FR2831455A1 - SHOE RETAINING ASSEMBLY ON A SNOWBOARD - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly for retaining a boot on a gliding or roller board comprising two mobile carriages (24, 25) bearing rear and front retaining elements (3, 4), each carriage being guided in translation along a slide (18, 19). The invention is characterized in that each of the carriages is displaced along its slide by a longitudinal screw (28, 29) mobile in rotation whereof the body is engaged on part of its periphery in one of the elements among the carriage or the slide, and the thread is engaged on another part of its periphery in a rack (30, 31) of the other element, a driving rod (40) links the two screws, the rod and the two screws are integral in rotation, and one at least of the two screws is freely sliding along the rod.

Description

<Desc / Clms Page number 1>

Restraint system for a shoe on a sliding board
The invention relates to a shoe retention assembly on a gliding board.
Conventionally, such a restraint system comprises two retaining elements which each hold one end of the shoe.

 In the case of an alpine ski, the front and rear ends of the boot are retained by a retaining element before which is usually called a stop and a rear retaining element which is called a heel piece.

 To allow the use of the gliding apparatus by users having different shoe sizes, it is necessary to be able to modify the spacing of the retaining elements. In particular in the case of rental, the restraint elements of the machine must be adjusted in spacing almost each use.

 In the case of alpine skiing in addition, from the longitudinal position which is given to it, one of the elements, the rear element, can still move back against the elastic return force of a recoil spring.

 Preferably, the spacing adjustment is carried out by moving the two retaining elements so that the shoe remains centered on the machine.

 Constructions exist in which the movement of the two retaining elements takes place simultaneously in opposite directions. Thus, patent application FR 2 151 666 describes several solutions for the simultaneous adjustment of the two retaining elements. Patent application DE 22 46 668 also describes a construction using gears of different diameters so that the adjustment of the two retaining elements is done simultaneously but with proportional displacement amplitudes.

 For these different types of construction, the connecting device which ensures simultaneous movement and immobilization of the retaining elements must be largely dimensioned to support all of the longitudinal stresses which are exerted by the boot during skiing. .

 One possibility for relieving the connection device would be to equip each of the retaining elements with a locking device. However, this solution is not entirely satisfactory insofar as it requires a locking and / or unlocking intervention on each of the retaining elements during an adjustment.

 In addition, most often the retaining elements used for rental have construction features due to this simultaneous adjustment. It is therefore necessary to manufacture specific models for this type of use.

 Under these conditions a need exists for an improved restraint system in that the connection system only serves to ensure the simultaneity of the movements, without being subjected to other constraints during the practice of skiing and in that the The adjustment operation is simple to carry out.

<Desc / Clms Page number 2>

 There is also a need for an improved restraint where the retainers can be equipped with a simultaneous adjustment device, or each with an individual adjustment device, while having the same type of construction.

 Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

 The shoe retaining assembly according to the invention comprises two mobile carriages carrying front and rear retaining elements, each carriage being guided in translation along a slide intended to be fixedly attached to the gliding board, l 'assembly having a connecting device provided for simultaneously moving the two carriages along their respective slide.

 It is characterized by the fact that each of the carriages is moved along its slide by a longitudinal mobile screw in rotation whose body is engaged in one of the elements that are the base or the slide, and the net is engaged on another part from its periphery in a rack of the other element, that a drive rod connects the two screws, that the rod and the two screws are integral in rotation, and that at least one of the two screws is free to slide along the rod.

 The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and to the attached drawings which are attached to it.

 Figure 1 is a side view in partial section of a retaining assembly according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

 Figures la and 1b are local zoom views.

 Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the retainer assembly of Figure 1.

 Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a retaining assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 4 represents in side view and in section the retaining assembly of FIG. 3.

 Figure 5 relates to another embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 6 represents a rod usable with the retaining assembly of FIG. 5.

 Figure 7 relates to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

 Figure 8 shows another variant.

 Figure 9 shows a variant with an inversion mechanism.

 Figs 10 and 11 schematically represent an inversion mechanism in its two operating states.

 FIG. 12 relates to another variant implementation of the invention.

 Figure 13 shows in perspective a carriage of Figure 12 seen from below.

 Figure 1 shows the central portion of a ski 1 surmounted by a retaining assembly 2 of a shoe.

 Skiing is of any suitable type. The restraint system can also be mounted on any other type of gliding board.

 The retaining assembly 2 comprises two retaining elements 3 and 4 which are each provided for releasably retaining the front and rear ends of a shoe.

<Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 Thus, the front element 3 comprises a jaw 5 carried by a body 6. The body is pivotally mounted on a pivot 7 carried by a base 8 which will be described in more detail later. The body also contains an elastic return spring of the body in a position aligned with the longitudinal direction defined by the ski and the retaining assembly. The front element 3 also includes a support plate 9 intended to receive the shoe sole. The method of assembling this plate with the rest of the front retaining element will be described later.

 The rear element 4 comprises a jaw 10 movable relative to a body 11. The return spring of the jaw is housed in the body 11.

 A ski brake 13 is associated with the rear retaining element 4. The construction of the brake is known. It includes in particular a bearing 16 whose upper surface is provided as a bearing surface for the shoe sole, two braking spades 14a, 14b which are articulated with respect to the bearing, which are actuated by a pedal 15 and returned to a position braking by a spring formed with the extension of the spade wires.

 The constructions of the retaining elements and of the brake are not limiting and other known constructions could also be suitable. For example, instead of having a jaw and a one-piece body, and a body movable on a pivot, the front element could have a body secured to its base and a jaw movable relative to the body. Similarly, the rear element could have an integrated body and jaw, the assembly being carried by arms connected to the base by an articulated link or an integral link.

Also for the brake, a return spring independent of the spade wires could be used.

 Other constructions could also be suitable.

 The retaining elements 3 and 4 are each slidably mounted along a slide, respectively 18 and 19. The slides are made of metal or even of plastic.

They are intended to be fixedly attached to the ski by any suitable means, in particular screws, or else by gluing or welding to the upper surface of the ski. Optionally, a plate 20, 21, for example made of plastic, is interposed between each of the slides and the upper surface of the ski.

 To allow sliding along the slides, the base 8 of the front retaining element and the body 11 of the rear element are each mounted on a carriage, respectively 24.25, which has a section capable of cooperating in sliding with the slide with which it is associated.

 For example, as shown, the slides have a profile, the edges of which are folded back to form runways, and the carriages have lateral flanges which are engaged in the runways.

 In a longitudinal direction, the slides have a length greater than that of the carriages. In section, the shape and dimensions of the elements which cooperate during sliding can be different for the two retaining elements.

<Desc / Clms Page number 4>

 Optionally, the base 8 and the body 11 are molded in one piece with their respective carriage. For example, these parts are made of plastic material possibly loaded with fibers by injection molding. Other materials such as a metal alloy may also be suitable.

 This method of construction is not limiting, and the base 8 and the body 11 could be separate elements of the carriages which would be attached to the upper surface of the carriages.

 Optionally, the bearing 16 of the brake 13 is fixed to the rear carriage 25, in front of the body 11.

 Each of the carriages is moved longitudinally using a helical screw type worm, respectively 28,29. The screws have their axes aligned and oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of movement. The threads of the screws are engaged over part of their periphery in a rack respectively 30,31 formed in the bottom wall of each of the slides and oriented in a longitudinal direction. According to the illustrated embodiment, each of the racks is formed by a series of spaced notches and oriented according to the pitch of the screw. Optionally the screw has a trapezoidal or square section thread. Other sections may also be suitable.

 Optionally, in the areas of the racks, the slides have a gutter shape, in order to increase the contact area between the screw and the rack. In addition, the racks extend over only part of the length of the slides, they open at the ends of the slides which are opposite to facilitate the positioning of the carriages in the slides.

 The body of the screws is engaged in a housing, respectively 32.33 produced in the thickness of the carriages 24.25, and where appropriate of the material which is located above the carriage. The housings open onto the lower surface of the carriages. Their depth dimensions are provided to allow rotation of the screws about their axis, the screw also being engaged with the rack when the carriage is engaged in the slide.

 According to the illustrated embodiment, the housing 32 of the front carriage 24 is located in the rear part of the carriage, behind the support plate 9. This position is however not limiting. For the rear element, the housing 33 is located directly above the body 11. This position is not limiting either.

 In the lengthwise direction, for the front retaining element, the housing forms a longitudinal stop for the screw so that the front carriage is integral with the longitudinal movement of the screw. Thus the engagement of the carriage on the slide is made by the rear end of the slide. Once engaged, the rotation of the screw 28 controls the longitudinal movement of the front carriage relative to the slide. When the screw is stationary in rotation it forms a longitudinal stop which opposes the longitudinal movement of the carriage. The longitudinal stresses which are applied to the front retaining element in particular during the practice of sliding are transmitted by the screw to the slide and to the ski.

<Desc / Clms Page number 5>

 For the rear carriage, the housing provided for the screw has a length greater than that of the screw to allow a longitudinal displacement of the rear carriage relative to the screw over a limited amplitude to allow the body to recede during ski flexions.

 A recoil spring 35 is housed in the housing 33 between its front wall and the screw 29, and optionally, an intermediate plate 34 is interposed between the spring and the screw. The spring 35 and the plate are crossed by the rod.

 The recoil spring 35 resiliently pushes the carriage 25 and the body 11 of the heel piece forward until the screw 29 abuts against the rear wall of its housing. As in the previous case, the rotation of the screw 29 controls the longitudinal movement of the carriage 25. When the screw is immobilized in rotation the body can retreat over a limited amplitude against the elastic restoring force generated by the spring 35. The longitudinal stresses are transmitted by the screw to the slide and to the ski.

 The method of mounting the screws is not limiting, and the body of the screw could be housed in the slide with the thread of the screws engaged with a rack hollowed out on the underside of the carriages.

 The pitch of the two screws and the two racks are reversed so that the rotation of the two screws in the same direction causes the carriages to move in opposite directions.

 According to the illustrated embodiment, the screws are rotated by a slender rod 40 which extends from one carriage to the other while crossing the screws along their longitudinal axis.

 Each of the carriages has a tubular passage 42,43 on the axis of the screws which opens into each housing. The rod is engaged in this corridor.

 It has a length which is determined to be engaged with each of the screws regardless of the position of the carriages relative to the slides.

 To drive the screws in rotation, the rod has for example a square section, and the screws have a central housing of corresponding section. Other sections could also be suitable, for example a hexagonal section.

 To facilitate the engagement of the rod in the screws and to facilitate the bending of the ski, the central housing of the screws have a flared shape towards each of the ends of the screw so as to allow a slight angular misalignment between the rod and the axis of the screw.

 Thus the rod allows the simultaneous rotation of the two rotating screws, which also drives the two carriages in longitudinal translation in opposite directions. The screws have the possibility of sliding longitudinally along the rod during the rotation of the assembly.

 When the rod is stationary in rotation, the two screws are immobilized in rotation and in translation relative to their respective slide.

 The orientation of the pitch of the screws is chosen so that, conversely, a longitudinal stress exerted on one or the other of the retaining elements cannot cause the rod to rotate. Taking into account the reduction delivered by the worm system

<Desc / Clms Page number 6>

 and friction in play such reverse rotation is unlikely. However, to ensure this, a rod or screw brake is optionally provided, which could for example be an elastic strip or a pin bearing against the different faces of the rod or any other suitable means capable of creating a succession of points. hard, or a continuous friction during the rotation of the rod and screws.

 Thus a single operation, in this case the rotation of the rod, controls the simultaneous movement of the two retaining elements. In addition, during skiing, the forces exerted on the retaining elements are transmitted to the slides by the screws, and the rod undergoes almost no stress in return from the screws.

 The screws and the rod are made of any suitable material, for example metal or acetal resin or plastic loaded with fibers.

 According to the illustrated embodiment, we take advantage of the passage of the rod to assemble the front support plate 9 to the rest of the retaining element.

 As can be seen in FIG. 2, a housing 44 is provided for the support plate 9 in the rear part of the front carriage 24. The housing opens into the upper part of the carriage as well as into the corridor 42 of the carriage. The support plate 9 has a lower base pierced with a longitudinal orifice which is aligned with the tubular passage when the support plate is engaged in its housing 44. Once in position, the rod retains the support plate in its housing while allowing it to tilt laterally causing the elastic compression of one or the other of two elastic pads 48 and 49.

 According to the illustrated embodiment, the support plate is reinforced by a stirrup 50, and a spacer tube 51 is engaged on the rod in the region of the plate 9.

 Other constructions of the support plate could also be suitable. In particular the support plate could be fixed and formed by a zone in elevation relative to the carriage.

 Different means can be used to drive the rod in rotation. According to the illustrated embodiment, the rod has rearward a coupling head 53 which internally has an imprint of hexagonal or other cross section provided for coupling with an operating member. In the illustrated case, the operating member is a rod guided in an oblique barrel 57. The barrel is carried by a secondary carriage which is attached to the rear end of the carriage 25 by interlocking of complementary shapes and by transverse pins of link. The secondary carriage has a cross section which enables it to engage in the rear slide and to slide with the rear carriage 25.

 The end 56 of the rod 55 has a general shape of a ball with angular facets in order to be able to penetrate into the coupling imprint of the head 53, and drive it with a ball-joint effect.

 A crank 60 is coupled to the other end of the rod. The crank allows the rod to rotate, and therefore that of the rod. Optionally, the crank is connected to the rod around a transverse pin which allows it to be folded back

<Desc / Clms Page number 7>

 along the barrel. We can predict that in the folded position the crank is immobilized in rotation relative to the barrel.

 According to a construction variant, the operating member is coupled to the rod only for the adjustment operations. The head is accessible at the end of the rear carriage, and a manual tool or an electric tool is coupled to it.

 Figures 3 and 4 relate to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

 The retaining elements 63, 64 and their mounting on the slides 68, 69 with the screws 65, 66 and their drive rod 67 are constructed in the same way as that which has been described previously.

 In the present case, instead of being intended to be pressed against the upper surface of the ski, the slides 68 and 69 receive at their lower face a stirrup 70,71. The stirrups are fixed to their respective slide by any suitable means, for example by screws, rivets, by welding or other. The slide and the bracket could also be made in one piece.

 The stirrups 70 and 71 are provided for riding the ski. They each have two lateral legs 70a, 70b, 71a, 71b. The spacing of the legs is equal to the width of the ski in the area of the skate, and the legs are each pierced with a hole provided for the passage of a journal 74.75 connecting to the ski which crosses the structure of the ski in the skate area.

 Optionally an elastically deformable plate 78,79 is housed under the slide 68,69 on either side of the pins 74,75 for an elastically deformable cushion effect between the slides and the ski.

 The holes in the legs and the holes in the ski are such that the slides are raised relative to the surface of the ski with a slight compression of the pads 78, 79.

 For this embodiment, the ski is of a known type. For example, it is produced in accordance with the ski which is described in patent application EP 938 917, EP 1 000 641.

 According to an alternative embodiment, the stirrups 70 and 71 are connected together to form a support plate for the retaining elements, as described for example in patent application WO 99/38583.

 With such a construction method, the ski is more free to flex regularly. Indeed, in the areas of the slides, there is a possibility of relative rotation between the ski and the slides over a limited amplitude.

 Figures 5 and 6 relate to an alternative embodiment of the invention. According to this variant, the drive rod 80 is removable, that is to say that it is engaged in the screws 82 and 83 and the corridor of the carriages 84, 85 only when the position of the retaining elements is adjusted. Once the adjustment has been made, the rod 80 is removed from the assembly. The retaining elements are then held in position by the screws 82 and 83. Optionally, in this case, the rod is a tool available to the retailer. A brake can be provided at the level of the screws to ensure their immobilization in the absence of the rod.

<Desc / Clms Page number 8>

 FIG. 6 represents an embodiment of such a tool. The rod has at its end a support 88 which is provided to rest on the ski and which has at its top a crank for driving the rod. In the context of this variant, the tool could be constructed differently, in particular provision could be made to couple the rod to an electric drive motor.

 FIG. 7 relates to another variant embodiment of the invention where the rod 90 is in two portions 91 and 92 which are coupled together by a sliding sleeve 93.

 Each rod portion has a 96.97 head at the opposite ends of the two carriages which is provided for the coupling of a tool. The two heads are immobilized in longitudinal translation relative to their respective carriage. The position adjustment can in these conditions be carried out from any one of the ends of the rod.

 According to the variant shown in Figure 8, each of the carriages 98.99 is equipped with a rod portion 100.101. The portions are not coupled, and the adjustment is carried out independently for each retaining element.

 This variant shows that it is possible to produce retaining elements with an individual position adjustment using the same components as those which have been described previously, the only different component being the rod. It is therefore possible to use the same construction of retaining elements and their carriage to produce a retaining set intended for sale to the public, and an assembly intended for rental.

 According to the variant of FIGS. 9 to 11, the rod 108 is in two portions 109 and 110 coupled together by a mechanism 111 for reversing the direction of rotation. The mechanism has two states, one in which the portions have the same direction of rotation, and the other in which they have opposite directions of rotation. Thus, depending on the state of this mechanism, the drive rod moves the two retaining elements in opposite directions to adjust their spacing, or in the same direction, to adjust the position of the assembly relative to the center mark. ski boot.

d'engrenages. Dans la figure 10 la portion de tringle motrice 110 entraîne un pignon 114 qui entraîne à son tour un pignon relais 115 à deux étages de diamètre différent sur lequel un pignon 116 accouplé à la portion réceptrice 109 est en prise. Le pignon 116 présente également deux étages de diamètre différent. Dans cet état, les deux portions ont le même sens de rotation. Figures 10 and 11 schematically represent such a mechanism produced using

gear. In FIG. 10, the driving rod portion 110 drives a pinion 114 which in turn drives a relay pinion 115 with two stages of different diameter on which a pinion 116 coupled to the receiving portion 109 is engaged. The pinion 116 also has two stages of different diameter. In this state, the two portions have the same direction of rotation.

 In the state shown in FIG. 11, the small diameter stage of the relay pinion 115 drives a second relay pinion 118 on which the stage of small diameter of the pinion 116 is engaged. In this state, the two portions have opposite directions of rotation. We choose the gears of large diameter and small diameter with the same diameter so that the output speed is equal to the input speed to the direction of rotation.

<Desc / Clms Page number 9>

 Any suitable means is suitable for moving from one state to another. For example, as can be deduced from FIGS. 10 and 11, it is possible to operate by moving the housing 111 which moves with it the two relay pinions.

 Any other suitable construction may also be suitable. In particular, the reversing mechanism could be housed in one or the other of the two carriages.

 FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the invention applied to a stirrup-type retaining assembly. The stirrups 120 and 121 are carried by carriages 122, 123. Each of the carriages is slidably mounted along an end portion of a base 125. On the underside, each carriage has a housing 124 provided for a screw worm type 126,127. The two screws have reverse pitch. They are rotated by a rod 128 having a coupling head 129.

 The base rests on a slide 130 in which two racks 132,133 are formed in the longitudinal direction defined by the base. Optionally, the carriages are guided on the lateral edges of the slide 130 by lower edges 122a, 122b.

 The spacing adjustment of the two carriages is carried out according to the same principle as that which has been described previously. Once the adjustment has been made, the longitudinal forces exerted on the carriages are taken up by the screws 126, 127 and the slide 130.

 Of course, this description is given for information only, and other implementations of the invention could be adopted without departing from the scope thereof.

 In particular, there could be an assembly equipped with bare carriages intended to receive an existing retaining element on their upper face.

 Also one of the screws could be made integral with the rod in rotation and also in translation, the screw also forming the coupling head of the rod, that is to say that for example the screw carries the imprint which allows the coupling of the operating member.

 In addition, a different pitch could be used for the two screws, so that the displacement of one of the elements is multiplied relative to the other.

 Finally, the invention is not limited to the field of alpine skiing, it also applies to the field of short skiing also called "skiboard", snowboarding, and in general to sports practices where the boots of the user are retained on a sliding or rolling board.

Claims (11)

1-Set for retaining a shoe on a sliding or rolling board comprising two mobile carriages (24.25, 84.85, 98.99, 122.1123) carrying front and rear retaining elements (3,4, 63 , 64, 120,121), each carriage being guided in translation along a slide (18,19, 68,69, 130) intended to be fixedly attached to the gliding board, the assembly having a connecting device provided for simultaneously move the two carriages along their respective slide, characterized in that each of the carriages is moved along its slide by a longitudinal screw (28,29, 65,66, 82,83, 126,127) movable in rotation whose the body is engaged on a part of its periphery in one of the elements that are the carriage or the slide, and the thread is engaged on another part of its periphery in a rack (30,31, 132,133) of the other element, that a drive rod (40.67, 80.90, 128) connects the two screws, that the sorting ngle and the two screws are integral in rotation, and that at least one of the two screws is free to slide along the rod.  2-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive rod (40.67, 80.90, 128) has a square or hexagonal section and that the screws (28.29, 65.66, 82, 83, 126, 127) have a central housing of corresponding section.  3-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (90) is in two portions (91,92) connected together by a sliding sleeve (93).  4-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (108) is in two portions (109,110) connected together by an inversion mechanism (111).  5-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (80) is removable.  6-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (40,67, 90) has a coupling head (53,96, 97) at at least one of its ends.  7-assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the screws is integral in translation with the rod and forms the coupling head.  8-assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the two screws (28,29, 65, 66,82, 83,126, 127) are free to slide along the rod.  9-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of the screws (28,29, 65,66, 82,83, 126,127) is housed in a housing (32,33) made in the thickness of the carriage ( 24.25, 84.85, 98.99, 122.1123) and opening onto its underside.  10-assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the housing (33) of the rear carriage (25) has a length greater than the length of the screw and that a recoil spring (35) is interposed between the screw and the wall of the housing being crossed by the rod.  11-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive rod (40.67, 80.90) is engaged in the corridor (42,43) made in the thickness of carriages (24,25, 84 , 85, 98.99).