) also making it possible to adjust the hardness of the elastic member, the indication device comprising a scale of marks along which a cursor (11) relatively moves according to the movement of the hardness adjustment means, characterized in that it is shaped as a bowl (11) comprising a rim (14) and a 1 i O bottom (15) recessed under the rim, at least partially transparent, through which the cursor (11) is visible, and that the scale of marks is located on the bottom (15) of the tank head back from on the ledge.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scale of marks is located on   the bottom (15) of the bowl, under its lower surface.   3 Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a   label (20) matching the shape of the bowl and located under this bowl.   4 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the label has a slot (21)   elongated through which the cursor is visible.